Borrowing a bicycle pump | Learn Spanish in English

About This Lesson

Use Borrowing a bicycle pump to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Mi neumático trasero está casi desinflado.

mee neh-oo-MAH-tee-koh trah-SEH-roh eh-STAH KAH-see deh-seen-FLAH-doh My back tire is almost flat.

Tengo una bomba que puedes pedir prestada.

TEHN-goh OO-nah BOHM-bah keh PWEH-dehs peh-DEER prehs-TAH-dah I have a pump you can borrow.

¿Debo revisar si hay una fuga primero?

DEH-boh reh-bee-SAR see eye OO-nah FOO-gah pree-MEH-roh Should I check for a leak first?

Mira el costado del neumático antes de poner aire.

MEE-rah el kohs-TAH-doh del neh-oo-MAH-tee-koh ahn-tehs deh poh-NEHR EYE-reh Look along the sidewall before adding air.

¿Puedes mostrarme cómo conectarla?

PWEH-dehs moh-STRAHR-meh KOH-moh koh-nehk-TAR-lah Can you show me how to attach it?

Presiona esta parte sobre la válvula y bombea despacio.

preh-see-OH-nah EHS-tah PAR-teh SOH-breh lah VAHL-boo-lah ee BOHM-beh-ah dehs-PAH-see-oh Press this part onto the valve and pump slowly.

El neumático se siente bastante firme ahora.

el neh-oo-MAH-tee-koh seh SYEHN-teh bahs-TAHN-teh FEER-meh ah-NOH-rah The tire feels firm enough now.

Devuelve la bomba cuando termines.

deh-BWEHL-beh lah BOHM-bah KWAHN-doh tehr-MEE-nehs Bring the pump back when you finish.

Word by Word

Mi «Mi» means “my” here and identifies the tire as belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun in «Mi neumático». A common reuse pattern is mi + noun when referring to something belonging to oneself.

neumático «neumático» means “tire” in this dialogue. It is the object described as «casi desinflado». A common reuse pattern is el neumático + a condition or location.

trasero «trasero» means “back” or “rear” here and specifies which tire is meant. It describes «neumático» in «Mi neumático trasero». Use it after a noun when identifying something at the back.

está «está» means “is” here and presents the tire as being in a current condition. In «está casi desinflado», it connects «neumático» with its condition. A common reuse pattern is está + adjective for a current state.

casi «casi» means “almost” and shows that the tire is not completely flat yet. In «casi desinflado», it modifies the following condition. Use casi before a description when something is close to, but has not fully reached, that state.

desinflado «desinflado» means “deflated” or “flat” here, describing the tire’s lack of air. It appears in «está casi desinflado». A common reuse pattern is estar + desinflado when describing a tire or other inflatable object.

Tengo «Tengo» means “I have” here and introduces the pump available to the other person. It is followed by «una bomba». A common reuse pattern is tengo + object when saying that something is available or in your possession.

una «una» means “a” here and introduces one unspecified pump. It agrees with the feminine noun «bomba». Use una before a feminine singular noun when introducing an unspecified object.

bomba «bomba» means “pump” here, specifically the bicycle pump that can be borrowed. It is the object introduced by «Tengo una». A common reuse pattern is una bomba + que... when describing what the pump can be used for.

que «que» links «una bomba» with the information that the other person can borrow it. In «una bomba que puedes pedir prestada», it can be understood as “that” or “which”. A common reuse pattern is noun + que + clause to add information about the noun.

puedes «puedes» means “you can” here and expresses the other person’s ability or permission to borrow the pump. It is followed by «pedir prestada». A common reuse pattern is puedes + infinitive when offering or asking about an action someone can do.

pedir «pedir» means “to ask for” and, in «pedir prestada», forms the idea “to borrow”. It is followed by «prestada», which completes the borrowing expression. A common reuse pattern is pedir prestado or pedir prestada + an object, with the form matching the object.

prestada «prestada» means “borrowed for use” in «pedir prestada». Its feminine form matches «bomba», the thing being borrowed. A common reuse pattern is pedir prestada + a feminine object.

Debo «Debo» means “should I” or “must I” here, asking whether the speaker needs to check first. It is followed by the action «revisar». A common reuse pattern is debo + infinitive when asking or stating what one ought to do.

revisar «revisar» means “to check” or “to inspect” here, referring to checking the tire for a leak. It follows «Debo» in «Debo revisar». A common reuse pattern is revisar + object or revisar si... when checking something or checking whether something is true.

si «si» means “whether” in «revisar si hay una fuga», introducing what is being checked. Here it does not express a condition; it connects «revisar» with the question of a leak’s existence. A common reuse pattern is revisar si + clause when checking whether something is happening or present.

hay «hay» means “there is” or “there are” here and asks whether a leak exists. In «si hay una fuga», it introduces the thing whose presence is being checked. A common reuse pattern is hay + noun when stating that something exists or is present.

fuga «fuga» means “leak” here, referring to air escaping from the tire. It appears after «hay» in «hay una fuga». A common reuse pattern is una fuga de + substance or source when identifying what is leaking.

primero «primero» means “first” here and asks whether checking for a leak should happen before the next step. It modifies the timing of «revisar». Use primero when ordering actions or identifying the initial step.

Mira «Mira» means “look” here and gives a direct instruction to inspect a particular part of the tire. It is followed by «el costado del neumático». A common reuse pattern is mira + location or object when directing someone’s attention.

el «el» means “the” here and introduces the specific masculine noun «costado». It appears in «el costado del neumático». Use el before a specific masculine singular noun.

costado «costado» means “side” or “sidewall” here, referring to the side of the tire. It is specified further by «del neumático». A common reuse pattern is el costado de + object when identifying an object’s side.

del «del» means “of the” in «del neumático». It combines the relation of «de» with the specific masculine noun phrase «el neumático». A common reuse pattern is the noun + del + masculine noun when showing that one thing belongs to or is part of another.

antes «antes» means “before” here and places one action earlier than another. In «antes de poner aire», it introduces the step that must come first. A common reuse pattern is antes de + infinitive when comparing the order of two actions.

de «de» is part of «antes de poner aire», meaning “before” an action. It connects «antes» with the infinitive «poner». Use antes de + infinitive to state that one action happens earlier than another.

poner «poner» means “to put” or “to add” here, referring to adding air to the tire. It follows «antes de» in «antes de poner aire». A common reuse pattern is poner + object when placing or adding something.

aire «aire» means “air” here, the substance added to the tire. It is the object of «poner» in «poner aire». A common reuse pattern is poner aire when filling an inflatable object.

mostrarme «mostrarme» means “show me” here and asks the other person to demonstrate how to attach the pump. The final «me» identifies the person receiving the demonstration. A common reuse pattern is mostrarme cómo + action when asking someone to demonstrate a procedure.

cómo «cómo» means “how” here and introduces the method the speaker wants to learn. In «mostrarme cómo conectarla», it links the request to the action being demonstrated. A common reuse pattern is cómo + action when asking how to do something.

conectarla «conectarla» means “to attach it” here, referring to attaching the relevant feminine item in the bicycle-pump procedure. The final «la» represents that feminine object and is attached to the infinitive «conectar». A common reuse pattern is conectar + object or conectarla when describing how to attach equipment.

Presiona «Presiona» means “press” here and gives an instruction about applying pressure to a part. It is followed by «esta parte». A common reuse pattern is presiona + object or location when giving a physical instruction.

esta «esta» means “this” here and points to a particular part near the speaker. It agrees with the feminine noun «parte» in «esta parte». Use esta before a feminine singular noun when indicating a specific nearby item.

parte «parte» means “part” here, referring to the piece of the pump that should be pressed onto the valve. It is identified by «esta». A common reuse pattern is esta parte when pointing out a particular component.

sobre «sobre» means “onto” or “on” here and describes the destination of the pressure in «sobre la válvula». It connects «esta parte» with the valve. A common reuse pattern is poner or presionar algo sobre + object when placing or pressing something onto another thing.

la «la» means “the” here and introduces the specific feminine noun «válvula». It appears in «la válvula». Use la before a specific feminine singular noun.

válvula «válvula» means “valve” here, the part onto which the pump component is pressed. It is the object of «sobre» in «sobre la válvula». A common reuse pattern is conectar or presionar algo sobre la válvula when working with a tire pump.

y «y» means “and” here and joins two instructions: pressing the part and pumping slowly. It connects «Presiona...» with «bombea despacio». Use y to link related actions or instructions.

bombea «bombea» means “pump” here and gives the second instruction after attaching the pump. It is modified by «despacio», which explains how to pump. A common reuse pattern is bombea + adverb when giving instructions about the speed or manner of pumping.

despacio «despacio» means “slowly” here and tells the person to pump at a slow pace. It modifies «bombea». Use despacio after an action when describing how slowly it should be done.

se «se» is part of «se siente», the expression used to say how the tire feels. It links the tire with the sensation or condition described by «firme». A common reuse pattern is se siente + adjective when describing how something feels.

siente «siente» means “feels” here in «se siente firme». Together with «se», it describes the tire’s current physical feel. A common reuse pattern is se siente + adjective when reporting the condition noticed by touch.

bastante «bastante» indicates a sufficient or fairly high degree in «bastante firme». It modifies «firme», while «firme» supplies the quality being judged. Use bastante before an adjective when describing something as fairly or sufficiently so.

firme «firme» means “firm” here and describes the tire’s feel after pumping. It appears in «se siente bastante firme». A common reuse pattern is sentirse + adjective when describing the firmness or condition of an object.

ahora «ahora» means “now” here and marks the tire’s condition at the present point in the procedure. It appears after «se siente bastante firme». Use ahora to contrast the current condition with an earlier one.

Devuelve «Devuelve» means “return” or “give back” here and instructs the borrower to return the pump. It is followed by «la bomba». A common reuse pattern is devuelve + object when telling someone to give an item back.

cuando «cuando» means “when” here and introduces the time at which the pump should be returned. In «cuando termines», it connects returning the pump with finishing the task. A common reuse pattern is cuando + action when linking an instruction to the time it should happen.

termines «termines» means “you finish” here and refers to the other person completing the pumping task. It appears in the time expression «cuando termines». A common reuse pattern is cuando termines + instruction when telling someone what to do after completing an activity.

Grammar Points

Imperativo afirmativo de tú

Mira, presiona y bombea despacio.

MEE-rah, preh-see-OH-nah ee BOHM-beh-ah dehs-PAH-see-oh

Look, press, and pump slowly.

Spanish uses special short forms for direct tú commands, such as mira, presiona, bombea and devuelve.

Pronombre unido al infinitivo

Conectarla y mostrarme la válvula.

koh-nehk-TAR-lah ee mohs-TRAR-meh lah VAHL-boo-lah

To attach it and show me the valve.

Object pronouns can attach directly to an infinitive: conectarla and mostrarme.

Spanish Vocabulary

aire noun

EYE-reh air

Mira el costado del neumático antes de poner aire.

bomba noun

BOHM-bah pump

Tengo una bomba que puedes pedir prestada.

casi adv

KAH-see almost

Mi neumático trasero está casi desinflado.

costado noun

kohs-TAH-doh side; sidewall

Mira el costado del neumático antes de poner aire.

desinflado adj

deh-seen-FLAH-doh flat; deflated

Mi neumático trasero está casi desinflado.

fuga noun

FOO-gah leak

¿Debo revisar si hay una fuga primero?

mirar verb

mee-RAR to look Mira

Mira el costado del neumático antes de poner aire.

neumático noun

neh-oo-MAH-tee-koh tire

Mi neumático trasero está casi desinflado.

pedir prestada phrase

peh-DEER prehs-TAH-dah to borrow

Tengo una bomba que puedes pedir prestada.

primero adv

pree-MEH-roh first

¿Debo revisar si hay una fuga primero?

revisar verb

reh-bee-SAR to check

¿Debo revisar si hay una fuga primero?

trasero adj

trah-SEH-roh back; rear

Mi neumático trasero está casi desinflado.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

My back tire is almost flat.

Show Answer

Mi neumático trasero está casi desinflado.

Can you show me how to attach it?

Show Answer

¿Puedes mostrarme cómo conectarla?

Bring the pump back when you finish.

Show Answer

Devuelve la bomba cuando termines.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

tire

Show Answer

neumático

to check

Show Answer

revisar

leak

Show Answer

fuga

flat; deflated

Show Answer

desinflado