Repairing or replacing a damaged borrowed tool | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a shared space, one adult apologizes for damaging a borrowed tool and discusses whether to repair or replace it..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Repairing or replacing a damaged borrowed tool to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Tengo que disculparme por lo que le pasó a la herramienta que tomé prestada.

TEN-goh keh dees-kool-PAR-meh por loh keh leh pah-SOH ah lah eh-rrah-mee-EN-tah keh toh-MEH prehs-TAH-dah. I need to apologize for what happened to the tool I borrowed.
B

¿Qué le pasó?

keh leh pah-SOH? What happened to it?
A

El mango se agrietó mientras yo la usaba.

ehl MAN-goh seh ah-gree-eh-TOH mee-EN-trahs yoh lah oo-SAH-bah. The handle cracked while I was using it.
B

Déjame ver qué tan grave es el daño.

DEH-hah-meh behr keh tahn GRAH-beh ehs ehl DAH-nyoh. Let me see how bad the damage is.
A

Puedo reemplazarla o ayudar a repararla.

PWEH-doh reh-ehm-plah-SAR-lah oh ah-yoo-DAR ah reh-pah-RAR-lah. I can replace it or help repair it.
B

Deberíamos comprobar si la reparación va a durar.

deh-beh-REE-ah-mohs kohm-proh-BAR see lah reh-pah-rah-see-ON bah ah doo-RAR. We should check whether a repair will hold.
A

Lo siento por causar trabajo extra.

loh see-EN-toh por kow-SAR trah-BAH-hoh EHK-strah. I am sorry for causing extra work.
B

Avísame enseguida la próxima vez.

ah-bee-SAH-meh en-seh-GHEE-dah lah PROHK-see-mah behs. Tell me right away next time.
B

Podemos solucionarlo.

poh-DEH-mohs soh-loo-see-oh-NAR-loh. We can sort it out.

Word by Word

Tengo “Tengo” means “I have to” in “Tengo que disculparme”, expressing a need or obligation. The reusable pattern is “Tengo que + infinitive”, for saying what you need to do.
que In “Tengo que disculparme”, “que” connects “Tengo” with the action that is necessary. The same written form also appears as “Qué” in “¿Qué le pasó?” and “qué” in “qué tan grave”, where it introduces a question about what or how much.
disculparme “Disculparme” means “to apologize” in “Tengo que disculparme”. The ending “-me” shows that the speaker is apologizing personally; “Tengo que disculparme” is useful when acknowledging responsibility for a problem.
por “Por” means “for” or “because of” in “disculparme por lo que le pasó” and “Lo siento por causar trabajo extra”. It introduces the event or action that caused the apology.
lo In “lo que le pasó”, “lo” helps refer to what happened as a thing or situation. In “Lo siento”, it is part of the complete apology expression, which means “I am sorry”; use “Lo siento por + cause” to apologize for something.
le “Le” refers to the tool as the thing affected in “lo que le pasó” and “¿Qué le pasó?”. The pattern “¿Qué le pasó?” is used to ask what happened to a person or thing.
pasó “Pasó” means “happened” in “¿Qué le pasó?” and “lo que le pasó”. The citation form is “pasar”; use “¿Qué le pasó?” when asking about an event that affected someone or something.
a “A” marks the affected thing in “lo que le pasó a la herramienta”. The pattern “¿Qué le pasó a + thing?” asks what happened to that thing.
la “La” means “the” before the noun in “la herramienta”. It also appears attached to the infinitives in “reemplazarla” and “repararla”, referring back to the feminine tool.
herramienta “Herramienta” means “tool” in “la herramienta que tomé prestada”. It is the borrowed item that was damaged, and the phrase “la herramienta que...” can identify a tool by describing it.
tomé “Tomé” means “I took” and, in “tomé prestada”, expresses that the speaker borrowed the tool. The citation form is “tomar”; “tomé prestada + object” is a useful pattern for saying that you borrowed something.
prestada “Prestada” means “borrowed” in “la herramienta que tomé prestada” and agrees with the feminine noun “herramienta”. The phrase “tomé prestada” identifies something the speaker took to use as a loan.
El “El” means “the” in “El mango”. It is the article used here before the noun naming the handle of the tool.
mango “Mango” means “handle” in “El mango se agrietó”. Here it identifies the part of the borrowed tool that became damaged; use it when describing a tool’s handle.
se In “se agrietó”, “se” is part of the expression describing the handle changing condition and becoming cracked. It is not translated separately here; “se agrietó” reports damage that appeared on an object.
agrietó “Agrietó” means “cracked” in “El mango se agrietó”. The citation form is “agrietar”; use “se agrietó” to report that an object developed a crack.
mientras “Mientras” means “while” in “mientras yo la usaba” and introduces an action happening at the same time as another event. The pattern “mientras + clause” is useful when explaining when something happened.
yo “Yo” means “I” in “mientras yo la usaba” and identifies the person who was using the tool. It can be placed before a verb when the speaker wants to state explicitly who performed the action.
usaba “Usaba” means “was using” in “mientras yo la usaba”, describing the ongoing use of the tool when the handle cracked. The citation form is “usar”; the pattern “mientras yo la usaba” gives background for an event.
Déjame “Déjame” means “let me” in “Déjame ver”, asking for permission to do something. The reusable pattern is “Déjame + infinitive”, for requesting an opportunity to perform an action.
ver “Ver” means “see” in “Déjame ver qué tan grave es el daño”. It follows “Déjame” and expresses the inspection the speaker wants to make; “Déjame ver...” is useful when examining a problem.
tan “Tan” marks degree in “qué tan grave”, helping ask how serious the damage is. The reusable pattern is “qué tan + adjective” when asking about the degree of a quality.
grave “Grave” means “serious” or “bad” in “qué tan grave es el daño”. It describes the level of the damage, and “qué tan grave es...” is useful when assessing how serious a problem is.
es “Es” means “is” in “qué tan grave es el daño”, linking the damage with its description. The citation form is “ser”; the pattern “es + adjective” describes a person, thing, or situation.
daño “Daño” means “damage” in “el daño”. It names the harm to the tool, and “qué tan grave es el daño” is useful when discussing the seriousness of that harm.
Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” in “Puedo reemplazarla o ayudar a repararla”, offering an ability or possible action. The citation form is “poder”; use “Puedo + infinitive” to offer what you are able or willing to do.
reemplazarla “Reemplazarla” means “replace it” and refers to the tool in “Puedo reemplazarla”. It combines “reemplazar”, “to replace”, with attached “-la”; use it when offering to provide a replacement for the tool.
o “O” means “or” and connects the two alternatives in “reemplazarla o ayudar a repararla”. The pattern “A o B” presents a choice between possible actions.
ayudar “Ayudar” means “help” in “ayudar a repararla”. It is followed here by “a” and another infinitive, forming “ayudar a + infinitive”; this is useful when offering assistance with an action.
repararla “Repararla” means “repair it” and refers to the tool in “ayudar a repararla”. It combines “reparar”, “to repair”, with attached “-la”; use it when offering to fix the tool.
Deberíamos “Deberíamos” means “we should” in “Deberíamos comprobar”, presenting a recommendation for joint action. The citation form is “deber”; the pattern “Deberíamos + infinitive” is useful when suggesting what people ought to do.
comprobar “Comprobar” means “check” in “Deberíamos comprobar si la reparación va a durar”. The pattern “comprobar si + clause” is used to check whether something is true or will happen.
si “Si” means “whether” in “comprobar si la reparación va a durar”, introducing the point that needs to be checked. The pattern “comprobar si...” is useful when investigating an uncertain result.
reparación “Reparación” means “repair” in “la reparación”. It refers to the planned fix for the damaged tool, and “la reparación va a durar” discusses whether that fix will last.
va “Va” is part of “va a durar”, which expresses an expected future result about the repair. The citation form is “ir”; the pattern “va a + infinitive” is used for something that is going to happen.
durar “Durar” means “last” or “hold” in “la reparación va a durar”. It is the infinitive after “va a” and describes how long the repair is expected to remain effective.
siento “Siento” is the form used in the apology “Lo siento”, meaning “I am sorry”. The citation form is “sentir”; the reusable pattern “Lo siento por + cause” apologizes for an action or situation.
causar “Causar” means “cause” in “por causar trabajo extra”. It follows “por” as the action that led to the apology; “por + infinitive” can give the reason for saying sorry.
trabajo “Trabajo” means “work” in “trabajo extra”. Here it refers to the additional work created by the damaged tool; “trabajo extra” is a useful phrase for added tasks.
extra “Extra” means “extra” or “additional” in “trabajo extra” and describes work beyond what was already expected. Use it after a noun in this phrase to identify an added amount or task.
Avísame “Avísame” means “tell me” or “let me know” in “Avísame enseguida”, asking the other person to give the speaker information. It combines “avisar” with attached “-me”; the phrase is useful when asking someone to report something.
enseguida “Enseguida” means “right away” in “Avísame enseguida”. It adds urgency to the request and is useful when information should be given immediately.
próxima “Próxima” means “next” in “la próxima vez”. It describes the future occasion referred to in the instruction, and the phrase is useful for talking about what should happen on a later occasion.
vez “Vez” means “time” or “occasion” in “la próxima vez”. Together with “la próxima”, it refers to the next occurrence of a similar situation.
Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “Podemos solucionarlo”, expressing that the speakers are able to deal with the problem. The citation form is “poder”; use “Podemos + infinitive” for a shared ability or possible action.
solucionarlo “Solucionarlo” means “sort it out” or “solve it” in “Podemos solucionarlo”, referring to the damage and the steps needed to deal with it. It combines “solucionar” with attached “-lo”; use it when offering to resolve a problem already understood from the context.

Grammar Points

tener que + infinitivo

Tengo que disculparme.

TEN-goh keh dees-kool-PAR-meh.

I need to apologize.

Use tener que + an infinitive to express necessity or obligation.

mientras + imperfecto

El mango se agrietó mientras usaba la herramienta prestada.

ehl MAN-goh seh ah-gree-eh-TOH mee-EN-trahs oo-SAH-bah lah eh-rrah-mee-EN-tah prehs-TAH-dah.

The handle cracked while I was using the borrowed tool.

Use mientras with the imperfect to describe an ongoing action when another event happened.

Spanish Vocabulary

ayudar verb
ah-yoo-DAR to help
daño noun
DAH-nyoh damage
disculparme verb
dees-kool-PAR-meh to apologize
grave adj
GRAH-beh serious / severe
herramienta noun
eh-rrah-mee-EN-tah tool
mango noun
MAN-goh handle
mientras conj
mee-EN-trahs while
prestada adj
prehs-TAH-dah borrowed
reemplazarla verb
reh-ehm-plah-SAR-lah to replace it
se agrietó verb
seh ah-gree-eh-TOH cracked
Tengo que phrase
TEN-goh keh I need to / I have to
usaba verb
oo-SAH-bah was using

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What happened to it?

Show Answer¿Qué le pasó?

I can replace it or help repair it.

Show AnswerPuedo reemplazarla o ayudar a repararla.

I am sorry for causing extra work.

Show AnswerLo siento por causar trabajo extra.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

serious / severe

Show Answergrave

handle

Show Answermango

while

Show Answermientras

was using

Show Answerusaba