Solving a phone battery problem | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a daily life situation, one adult asks to use a charging cable so a phone has enough battery for an urgent call..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Solving a phone battery problem to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

La batería de mi teléfono está casi agotada.

lah bah-teh-REE-ah deh mee teh-LEH-foh-noh es-TAH KAH-see ah-goh-TAH-dah. My phone battery is almost dead.
B

¿Tienes un cargador o una batería portátil contigo?

TYEH-nehs oon kahr-gah-DOR oh OO-nah bah-teh-REE-ah por-TAH-teel kohn-TEE-goh? Do you have a charger or power bank with you?
A

Dejé los dos en casa.

deh-HEH lohs DOHS en KAH-sah. I left both at home.
A

Necesito hacer una llamada urgente.

neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-SER OO-nah yah-MAH-dah oor-HEN-teh. I need to make an urgent call.
B

Hay un enchufe junto a la ventana.

eye oon en-CHOO-feh HOON-toh ah lah ben-TAH-nah. There is an outlet beside the window.
A

¿Podría usar tu cable durante unos minutos?

poh-DREE-ah oo-SAR too KAH-bleh doo-RAN-teh OO-nohs mee-NOO-tohs? Could I use your cable for a few minutes?
B

Puedes usarlo el tiempo suficiente para hacer la llamada.

PWEH-dehs oo-SAR-loh el TYEHM-poh soo-fee-see-EN-teh pah-rah ah-SER lah yah-MAH-dah. You can use it long enough to make the call.
A

Lo devolveré en cuanto se encienda mi teléfono.

loh deh-bol-beh-REH en KWAHN-toh seh en-SEE-en-dah mee teh-LEH-foh-noh. I will return it as soon as my phone turns on.
B

Déjalo conectado hasta que tengas suficiente batería.

DEH-hah-loh koh-nek-TAH-doh AHS-tah keh TEN-gahs soo-fee-see-EN-teh bah-teh-REE-ah. Keep it plugged in until you have enough battery.

Word by Word

La “La” means “the” in “La batería de mi teléfono,” introducing the specific battery being discussed. It comes before a singular feminine noun such as “batería”.
batería “batería” means “battery” here, specifically the phone’s battery in “La batería de mi teléfono.” It is used with a device or object whose stored power can be low or depleted.
de “de” links “batería” to “mi teléfono” and shows the relationship “of my phone.” It commonly connects a noun with the person or thing associated with it.
mi “mi” means “my” in “mi teléfono,” identifying the phone as belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun it describes.
teléfono “teléfono” means “phone” in this dialogue. In “mi teléfono,” it names the device whose battery is almost depleted.
está “está” means “is” for the phone battery’s current condition in “está casi agotada.” It is used here to describe a present state, followed by “casi agotada.”
casi “casi” means “almost” in “está casi agotada,” showing that the battery is close to being depleted but not necessarily completely so. It comes before the word or expression whose degree it limits.
agotada “agotada” means “depleted” or “dead” here, describing the battery as having almost no charge in “está casi agotada.” Its form matches the feminine noun “batería” in this expression.
Tienes “Tienes” asks one person informally whether they have something in “Tienes un cargador o una batería portátil contigo?” It is followed by the item being asked about, and “contigo” adds the idea of having it with you.
un “un” means “a” in “un cargador,” introducing one unspecified charger. It comes before a singular masculine noun.
cargador “cargador” means “charger” in “un cargador.” It names the device that could provide power to the phone.
o “o” means “or” and links the two alternatives in “un cargador o una batería portátil.” It is used to present a choice between possible items.
una “una” means “a” in “una batería portátil,” introducing one unspecified portable battery. It comes before a singular feminine noun such as “batería.”
portátil “portátil” means “portable” in “una batería portátil,” identifying a battery that can be carried with you. It follows the noun it describes in this expression.
contigo “contigo” means “with you” in “Tienes ... contigo?” and asks whether the item is currently in the other person’s possession. It is used with a possession or location idea to show that something is with one person.
Dejé “Dejé” means “I left” in “Dejé los dos en casa,” referring to the speaker’s completed action of leaving both items at home. It can be followed by the item left and a place, as in this sentence.
los “los” helps form “los dos,” meaning “the two” items already mentioned: the charger and the portable battery. It appears before the number in this expression referring to those items.
dos “dos” means “two” in “los dos,” referring to both items mentioned in the previous question. It is used after “los” to specify the quantity.
en “en” means “in” or “at” in “en casa,” marking the place where the items were left. It commonly comes before a location.
casa “casa” means “home” in the expression “en casa.” Together with “en,” it identifies the place where the speaker left both items.
Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” in “Necesito hacer una llamada urgente,” expressing the speaker’s need. It is followed here by an action in the form “hacer una llamada urgente.”
hacer “hacer” means “to make” in the expression “hacer una llamada,” which means to make a phone call. It follows “Necesito” and names the action the speaker needs to carry out.
llamada “llamada” means “call” in “una llamada urgente,” referring to a phone call. It is used with “hacer” in the expression “hacer una llamada.”
urgente “urgente” means “urgent” in “una llamada urgente,” showing that the call needs to be made soon. It follows and describes “llamada.”
Hay “Hay” means “there is” in “Hay un enchufe junto a la ventana,” announcing that an outlet exists in a particular place. It is useful for pointing out the presence or availability of something.
enchufe “enchufe” means “outlet” in “Hay un enchufe junto a la ventana.” It names the place where a charger or cable can be connected.
junto “junto” contributes the meaning “beside” in the expression “junto a la ventana.” Together with “a,” it places the outlet next to the window.
a “a” completes the location expression “junto a la ventana,” meaning “beside the window.” In this phrase, it follows “junto” and comes before the place being identified.
ventana “ventana” means “window” in “junto a la ventana.” It identifies the reference point used to describe where the outlet is.
Podría “Podría” means “could I” in “¿Podría usar tu cable...?”, making a polite request for permission. It is followed by the action the speaker wants to perform, “usar tu cable.”
usar “usar” means “to use” in “Podría usar tu cable,” naming the requested action. It follows “Podría” and is followed by the object being used.
tu “tu” means “your” in “tu cable,” identifying the cable as belonging to the person being addressed. It comes directly before the noun it describes.
cable “cable” means “cable” in “tu cable.” Here it is the item the speaker asks to use for charging the phone.
durante “durante” means “for” or “during” in “durante unos minutos,” marking the length of time for the requested use. It comes before the time expression that follows.
unos “unos” means “a few” in “unos minutos,” giving an approximate small number of minutes. It comes before the plural noun “minutos.”
minutos “minutos” means “minutes” in “durante unos minutos,” specifying the short period for which the cable is requested. It follows “unos” in this time expression.
Puedes “Puedes” means “you can” in “Puedes usarlo,” giving the other person permission to use the cable. It is followed by the action that is allowed.
usarlo “usarlo” means “use it” in “Puedes usarlo,” referring to using the cable already mentioned. The form combines the action “usar” with “lo,” which refers to that object.
el “el” means “the” in “el tiempo suficiente,” referring to the amount of time needed for the call. It comes before the singular masculine noun “tiempo.”
tiempo “tiempo” means “time” in “el tiempo suficiente,” describing the duration that will be enough for the purpose mentioned. It is used with “suficiente” to express a sufficient amount of time.
suficiente “suficiente” means “enough” in “el tiempo suficiente,” saying that the available time meets the need. It follows the noun “tiempo” in this expression.
para “para” means “to” or “for” in “para hacer la llamada,” introducing the purpose of using the cable. It is followed here by an action in the form “hacer la llamada.”
Lo “Lo” means “it” in “Lo devolveré,” referring to the cable that the speaker borrowed. It appears before the verb and functions as the object being returned.
devolveré “devolveré” means “I will return” in “Lo devolveré,” promising that the speaker will give the cable back. It is followed by “Lo” for the returned object and by “en cuanto” for the timing.
en cuanto “en cuanto” means “as soon as” in “en cuanto se encienda mi teléfono,” setting the moment when the speaker will return the cable. Within this expression, “en” and “cuanto” work together as one time connector rather than giving separate meanings in the sentence.
se “se” is part of “se encienda” and shows that the phone turns on by itself as the event being awaited. It stays directly before “encienda” in this clause.
encienda “encienda” means “turns on” in “se encienda mi teléfono,” referring to the phone becoming powered on. It appears after “se” and inside the time clause introduced by “en cuanto.”
Déjalo “Déjalo” means “leave it” or “keep it” in “Déjalo conectado,” instructing the listener to leave the cable in its connected state. The form combines the instruction with “lo,” referring to the cable.
conectado “conectado” means “plugged in” or “connected” in “Déjalo conectado.” It describes the state in which the cable should remain while the phone charges.
hasta “hasta” means “until” in “hasta que tengas suficiente batería,” marking the endpoint of keeping the cable connected. It introduces the time limit that follows.
que “que” connects “hasta” with the clause “tengas suficiente batería” in “hasta que tengas suficiente batería.” Together, “hasta que” means “until” and introduces the event that ends the action.
tengas “tengas” means “you have” in “hasta que tengas suficiente batería,” referring to the other person having enough battery. It appears in the clause after “hasta que” and is followed by what is sufficient.

Grammar Points

en cuanto + subjuntivo

En cuanto se encienda, devolveré el cargador.

en KWAHN-toh seh en-SEE-en-dah deh-bol-beh-REH el kahr-gah-DOR.

As soon as it turns on, I’ll return the charger.

After en cuanto, Spanish uses the subjunctive when referring to a future event.

hasta que + subjuntivo

Déjalo conectado hasta que tengas suficiente.

DEH-hah-loh koh-nek-TAH-doh AHS-tah keh TEN-gahs soo-fee-see-EN-teh.

Leave it plugged in until you have enough.

After hasta que, use the subjunctive for an action that has not happened yet.

Spanish Vocabulary

agotado adj
ah-goh-TAH-doh drained agotada

La batería de mi teléfono está casi agotada.

batería noun
bah-teh-REE-ah battery

La batería de mi teléfono está casi agotada.

batería portátil phrase
bah-teh-REE-ah por-TAH-teel power bank

¿Tienes un cargador o una batería portátil contigo?

cargador noun
kahr-gah-DOR charger

¿Tienes un cargador o una batería portátil contigo?

casa noun
KAH-sah home

Dejé los dos en casa.

contigo pron
kohn-TEE-goh with you

¿Tienes un cargador o una batería portátil contigo?

dejar verb
deh-HAR to leave dejé

Dejé los dos en casa.

hacer verb
ah-SER to make; to do

Necesito hacer una llamada urgente.

llamada noun
yah-MAH-dah call

Necesito hacer una llamada urgente.

necesitar verb
neh-seh-see-TAR to need necesito

Necesito hacer una llamada urgente.

teléfono noun
teh-LEH-foh-noh phone

La batería de mi teléfono está casi agotada.

urgente adj
oor-HEN-teh urgent

Necesito hacer una llamada urgente.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I left both at home.

Show AnswerDejé los dos en casa.

I need to make an urgent call.

Show AnswerNecesito hacer una llamada urgente.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

home

Show Answercasa

phone

Show Answerteléfono

with you

Show Answercontigo

to need

Show Answernecesito