Preparing for Heavy Rain | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: Before going out in heavy rain, two adults discuss waterproof shoes, keeping a laptop dry, and leaving extra time for travel..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Preparing for Heavy Rain to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

El pronóstico dice que pronto empezará una lluvia fuerte.

el proh-NOHS-tee-koh DEE-seh keh PROHN-toh em-peh-sah-RAH oo-nah YOO-byah FWEHR-teh. The forecast says heavy rain will start soon.
B

Entonces, ponte hoy unos zapatos impermeables.

en-TOHN-sehs, POHN-teh oy OO-nohs sah-PAH-tohs eem-pehr-meh-AH-bles. Then wear waterproof shoes today.
A

Siempre hay charcos cerca de la estación.

SYEHM-preh eye CHAR-kohs SEHR-kah deh lah es-tah-SYOHN. There are always puddles near the station.
B

También puedes necesitar más tiempo por los retrasos.

tahm-BYEHN PWEH-dehs neh-seh-see-TAR mahs TYEHM-poh por lohs reh-TRAH-sohs. You may also need extra time for delays.
A

¿Debería poner mi portátil en una funda impermeable?

deh-beh-REE-ah poh-NEHR mee por-tah-TEEL en OO-nah FOON-dah eem-pehr-meh-AH-bleh? Should I put my laptop in a waterproof sleeve?
B

Guárdalo dentro de tu bolsa, donde se mantenga seco.

gwar-DAH-loh DEN-troh deh too BOHL-sah, DON-deh seh mahn-TEHN-gah SEH-koh. Keep it inside your bag where it stays dry.
A

Entonces debería salir más temprano de lo normal.

en-TOHN-sehs deh-beh-REE-ah sah-LEER mahs tehm-PRAH-noh deh loh nor-MAHL. Then I should leave earlier than usual.
B

Eso debería hacer que el viaje sea menos estresante.

EH-soh deh-beh-REE-ah ah-SEHR keh el BYAH-heh seh-ah MEH-nohs es-treh-SAHN-teh. That should make the trip less stressful.

Word by Word

El “El” means “the” before “pronóstico”. It is the masculine singular definite article, commonly placed before a singular noun.
pronóstico “Pronóstico” means “forecast”; in “El pronóstico”, it refers to the weather forecast. It can be used with weather information about what is expected to happen.
dice “Dice” means “says” in “dice que”; it reports what the forecast communicates. It is a form of “decir” used with a singular subject, and the pattern “dice que” introduces the information being reported.
que “Que” introduces the clause containing what the forecast says in “dice que pronto empezará”. The sequence “dice que” is a common way to connect a statement with its content.
pronto “Pronto” means “soon” and places “empezará” near the present in time. It is commonly used with an event that is expected in the near future.
empezará “Empezará” means “will start” in “pronto empezará una lluvia fuerte”. It is a form of “empezar” used to describe the expected beginning of the rain, and it commonly appears with a time expression such as “pronto”.
una “Una” means “a” or “one” before “lluvia”. It is the feminine singular indefinite article and is used before a singular feminine noun.
lluvia “Lluvia” means “rain” in “una lluvia fuerte”. It names the weather that is expected to begin and is described by “fuerte” in the dialogue.
fuerte “Fuerte” means “heavy” in “lluvia fuerte”, describing the intensity of the rain. It is used after the noun here to describe weather conditions.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” or “so” and introduces advice that follows the forecast. It is useful at the beginning of a sentence when drawing a practical conclusion from information just mentioned.
ponte “Ponte” means “put on” or “wear” in the command “ponte hoy unos zapatos impermeables”. It is the form of “ponerse” used to tell one person to put on clothing, and the pattern “ponte + clothing item” gives this kind of advice.
hoy “Hoy” means “today” and specifies that the shoes should be worn on the current day. It can be added to advice, plans, or instructions to set the day.
unos “Unos” means “some” and here refers to a pair or an unspecified set of shoes in “unos zapatos”. It is a masculine plural indefinite determiner used before a plural noun.
zapatos “Zapatos” means “shoes” and is the item that the listener is told to put on. In the dialogue, it appears after “ponte” as the clothing item receiving the advice.
impermeables “Impermeables” means “waterproof” and describes “zapatos”. Its plural form matches the plural noun, and it can be used after a plural noun to describe a protective quality.
Siempre “Siempre” means “always” and says that puddles are regularly present near the station. The sequence “Siempre hay” is useful for describing something that is consistently found in a place.
hay “Hay” means “there is” or “there are” and states that puddles are present in “Siempre hay charcos”. It is a form of “haber” commonly used with a noun to say that something exists or is located somewhere.
charcos “Charcos” means “puddles” and names what is present near the station. It appears after “hay”, a common position for the thing being identified as present.
cerca “Cerca” means “near” in “cerca de la estación”. It identifies a short distance from a place and is commonly followed by “de” plus the reference location.
de In “cerca de la estación”, “de” links “cerca” with the location used as the reference point. The complete phrase “cerca de” expresses proximity; “de” does not express “near” by itself here.
la “La” means “the” before “estación”. It is the feminine singular definite article, used before a singular feminine noun.
estación “Estación” means “station” and is the place used as the reference point in “cerca de la estación”. It can name the location near which something is found.
También “También” means “also” and adds another possible consequence of the rain: needing extra time. It is commonly placed at the beginning of a sentence to add related information.
puedes “Puedes” means “can” or “may” in “puedes necesitar más tiempo”, presenting a possible need for the listener. It is a form of “poder” used with one person and commonly comes before an infinitive.
necesitar “Necesitar” means “need” and follows “puedes” in “puedes necesitar”. It remains in the infinitive after that verb, and the pattern “puedes necesitar + object” states what someone may need.
más “Más” means “more” or “extra” in “más tiempo”, increasing the amount of time being discussed. It is commonly placed before a noun when a greater quantity is meant.
tiempo “Tiempo” means “time” and is the amount that may be needed because of delays. It appears in “más tiempo” and can follow “necesitar” to identify the resource someone requires.
por “Por” means “because of” in “por los retrasos”, giving the reason for needing extra time. The pattern “por + noun” can identify a cause.
los “Los” means “the” before “retrasos”. It is the masculine plural definite article, used before a plural masculine noun.
retrasos “Retrasos” means “delays” and names the cause of the extra travel time in “por los retrasos”. It can follow “por” when delays are given as the reason for an effect.
Debería “Debería” means “should” and asks whether putting the laptop in the sleeve would be advisable. It is a form of “deber”, and the pattern “Debería + infinitive” is used to ask about or express advisable action.
poner “Poner” means “put” and follows “debería” in “Debería poner mi portátil en una funda impermeable”. It is used in the infinitive after “debería”, with the object and the container following it.
mi “Mi” means “my” and identifies “portátil” as belonging to the speaker. It is a possessive determiner placed before a singular noun.
portátil “Portátil” means “laptop” in “mi portátil”. It names the object that the speaker wants to protect and can be used after a possessive such as “mi”.
en “En” means “in” and marks the sleeve as the place where the laptop would be put. The structure “poner + object + en + container” describes placing something inside a container.
funda “Funda” means “sleeve” or “case” and names the protective container for the laptop. In “una funda impermeable”, it is followed by an adjective describing the container.
impermeable “Impermeable” means “waterproof” and describes “funda”. Its singular form matches the singular noun, and it can be used after a noun to describe its protective property.
Guárdalo “Guárdalo” means “keep it” or “store it” and tells the listener to put the laptop somewhere safe. It combines the command form of “guardar” with “lo”, which refers to “portátil”; the pattern “Guárdalo dentro de...” specifies where to keep it.
dentro “Dentro” means “inside” in “dentro de tu bolsa”, locating the laptop within the bag. It commonly appears in the pattern “dentro de + container or place”.
tu “Tu” means “your” and identifies “bolsa” as belonging to the listener. It is a possessive determiner placed before a noun.
bolsa “Bolsa” means “bag” and names the container where the laptop should be kept. It appears after “dentro de” to specify the inside location.
donde “Donde” means “where” and introduces the clause describing the bag as the place in which the laptop remains dry. The pattern “noun + donde + clause” connects a place with information about what happens there.
se “Se” combines with “mantenga” in “se mantenga seco” to express that the laptop remains dry. Here it is part of the pronominal verb “mantenerse”, and the complete expression describes a continuing condition.
mantenga “Mantenga” means “remains” or “stays” in “se mantenga seco”. It is a form of “mantenerse” describing the laptop’s protected condition, and the pattern “mantenerse + adjective” describes remaining in a state.
seco “Seco” means “dry” and describes the condition in which the laptop should remain. It completes “se mantenga seco”, a reusable way to describe something staying dry.
salir “Salir” means “leave” or “go out” and follows “debería” in “debería salir”. It is used in the infinitive after “debería” to describe the speaker’s planned departure.
temprano “Temprano” means “early” and modifies “salir” in “salir más temprano”. It can be used with “salir” to specify an earlier departure time.
lo “Lo” helps form the expression “lo normal”, meaning “what is normal” or “the usual standard”. It is used before an adjective when referring to a general idea rather than a specific noun.
normal “Normal” means “usual” or “normal” in “lo normal”, referring to the ordinary departure time. Together with “lo”, it describes a general standard for comparison.
Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to the preceding idea of leaving earlier. It is used as the subject of “debería hacer” to show what effect that plan is expected to have.
hacer “Hacer” means “make” or “cause” in “hacer que el viaje sea menos estresante”. It follows “debería” in the infinitive, and the pattern “hacer que + clause” introduces a resulting effect.
viaje “Viaje” means “trip” or “journey” in “el viaje”. It names the journey affected by the plan to leave earlier and can be used with “el” when referring to a specific trip.
sea “Sea” means “be” in “haga que el viaje sea menos estresante”, describing the resulting condition of the trip. It is a form of “ser”, and the pattern “hacer que + noun + sea...” describes the state something is caused to have.
menos “Menos” means “less” in “menos estresante” and reduces the degree of the following description. It is commonly placed before an adjective when comparing a lower degree.
estresante “Estresante” means “stressful” and describes “el viaje”. In “menos estresante”, it expresses that the trip will have a lower level of stress.

Grammar Points

Imperativo afirmativo con pronombre: ponte / guárdalo

Ponte los zapatos impermeables y guárdalo dentro de la bolsa.

POHN-teh lohs sah-PAH-tohs eem-pehr-meh-AH-bles ee GWAR-dah-loh DEN-troh deh lah BOHL-sah.

Put on the waterproof shoes and put it inside the bag.

In affirmative commands, object pronouns attach to the end of the verb: ponte = put on, guárdalo = put it away.

Spanish Vocabulary

decir verb
deh-SEER to say dice

El pronóstico dice que...

empezar verb
em-peh-SAR to start empezará

pronto empezará

entonces adv
en-TOHN-sehs then

Entonces, ponte...

fuerte adj
FWEHR-teh heavy; strong

una lluvia fuerte

haber verb
ah-BEHR there is; there are hay

Siempre hay charcos

impermeable adj
eem-pehr-meh-AH-bleh waterproof impermeables

zapatos impermeables

lluvia noun
YOO-byah rain

una lluvia fuerte

ponerse verb
poh-NEHR-seh to put on; to wear ponte

ponte unos zapatos

pronóstico noun
proh-NOHS-tee-koh forecast

El pronóstico dice...

pronto adv
PROHN-toh soon

pronto empezará

siempre adv
SYEHM-preh always

Siempre hay charcos

zapato noun
sah-PAH-toh shoe zapatos

unos zapatos impermeables

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Then wear waterproof shoes today.

Show AnswerEntonces, ponte hoy unos zapatos impermeables.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

rain

Show Answerlluvia

to say

Show Answerdice

then

Show Answerentonces

forecast

Show Answerpronóstico