Checking an email before sending | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At work, one adult asks another to check an email's subject, attachment, and recipients before it is sent..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Checking an email before sending to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Podrías revisar este correo antes de que lo envíe?

poh-DREE-ahs reh-bee-SAR ES-teh koh-RREH-oh AN-tes deh keh lo en-BEE-eh? Could you check this email before I send it?
B

Puedo revisarlo. ¿Qué debo revisar primero?

PWEH-doh reh-bee-SAR-loh. keh DEH-boh reh-bee-SAR pree-MEH-roh? I can check it. What should I check first?
A

Empieza por la línea de asunto, por favor.

em-PYEH-sah por lah LEE-neh-ah deh ah-SOON-toh, por fah-BOR. Please start with the subject line.
B

La línea de asunto es clara, pero ayudaría incluir el tema de la reunión.

lah LEE-neh-ah deh ah-SOON-toh es KLAH-rah, PEH-roh ah-yoo-dah-REE-ah een-kloo-EER el TEH-mah deh lah reh-oo-NYON. The subject line is clear, but the meeting topic would help.
A

¿Está adjunto el archivo correcto?

es-TAH ah-HOON-toh el ar-CHEE-boh koh-RREK-toh? Is the correct file attached?
B

Sí, la versión final está adjunta.

see, lah ber-SYON fee-NAL es-TAH ah-HOON-tah. Yes, the final version is attached.
A

¿Incluí a todos los que necesitan este correo?

een-kloo-EE ah TOH-dohs lohs keh neh-seh-SEE-tahn ES-teh koh-RREH-oh? Did I include everyone who needs this email?
B

La lista parece completa.

lah LEE-stah pah-REH-seh kohm-PLEH-tah. The list looks complete.
A

Entonces, creo que está listo para enviarlo.

en-TOHN-sehs, KREH-oh keh es-TAH LEES-toh pah-rah em-BYAR-loh. Then I think it is ready to send.

Word by Word

Podrías “Podrías” means “could you” in this polite request: “¿Podrías revisar este correo...?”. It is a form of “poder” used before an infinitive, as in “¿Podrías ayudarme?” for a polite request.
revisar “Revisar” means “to check” or “to review” in “Podrías revisar este correo”. It is used after “Podrías” and can take the thing being checked directly, as in “revisar un documento”.
este “Este” means “this” and points to the particular email in “este correo”. It is useful before a nearby or currently discussed thing, as in “este archivo” for “this file”.
correo “Correo” means “email” in “este correo”. The phrase “un correo” can refer to an email being written, checked, or sent.
antes “Antes” means “before” and introduces the time relation in “antes de que lo envíe”. It commonly appears with “de” before a noun or clause, as in “antes de la reunión” or “antes de que empiece”.
de In “antes de que lo envíe”, “de” connects “antes” with the following clause. The reusable pattern is “antes de” plus a noun or “antes de que” plus a clause.
que In “antes de que lo envíe”, “que” introduces the clause describing what happens before sending. This same pattern can be reused with another action, such as “antes de que llegue” for “before he or she arrives”.
lo “Lo” means “it” in “que lo envíe”, referring here to the email. It is placed before the verb in this clause when the object is represented by a pronoun.
envíe “Envíe” expresses “send it” in the clause “que lo envíe”; “lo” supplies the “it”. The form comes from “enviar” and is used here for the speaker’s action of sending the email.
Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” in “Puedo revisarlo”. It is followed by an infinitive or an infinitive with an attached object pronoun, as in “Puedo ayudarte” for “I can help you”.
revisarlo “Revisarlo” means “to check it”, referring to the email. It combines “revisar” with “lo”, and the same pattern can be used with another action, such as “leerlo” for “to read it”.
Qué “Qué” means “what” in the question “¿Qué debo revisar primero?”. It asks which thing or information is wanted and commonly appears before the verb in a question.
debo “Debo” means “I should” or “I must” in “¿Qué debo revisar primero?”. It is followed by an infinitive to ask about an action that is expected or necessary, as in “debo responder”.
primero “Primero” means “first” and asks for the first item to check in “¿Qué debo revisar primero?”. It can be placed after the action to indicate order, as in “leer primero” for “read first”.
Empieza “Empieza” means “start” in the instruction “Empieza por la línea de asunto”. It introduces a direct request and is commonly followed by “por” plus the first thing to deal with.
por In “Empieza por la línea de asunto”, “por” marks the point where the checking should begin. The reusable pattern is “empezar por” plus an item, such as “empezar por el nombre”.
la “La” means “the” in “la línea de asunto”. It appears before the specific feminine-named item being identified in the email.
línea “Línea” means “line” in the email expression “la línea de asunto”. In this dialogue it refers to the subject line, and “línea de asunto” is the complete expression for that email field.
asunto “Asunto” means “subject” as part of “la línea de asunto”, the subject line of the email. This expression is used when checking or discussing what appears at the top of an email.
por favor “Por favor” means “please” and makes the instruction “Empieza por la línea de asunto” polite. The components “por” and “favor” work together as this polite request expression, which can be placed at the beginning or end of a request.
es “Es” means “is” in “La línea de asunto es clara”. It links the subject, “la línea de asunto”, with the description that follows, and the pattern “X es Y” is widely reusable.
clara “Clara” means “clear” in the evaluation “La línea de asunto es clara”. It describes the subject line as easy to understand, and the pattern “es claro” or “es clara” can describe information or an item.
pero “Pero” means “but” and introduces a contrast between the subject line being clear and adding the meeting topic helping. It connects two ideas when the second one limits or changes the first.
ayudaría “Ayudaría” means “would help” in “ayudaría incluir el tema de la reunión”. It presents including the meeting topic as a possible helpful improvement, and it can be followed by an infinitive for the helpful action.
incluir “Incluir” means “to include” in “ayudaría incluir el tema de la reunión”. It names the suggested action and can be followed directly by the thing being included, such as “incluir el nombre”.
el “El” means “the” in “el tema de la reunión”. It introduces the specific topic being discussed.
tema “Tema” means “topic” in “el tema de la reunión”. It refers to the subject of the meeting, and “el tema de...” is a reusable way to identify the topic of an event or discussion.
reunión “Reunión” means “meeting” in “el tema de la reunión”. The phrase “de la reunión” identifies which meeting the topic belongs to.
Está “Está” means “is” when asking about the file’s state in “¿Está adjunto el archivo correcto?”. It is used here to ask whether the file is attached, and the pattern “¿Está + description?” can ask about a current condition.
adjunto “Adjunto” means “attached” in “¿Está adjunto el archivo correcto?”. It describes the file’s attachment status and can be used when checking whether a file accompanies an email.
archivo “Archivo” means “file” in “el archivo correcto”. It refers to the document attached to the email, and “adjuntar un archivo” is a reusable expression for attaching a file.
correcto “Correcto” means “correct” in “el archivo correcto”. It identifies the file as the intended one, and it can follow a noun to specify that the right item has been selected.
Sí “Sí” means “yes” in the answer “Sí, la versión final está adjunta”. It confirms the preceding question and can be placed at the beginning of a reply.
versión “Versión” means “version” in “la versión final”. It identifies one form or edition of the file, and it can be combined with a description such as “la versión final” when checking a document.
final “Final” means “final” in “la versión final”. It identifies the version intended for completion or sending, as in “el documento final” for “the final document”.
adjunta “Adjunta” means “attached” in “la versión final está adjunta”. It describes the final version as accompanying the email, and it can be used to confirm an attachment’s status.
Incluí “Incluí” means “I included” in “¿Incluí a todos los que necesitan este correo?”. It reports whether the speaker added all the needed recipients, and “incluir” can be followed by the people or things included.
a In “Incluí a todos los que necesitan este correo”, “a” marks the people included by the verb. The reusable pattern is “incluir a” plus people, such as “incluir a Ana”.
todos “Todos” means “everyone” or “all people” in “a todos los que necesitan este correo”. It refers to the complete group of people who need the email and can be followed by “los que” to specify that group.
los In “todos los que necesitan este correo”, “los” helps refer to the people described by the following clause. Together with “que necesitan este correo”, it identifies everyone who needs the email.
necesitan “Necesitan” means “need” in “los que necesitan este correo”. It describes the people who require the email, and “necesitar” can be followed directly by the thing needed, as in “necesitar información”.
lista “Lista” means “list” in “La lista parece completa”. It refers here to the list of email recipients, and it can be used for a list that is checked for missing entries.
parece “Parece” means “seems” or “looks” in “La lista parece completa”. It gives an impression or assessment, and the reusable pattern is “parece” plus a description, such as “parece correcto”.
completa “Completa” means “complete” in “La lista parece completa”. It says that no needed people appear to be missing from the list, and it can describe a list, version, or other item that contains everything needed.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” or “so” in “Entonces, creo que está listo para enviarlo”. It marks the conclusion reached after checking the email and can introduce a result or next step.
creo “Creo” means “I think” in “creo que está listo para enviarlo”. It introduces the speaker’s assessment, commonly followed by “que” and the idea being considered.
listo “Listo” means “ready” in “está listo para enviarlo”. It says that the email is prepared for the next action, and the reusable pattern is “estar listo para” plus an infinitive.
para In “listo para enviarlo”, “para” introduces the action for which the email is ready. The pattern “estar listo para” plus an infinitive is useful for saying that a person or thing is ready to do or undergo something.
enviarlo “Enviarlo” means “to send it”, referring to the email in “está listo para enviarlo”. It combines “enviar” with “lo”, and the pattern “para + infinitive with lo” can express an action to be done with a specific object.

Grammar Points

antes de que + subjuntivo

Antes de que envíe el correo, revisa la línea de asunto.

AN-tes deh keh en-BEE-eh el koh-RREH-oh, reh-BEE-sah lah LEE-neh-ah deh ah-SOON-toh.

Before I send the email, check the subject line.

After “antes de que,” Spanish uses the subjunctive; “envíe” is the subjunctive form of enviar.

condicional para peticiones corteses

¿Podrías revisar el correo?

poh-DREE-ahs reh-bee-SAR el koh-RREH-oh?

Could you check the email?

“Podrías” is the conditional of poder and makes the request more polite than “puedes”.

Spanish Vocabulary

antes de que conj
AN-tes deh keh before
asunto noun
ah-SOON-toh subject
claro adj
KLAH-roh clear clara
correo noun
koh-RREH-oh email
empezar verb
em-peh-SAR to start empieza
enviar verb
em-BYAR to send envíe
línea noun
LEE-neh-ah line
poder verb
poh-DEHR to be able to; can podrías
primero adv
pree-MEH-roh first
reunión noun
reh-oo-NYON meeting
revisar verb
reh-bee-SAR to check; to review
tema noun
TEH-mah topic

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I can check it. What should I check first?

Show AnswerPuedo revisarlo. ¿Qué debo revisar primero?

Is the correct file attached?

Show Answer¿Está adjunto el archivo correcto?

Yes, the final version is attached.

Show AnswerSí, la versión final está adjunta.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to start

Show Answerempieza

line

Show Answerlínea

to check; to review

Show Answerrevisar

subject

Show Answerasunto