Choosing a Gift for a Coworker | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At work, two adults choose a useful personal gift and a card for a coworker..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Gift for a Coworker to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Tenemos que elegir un regalo para nuestra compañera de trabajo.

teh-NEH-mohs keh eh-leh-HEER oon reh-GAH-loh pah-rah NWES-trah kohm-pah-NYEH-rah deh trah-BAH-hoh We need to choose a gift for our coworker.
B

¿Debe ser útil o más personal?

DEH-beh sehr oo-TEEL oh mahs pehr-soh-NAHL Should it be useful or more personal?
A

Le gusta el té, así que un juego de té puede funcionar.

leh GOOS-tah el TEH, ah-SEE keh oon HWEH-goh deh TEH PWEH-deh foon-see-oh-NAHR She likes tea, so a tea set might work.
B

Parece algo personal, pero sigue siendo útil.

pah-REH-seh AHL-goh pehr-soh-NAHL, PEH-roh SEE-gheh SYEN-doh oo-TEEL That feels personal but still useful.
A

Vamos a añadir también una tarjeta pequeña.

BAH-mohs ah ah-nyah-DEER tahm-BYEN OO-nah tahr-HEH-tah peh-KEH-nyah Let's add a small card too.
B

Todos pueden firmarla antes de darle el regalo.

TOH-dohs PWEH-den feer-MAHR-lah AHN-tes deh DAHR-leh el reh-GAH-loh Everyone can sign it before we give her the gift.

Word by Word

Tenemos In “Tenemos que elegir”, this says that we need to choose. It is used in the pattern “Tenemos que” + an infinitive to express an obligation or necessity. You can use this pattern when saying what you and others need to do.
que In “Tenemos que elegir”, “que” connects “Tenemos” with the action “elegir” and forms the expression meaning “need to choose”. The reusable pattern is “tener que” + an infinitive. Use it to express that someone has to do something.
elegir In “Tenemos que elegir”, “elegir” means to choose. It appears as an infinitive after “Tenemos que”. You can use “elegir” when selecting a gift, option, or activity.
un In “un regalo”, “un” means “a” and introduces one unspecified gift. Its form agrees with the masculine singular noun “regalo”. Use “un” before a masculine singular noun when referring to one unspecified item.
regalo In “un regalo para nuestra compañera de trabajo”, “regalo” means a gift or present. The phrase identifies an item intended for the coworker. You can use “un regalo para” + a person to describe a gift’s recipient.
para In “un regalo para nuestra compañera de trabajo”, “para” marks the intended recipient of the gift. The reusable pattern is “un regalo para” + a person. Use it when saying who a gift or other item is intended for.
nuestra In “nuestra compañera de trabajo”, “nuestra” means “our” and shows that the female coworker belongs to or is associated with the group. Its form agrees with the feminine singular noun “compañera”. Use “nuestra” before a feminine singular noun.
compañera In “compañera de trabajo”, “compañera” identifies a female colleague or coworker. “De trabajo” specifies that the colleague is connected with work. Use the full expression “compañera de trabajo” when referring to a female coworker.
de In “compañera de trabajo”, “de” connects “compañera” with “trabajo” and specifies the work connection. The pattern noun + “de” + noun is commonly used to describe a relationship or type. Here it helps form “compañera de trabajo”.
trabajo In “compañera de trabajo”, “trabajo” means work and identifies the setting or relationship. Together, “de trabajo” describes someone connected with work. Use it in expressions about work-related people or things.
Debe In “¿Debe ser útil o más personal?”, “Debe” asks what the gift should be like or what would be appropriate. It is used with “ser” to ask about a required or preferred quality. You can use “Debe” + infinitive when asking what something should do or be.
ser In “Debe ser útil o más personal”, “ser” means “to be” and introduces the qualities being considered for the gift. The pattern “debe ser” is used to ask or state what something should be like. Use it before an adjective such as “útil” or “personal”.
útil In “Debe ser útil”, “útil” describes the gift as useful or practical. It is one of the two qualities being considered in the question. You can use “ser útil” when describing an item that serves a practical purpose.
o In “útil o más personal”, “o” links two alternatives: useful or more personal. The reusable pattern is one option + “o” + another option. Use it when asking someone to choose between possibilities.
más In “más personal”, “más” means “more” and increases the degree of the adjective “personal”. The pattern “más” + adjective is used to compare qualities or express a higher degree. Here it contrasts a more personal gift with a useful one.
personal In “más personal” and “algo personal”, “personal” describes something connected more closely with the recipient’s individual tastes or relationship. In “más personal”, it is one quality of the possible gift. You can use “algo personal” to describe an item chosen with a particular person in mind.
Le In “Le gusta el té”, “Le” marks the person to whom the tea is pleasing, meaning “to her”. It is used with “gusta” to express what she likes. The reusable pattern is “Le gusta” + a singular thing.
gusta In “Le gusta el té”, “gusta” expresses that tea is pleasing to her, which means she likes tea. The exact form appears with “Le” and the singular item “el té”. Use “Le gusta” + a singular noun when saying that someone likes one thing.
el In “el té”, “el” means “the” and introduces the specific drink being discussed. Its form agrees with the masculine singular noun “té”. Use “el” before a masculine singular noun when referring to a specific item.
té In “Le gusta el té”, “té” means tea. It is the thing that she likes and the type of gift being considered in the conversation. Use “té” when talking about the drink or tea-related items.
así In “así que un juego de té puede funcionar”, “así” contributes to the expression “así que”, meaning “so” or “therefore”. This expression links her liking tea with the suggestion of a tea set. Use “así que” to introduce a result or conclusion.
juego In “un juego de té”, “juego” means a set rather than a game. “De té” specifies that the set is for tea. You can use the pattern “juego de” + noun to name a set of related items.
puede In “puede funcionar”, “puede” says that the suggestion can or might work. It expresses possibility before the infinitive “funcionar”. Use “puede” + infinitive when presenting a possible action or result.
funcionar In “un juego de té puede funcionar”, “funcionar” means to work as a suitable solution or choice. It follows “puede” as the possible result of the suggestion. You can use “puede funcionar” when proposing an idea that may be appropriate.
Parece In “Parece algo personal”, “Parece” means “seems” or “appears” and gives an impression about the gift. It is followed here by “algo personal”, the thing that seems personal. Use “Parece” + a description when giving an impression.
algo In “algo personal”, “algo” means “something” and refers generally to the gift without naming it again. It combines with the adjective “personal” to describe that unspecified thing. Use “algo” + adjective when describing something in a general way.
pero In “personal, pero sigue siendo útil”, “pero” introduces a contrast. The gift feels personal, while it remains useful as well. Use “pero” to connect two ideas that differ or qualify each other.
sigue In “sigue siendo útil”, “sigue” contributes the meaning that the gift remains or continues to be useful. It combines with “siendo” to maintain the same quality despite the contrast. Use “sigue siendo” + adjective when something continues to have a quality.
siendo In “sigue siendo útil”, “siendo” contributes “being” to the expression meaning “continues to be useful”. Together with “sigue”, it shows that the quality remains. Use “sigue siendo” before an adjective or description that still applies.
Vamos In “Vamos a añadir también una tarjeta pequeña”, “Vamos” begins a suggestion meaning “let’s add”. Together with “a añadir”, it proposes an action for the group. Use “Vamos a” + infinitive when suggesting that you and others do something.
a In “Vamos a añadir”, “a” links “Vamos” with the infinitive “añadir” and forms the suggestion “let’s add”. The pattern is “Vamos a” + infinitive. Use it to propose an action for the group.
añadir In “Vamos a añadir también una tarjeta pequeña”, “añadir” means to add. It is the action proposed for the card. You can use “añadir” + an object when including one more thing.
también In “añadir también una tarjeta pequeña”, “también” means “also” or “too” and adds the card to the gift idea. It shows that this is an additional item. Use “también” when adding another person, action, or thing to what has already been mentioned.
una In “una tarjeta pequeña”, “una” means “a” and introduces one unspecified card. Its form agrees with the feminine singular noun “tarjeta”. Use “una” before a feminine singular noun when referring to one unspecified item.
tarjeta In “una tarjeta pequeña”, “tarjeta” means a card. It is the additional item that the group plans to include with the gift. You can use “tarjeta” when referring to a card for a message or occasion.
pequeña In “una tarjeta pequeña”, “pequeña” describes the card as small. Its form agrees with the feminine singular noun “tarjeta” and follows it in the phrase. Use a noun followed by an adjective like “tarjeta pequeña” to describe an item.
Todos In “Todos pueden firmarla”, “Todos” means everyone or all the people in the group. It identifies the people who can sign the card. Use “Todos” when referring to all members of a group.
pueden In “Todos pueden firmarla”, “pueden” says that everyone is able or allowed to sign the card. It is followed by “firmarla”, the action they can do. Use “pueden” + infinitive when talking about what several people can do.
firmarla In “Todos pueden firmarla”, “firmarla” means “to sign it”, referring to the card. The form contains the action of signing with “la” attached to refer back to the feminine noun “tarjeta”. Use this form after a modal verb such as “pueden” when the object pronoun is attached to the infinitive.
antes In “antes de darle el regalo”, “antes” means “before” and places the giving of the gift after the signing. The reusable pattern is “antes de” + an infinitive or noun. Use it to say that one action happens earlier than another.
darle In “antes de darle el regalo”, “darle” means “to give her”, with “le” referring to the female coworker. It expresses giving the gift to her. A reusable pattern is “darle” + an object, as in “darle el regalo”.

Grammar Points

tener que + infinitivo

Tenemos que elegir un regalo útil.

teh-NEH-mohs keh eh-leh-HEER oon reh-GAH-loh oo-TEEL

We have to choose a useful gift.

Use tener que followed by an infinitive to express obligation or necessity.

antes de + infinitivo + pronombre

antes de firmarla

AHN-tes deh feer-MAHR-lah

before signing it

Before an action, use antes de plus an infinitive; attach the object pronoun to the infinitive.

Spanish Vocabulary

compañera de trabajo phrase
kohm-pah-NYEH-rah deh trah-BAH-hoh female coworker
elegir verb
eh-leh-HEER to choose
funcionar verb
foon-see-oh-NAHR to work; to function
juego de té phrase
HWEH-goh deh TEH tea set
nuestra det
NWES-trah our
parecer verb
pah-reh-SEHR to seem; to appear Parece
personal adj
pehr-soh-NAHL personal
regalo noun
reh-GAH-loh gift
seguir verb
seh-GHEER to continue; to keep being sigue
té noun
TEH tea
tener que phrase
teh-NEHR keh to need to; to have to Tenemos que

Tenemos que elegir

útil adj
oo-TEEL useful

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Should it be useful or more personal?

Show Answer¿Debe ser útil o más personal?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

personal

Show Answerpersonal

our

Show Answernuestra

useful

Show Answerútil

to choose

Show Answerelegir