Choosing Which Task to Do First | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At work, two adults prioritize an urgent email before starting an important report due soon..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Choosing Which Task to Do First to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Tengo demasiadas tareas esta mañana.

TEN-goh deh-mah-SYAH-dahs tah-REH-ahs EH-stah mah-NYAH-nah. I have too many tasks this morning.
B

Primero, ordénalas por prioridad.

PREE-meh-roh, or-DEH-nahs pohr pree-oh-ree-DAHD. List them by priority first.
A

Este correo electrónico es urgente.

EH-steh koh-REH-oh eh-lehk-TROH-nee-koh ehs oor-HEN-teh. This email is urgent.
A

El informe es importante.

Ehl een-FOR-meh ehs eem-por-TAHN-teh. The report is important.
B

¿Para cuándo hay que entregar el informe?

PAH-rah KWAHN-doh eye keh en-treh-GAHR ehl een-FOR-meh? When is the report deadline?
A

Debe estar listo mañana por la tarde.

DEH-beh ehs-TAHR LEES-toh mah-NYAH-nah pohr lah TAR-deh. It is due tomorrow afternoon.
B

Entonces, responde primero al correo urgente.

En-TOHN-sehs, rehs-PON-deh PREE-meh-roh ahl koh-REH-oh oor-HEN-teh. Then answer the urgent email first.
A

Después, trabajaré en el informe.

Dehs-PWEHS, trah-bah-hah-REH ehn ehl een-FOR-meh. After that I will work on the report.
B

Eso debería ayudarte a sentirte menos estresado.

EH-soh deh-beh-REE-ah ah-yoo-DAHR-teh ah sehn-TEER-teh MEH-nohs ehs-treh-SAH-doh. That should help you feel less stressed.

Word by Word

Tengo “Tengo” means “I have” in “Tengo demasiadas tareas esta mañana.” It is the form of tener used by the speaker to state what they have. It is useful for saying that you have tasks, time, or other things.
demasiadas “Demasiadas” means “too many” and describes the number of tareas in “Tengo demasiadas tareas.” It is the feminine plural form because it refers to tareas. The pattern demasiadas + plural noun expresses an excessive number.
tareas “Tareas” means “tasks” in this work context. It is the plural form of tarea and refers to the work items that need attention. The phrase “demasiadas tareas” is useful when describing a heavy workload.
esta “Esta” means “this” in “esta mañana,” referring to the morning of the current day. It is the feminine singular form used with mañana; its citation form is este. The pattern esta + time expression identifies a current period.
mañana “Mañana” means “morning” in “esta mañana.” Together, “esta mañana” tells the listener when the tasks exist. This expression is useful when discussing plans or work during the current morning.
Primero “Primero” means “first” and introduces the first step in the instruction “Primero, ordénalas por prioridad.” It tells the listener to do this before the other actions. It is useful for organizing instructions in sequence.
ordénalas “Ordénalas” is a direct instruction to organize or list them, referring back to tareas. The citation form is ordenar, and the attached las represents the tasks being organized. The pattern “ordénalas por prioridad” gives both the action and the criterion for organizing.
por “Por” means “by” in “por prioridad,” showing the criterion used to organize the tasks. It connects the action with the basis for the ordering. The pattern por + criterion is useful when explaining how something is arranged.
prioridad “Prioridad” means “priority” in “por prioridad.” It identifies which tasks should be handled before others. This word is useful when discussing the order of work or decisions.
Este “Este” means “this” in “Este correo electrónico,” pointing to a specific email. It is the masculine singular demonstrative used with correo. The pattern este + noun identifies a nearby or currently relevant item.
correo “Correo” means “email” in “correo electrónico.” Here it refers to the message that needs a response. The phrase “correo electrónico” is useful when talking about work communication.
electrónico “Electrónico” means “electronic” and specifies the type of correo in “correo electrónico.” It contributes to the full meaning “email” together with correo. The pattern noun + electrónico identifies an electronic version or medium.
es “Es” means “is” in “Este correo electrónico es urgente,” linking the email with the description urgente. Its citation form is ser. The pattern noun + es + adjective is useful for describing a person, object, or situation.
urgente “Urgente” means “urgent” and describes the email as requiring quick attention. In “el correo urgente,” it identifies the message to answer first. This word is useful when a task or message cannot reasonably wait.
El “El” means “the” in “El informe,” referring to a specific report already relevant to the conversation. It is used before the masculine singular noun informe. The pattern el + noun introduces a particular item.
informe “Informe” means “report” in “El informe.” It is the work document that is important and due tomorrow afternoon. This word is useful when discussing a report at work.
importante “Importante” means “important” in “El informe es importante.” It describes the report as significant, although the dialogue separately identifies the email as urgent. The pattern noun + es importante is useful for stating that something matters.
Para “Para” helps ask about a deadline in “¿Para cuándo hay que entregar el informe?” Here it has the sense of “by” or “for” a required time. The pattern para + time asks when something must be completed.
cuándo “Cuándo” means “when” in “¿Para cuándo...?” and asks for the time or date of the deadline. Its accent marks it as the interrogative form. It is useful in questions about when an action must happen.
hay “Hay” forms part of the obligation expression “hay que entregar,” meaning that the report must be submitted. Its citation form is haber, but here it does not mean a specific person has something. The pattern hay que + infinitive expresses a general requirement.
que “Que” is part of “hay que entregar,” the construction used to express that the report must be submitted. It does not carry the whole obligation by itself. The reusable pattern hay que + infinitive is useful for stating what needs to be done.
entregar “Entregar” means “to submit” or “to deliver” the report in “hay que entregar el informe.” It is the action required by the deadline. The pattern hay que entregar + object is useful for talking about required submissions.
Debe “Debe” expresses a requirement or expectation in “Debe estar listo mañana por la tarde,” meaning that the report must or should be ready. Its citation form is deber. The pattern debe + infinitive states what is expected to happen.
estar “Estar” means “to be” in the state expression “estar listo.” It describes the report’s condition rather than identifying what the report is. The pattern estar + adjective is useful for describing a temporary or resulting state.
listo “Listo” means “ready” in “Debe estar listo.” It describes the required state of the report by tomorrow afternoon. The pattern estar listo is useful when something has been completed and is prepared for use or delivery.
la “La” means “the” in “la tarde,” referring to a particular part of the following day. It is used before the feminine singular noun tarde. The pattern la + time noun identifies a specific period.
tarde “Tarde” means “afternoon” in “mañana por la tarde.” The full expression specifies when the report must be ready. “Por la tarde” is useful for describing when an event or action takes place.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” or “so” in “Entonces, responde primero...” It introduces the recommended next action based on the deadline and urgency. It is useful for connecting a conclusion or consequence to what was just said.
responde “Responde” is a direct instruction to answer or respond to the urgent email. Its citation form is responder. The pattern responde al correo identifies both the action and the message receiving the response.
al “Al” means “to the” in “responde al correo urgente.” It is the contraction of a and el and marks the email as the recipient of the response. The pattern responder al + masculine singular noun is useful when naming what someone should answer.
Después “Después” means “after that” or “afterwards” in “Después, trabajaré en el informe.” It places the next action after answering the email. The pattern Después, + action is useful for describing the next step in a sequence.
trabajaré “Trabajaré” means “I will work” in “trabajaré en el informe,” referring to the speaker’s planned future action. Its citation form is trabajar. The pattern trabajaré en + task or project is useful when stating what you plan to work on.
en “En” means “on” in “trabajaré en el informe,” connecting the work with the report. It identifies the task or project receiving the speaker’s attention. The pattern trabajar en + project is useful for describing work activities.
Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to the plan just described: answering the urgent email first and then working on the report. It points back to an idea rather than naming a new object. It is useful for commenting on a previous action or plan.
debería “Debería” means “should” in “Eso debería ayudarte,” expressing an expected helpful result rather than a guaranteed one. Its citation form is deber. The pattern debería + infinitive is useful for giving a measured expectation or recommendation.
ayudarte “Ayudarte” means “help you” in “debería ayudarte a sentirte menos estresado.” Its citation form is ayudar, and te identifies the person receiving the help. The pattern ayudar a alguien a + infinitive is useful for describing how one action benefits another person.
a “A” links “ayudarte” with the action “sentirte” in “ayudarte a sentirte menos estresado.” It introduces the action that the help makes easier or more likely. The pattern ayudar a + infinitive is useful for expressing help with an action.
sentirte “Sentirte” means “to feel” in “sentirte menos estresado,” referring to the listener’s emotional state. Its citation form is sentir, with te attached to refer to the person feeling. The pattern sentirte + adjective describes how the listener feels.
menos “Menos” means “less” in “menos estresado,” reducing the degree of stress. It modifies estresado and shows the intended improvement. The pattern menos + adjective is useful for comparing a lower degree of a feeling or quality.
estresado “Estresado” means “stressed” in “sentirte menos estresado.” It describes the listener’s emotional state and the condition the suggested plan should improve. The expression sentirse menos estresado is useful when talking about reducing stress.

Grammar Points

Futuro simple en primera persona: trabajaré

Después trabajaré en el informe.

Dehs-PWEHS trah-bah-hah-REH ehn ehl een-FOR-meh.

Afterwards I will work on the report.

La terminación -é indica una acción futura realizada por yo; el pronombre sujeto normalmente se omite.

Imperativo con pronombre unido: ordénalas

Primero, ordénalas por prioridad.

PREE-meh-roh, or-DEH-nahs pohr pree-oh-ree-DAHD.

First, arrange them by priority.

En una orden afirmativa, el pronombre de objeto se une al final del verbo: ordena + las = ordénalas.

Spanish Vocabulary

correo electrónico phrase
koh-REH-oh eh-lehk-TROH-nee-koh email
demasiadas det
deh-mah-SYAH-dahs too many
es verb
ehs is
esta mañana phrase
EH-stah mah-NYAH-nah this morning
este det
EH-steh this
ordénalas verb
or-DEH-nahs list them; arrange them
por prep
pohr by
primero adv
PREE-meh-roh first
prioridad noun
pree-oh-ree-DAHD priority
tareas noun
tah-REH-ahs tasks
tengo verb
TEN-goh have

I have too many tasks.

urgente adj
oor-HEN-teh urgent

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I have too many tasks this morning.

Show AnswerTengo demasiadas tareas esta mañana.

List them by priority first.

Show AnswerPrimero, ordénalas por prioridad.

This email is urgent.

Show AnswerEste correo electrónico es urgente.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

priority

Show Answerprioridad

list them; arrange them

Show Answerordénalas

this

Show Answereste

tasks

Show Answertareas