Cleaning up a common room | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: After using a common room, two adults clean up chairs and trash, turn things off, and lock the room..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Cleaning up a common room to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Usamos la sala común durante un rato.

oo-SAH-mohs lah SAH-lah koh-MOON doo-RAHN-teh oon RAH-toh. We used the common room for a while.
B

Vamos a recogerla antes de salir.

BAH-mohs ah reh-koh-HEHR-lah AHN-tehs deh sah-LEER. Let's clean it up before we head out.
A

Volveré a poner las sillas en su sitio.

bohl-beh-REH ah poh-NEHR lahs SEE-yahs ehn soo SEE-tyoh. I'll put the chairs back where they were.
B

Quitaré la basura de las mesas.

kee-tah-REH lah bah-SOO-rah deh lahs MEH-sahs. I'll clear the trash from the tables.
A

¿Debemos apagar también las luces?

deh-BEH-mohs ah-pah-GAHR tahm-BYEHN lahs LOO-sehs? Should we turn off the lights too?
B

Apaga las luces.

ah-PAH-gah lahs LOO-sehs. Turn off the lights.
B

Cierra las ventanas antes de cerrar la sala con llave.

SYEH-rrah lahs behn-TAH-nahs AHN-tehs deh seh-RRAHR lah SAH-lah kohn YAH-beh. Close the windows before we lock up.
A

La sala parece lista para el siguiente grupo.

lah SAH-lah pah-REH-seh LEES-tah PAH-rah ehl see-GYEHN-teh GROO-poh. The room looks ready for the next group.
B

Entonces podemos cerrar la puerta con llave y salir.

ehn-TOHN-sehs poh-DEH-mohs seh-RRAHR lah PWEHR-tah kohn YAH-beh ee sah-LEER. Then we can lock the door and leave.

Word by Word

Usamos “Usamos” means “we used” here, referring to the group’s earlier use of the common room. The base verb is usar, and this form can describe something a group used together, especially with a time expression.
la “la” means “the” and introduces the specific feminine singular noun “sala” in “la sala común.” Use it before a feminine singular noun when referring to a particular thing.
sala “sala” means “room” here, specifically the shared room in “la sala común.” Use it with an article and, when useful, a description of the room.
común “común” means “common” or “shared” and describes the room as a place used by more than one group. In “la sala común,” it follows the noun and identifies the type of room.
durante “durante” introduces the length of time in “durante un rato,” meaning “for a while.” Use it before a period or duration to say how long something continues.
un “un” means “a” in “un rato” and introduces the masculine singular noun rato. Use it before a masculine singular noun when referring to one unspecified period or thing.
rato “rato” means “a while” or a short period of time in “un rato.” Use it with a time expression such as “durante un rato” when describing a brief duration.
Vamos “Vamos” helps suggest a joint action in “Vamos a recogerla,” meaning “Let’s clean it up.” The base verb is ir, and this expression is useful when proposing that the speakers do something together.
a In “Vamos a recogerla,” “a” connects the suggestion “Vamos” with the action that follows. This is the linking word used in the pattern for proposing an action together.
recogerla “recogerla” means “to clean it up” or “to pick it up” here, referring to the room. It combines the action recoger with la, which refers back to “la sala”; use this form when the object is expressed as an attached pronoun.
antes “antes” means “before” in “antes de salir” and places leaving after the cleanup. Use it to introduce an action that must happen earlier than another action.
de In “antes de salir,” “de” completes the expression that means “before leaving” and comes before the infinitive salir. This is the linking word used after antes when the following action is expressed as an infinitive.
salir “salir” means “to leave” or “to go out” in “antes de salir.” The base form is salir, and it is used here after de to name the action of leaving the room.
Volveré “Volveré” means “I will put back” here, referring to returning the chairs to their proper place. The base verb is volver, and “Volveré a poner” presents a planned future action involving putting something back.
poner “poner” means “to put” or “to place” in “Volveré a poner las sillas.” It is the infinitive naming the action after volveré a, and it commonly takes the thing being placed as its object.
las “las” means “the” and introduces the feminine plural noun “sillas” in “las sillas.” Use it before a specific group of feminine plural things.
sillas “sillas” means “chairs” in “las sillas.” The singular form is silla, and this plural form names the chairs that are being returned to their place.
en “en” means “in” or “at” in “en su sitio,” describing the location where the chairs should be placed. Use it to introduce a place or position.
su In “en su sitio,” “su” indicates the place associated with the chairs, meaning their proper place. Use it before a noun to identify something belonging or connected to a person or thing already understood.
sitio “sitio” means “place” or “position” in “en su sitio,” referring to where the chairs belong. Use it with a location expression when something is returned to its proper position.
Quitaré “Quitaré” means “I will clear” or “I will remove” here, referring to removing the trash from the tables. The base verb is quitar, and this form states the speaker’s planned action with a direct object.
basura “basura” means “trash” or “garbage” in “la basura.” It names the material being removed, and it can be used as the object of an action involving clearing or removing it.
mesas “mesas” means “tables” in “de las mesas.” The singular form is mesa, and this plural form identifies the surfaces from which the trash is cleared.
Debemos “Debemos” asks whether the speakers should or must do something in “¿Debemos apagar también las luces?” The base verb is deber, and it is used before an infinitive to ask about a needed or advisable action.
apagar “apagar” means “to turn off” in “Debemos apagar también las luces.” It is the infinitive naming the action after debemos, and it is used with something such as lights as its object.
también “también” means “also” or “too” and adds the lights to the other cleanup actions in “apagar también las luces.” Use it when including an additional action or item.
luces “luces” means “lights” in “las luces.” The singular form is luz, and this plural form names the lights that should be turned off.
Apaga “Apaga” means “turn off” as a direct instruction in “Apaga las luces.” The base verb is apagar, and this form is used to tell someone to perform the action.
Cierra “Cierra” means “close” as a direct instruction in “Cierra las ventanas.” The base verb is cerrar, and this form tells someone to close the windows before the room is locked.
ventanas “ventanas” means “windows” in “las ventanas.” The singular form is ventana, and this plural form names the windows that need to be closed.
cerrar “cerrar” means “to lock” in “cerrar la sala con llave,” where the room is closed using a key. The base form is cerrar, and it also appears after de in “antes de cerrar” to name the action that happens before leaving.
con In “con llave,” “con” means “with” and introduces the means used to secure the room. Use it before a noun to describe what accompanies an action or how it is done.
llave “llave” means “key” in “con llave,” which describes closing the room with a key and therefore locking it. Use it in this expression when specifying that something is secured by key.
parece “parece” means “seems” or “looks” in “La sala parece lista.” The base verb is parecer, and it is used before a description to give an impression about something.
lista “lista” means “ready” in “La sala parece lista,” describing the room as prepared for the next group. Its feminine form matches sala, and it can follow parece to describe a person or thing’s state.
para “para” means “for” in “para el siguiente grupo” and identifies the group the room is intended for. Use it before a person, group, or intended recipient.
el “el” means “the” and introduces the masculine singular noun phrase “el siguiente grupo.” Use it before a specific masculine singular noun.
siguiente “siguiente” means “next” or “following” in “el siguiente grupo.” It identifies the group that comes after the current one and is placed before the noun here.
grupo “grupo” means “group” in “el siguiente grupo,” referring to the people who will use the room next. Use it with an article and a word such as siguiente to identify a particular group.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” and introduces the next action after the room is ready. Use it to connect a conclusion or consequence to what was just said.
podemos “podemos” means “we can” in “podemos cerrar la puerta con llave y salir.” The base verb is poder, and it comes before infinitives to express what the speakers are able or ready to do.
puerta “puerta” means “door” in “la puerta,” the object that the speakers will lock before leaving. Use it with an article and with an action such as closing or locking.
y “y” means “and” and joins the two actions in “cerrar la puerta con llave y salir.” Use it to connect actions, objects, or descriptions that belong together.

Grammar Points

antes de + infinitivo

antes de salir

AHN-tehs deh sah-LEER

before leaving

Use antes de followed by an infinitive to express that one action happens before another.

volver a + infinitivo

Volveré a poner las sillas en su sitio.

bohl-beh-REH ah poh-NEHR lahs SEE-yahs ehn soo SEE-tyoh

I will put the chairs back in their place.

Volver a + infinitive means to do something again; volveré is the future form “I will return.”

Spanish Vocabulary

antes de prep
AHN-tehs deh before
común adj
koh-MOON common
durante prep
doo-RAHN-teh for; during
quitar verb
kee-TAHR to remove; to clear Quitaré
rato noun
RAH-toh while; short time
recoger verb
reh-koh-HEHR to tidy up; to collect recogerla
sala noun
SAH-lah room
salir verb
sah-LEER to leave; to go out
silla noun
SEE-yah chair sillas
sitio noun
SEE-tyoh place
usar verb
oo-SAHR to use Usamos
volver a poner phrase
bohl-BEHR ah poh-NEHR to put back Volveré a poner

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Let's clean it up before we head out.

Show AnswerVamos a recogerla antes de salir.

I'll clear the trash from the tables.

Show AnswerQuitaré la basura de las mesas.

Should we turn off the lights too?

Show Answer¿Debemos apagar también las luces?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to use

Show AnswerUsamos

while; short time

Show Answerrato

common

Show Answercomún

to tidy up; to collect

Show Answerrecogerla