About This Lesson
Use Using shared gym equipment politely to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
¿Alguien está usando esta cinta de correr ahora?
al-GYEN es-TAH oo-SAHN-doh ES-tah SEEN-tah day koh-RRER ah-OH-rah Is anyone using this treadmill now?
B
Parece libre, pero controla el tiempo.
pah-REH-say LEE-bray, PEH-roh kohn-TROH-lah el TYEHM-poh It looks free, but keep an eye on the time.
A
¿Cuánto tiempo debo usarla si hay otras personas esperando?
KWAHN-toh TYEHM-poh DEH-boh oo-SAR-lah see eye OH-tras pehr-SOH-nas es-peh-RAHN-doh How long should I use it if others are waiting?
B
Limita tu tiempo a unos diez minutos cuando hay mucha gente en el gimnasio.
lee-MEE-tah too TYEHM-poh ah OO-nos DYEHS mee-NOO-tos KWAHN-doh eye MOO-chah HEN-tay en el heem-NAH-syoh Limit your time to around ten minutes when the gym is busy.
A
¿Debo limpiarla después de terminar?
DEH-boh leem-PYAR-lah des-PWES day tehr-mee-NAR Should I wipe it down after I finish?
B
Usa el spray y una toalla de papel del estante.
OO-sah el es-PRAY ee OO-nah toh-AH-yah day pah-PEHL del es-TAHN-tay Use the spray and a paper towel from the rack.
A
La limpiaré antes de irme.
lah leem-pyah-REH AHN-tes day EER-may I'll clean it before I leave.
B
Así el equipo queda listo para la siguiente persona.
ah-SEE el eh-KEE-poh KAY-dah LEES-toh PAH-rah lah see-GYEN-tay pehr-SOH-nah That keeps the equipment ready for the next person.Word by Word
Alguien
In “¿Alguien está usando esta cinta de correr ahora?”, “Alguien” asks whether any person is using the treadmill. It is useful at the beginning of a question when you do not know who is involved, as in “¿Alguien necesita ayuda?”
está
In “está usando”, “está” helps present the action as happening now. Together, “está usando” asks about an action in progress; this pattern can be used with another action, such as “está esperando”.
usando
In “está usando”, “usando” names the action of using the treadmill. The pattern “está usando + object” describes someone using something at that moment.
esta
In “esta cinta de correr”, “esta” identifies one particular treadmill as “this” treadmill. It is useful before a noun when pointing to something nearby or already clear in the situation.
cinta
In “cinta de correr”, “cinta” refers to the belt or treadmill as part of the name of the equipment. The complete phrase “cinta de correr” is the reusable expression for “treadmill”.
de
In “cinta de correr”, “de” connects “cinta” with the action “correr” to form the name of the equipment. The full pattern “cinta de + activity” can describe equipment associated with an activity.
correr
In “cinta de correr”, “correr” means “to run” and identifies what the equipment is used for. The complete phrase “cinta de correr” means “treadmill”, rather than describing a separate running action here.
ahora
In “¿Alguien está usando esta cinta de correr ahora?”, “ahora” means “now” and asks about the present moment. It is useful at the end of a question or statement about what is happening currently.
Parece
In “Parece libre”, “Parece” says that something appears to be a certain way. Here it introduces the impression that the treadmill is available; “parece + adjective” is a useful pattern for describing an appearance.
libre
In “Parece libre”, “libre” means available for use because nobody appears to be using the treadmill. It can describe a place, object, or time that is not occupied.
pero
In “Parece libre, pero controla el tiempo”, “pero” connects an apparent availability with an important limitation. It is useful when adding a condition or qualification to what was just said.
controla
In “controla el tiempo”, “controla” tells the listener to keep track of the time. The reusable pattern is “controla + noun”, used when giving a direct instruction about monitoring something.
el
In “el tiempo”, “el” points to the specific time being discussed. It appears before the noun in this familiar expression for monitoring the time.
tiempo
In “controla el tiempo”, “tiempo” means the time spent using the treadmill. The pattern “controlar el tiempo” is useful when someone needs to monitor how long an activity lasts.
Cuánto
In “¿Cuánto tiempo debo usarla?”, “Cuánto” asks for an amount, and with “tiempo” it asks how long. The pattern “¿Cuánto tiempo...?” is useful for asking about the duration of an activity.
debo
In “debo usarla”, “debo” expresses what the speaker should or must do. The pattern “debo + action” is useful for asking or stating an obligation or recommendation.
usarla
In “debo usarla”, “usarla” means “use it”, with “la” referring to the treadmill. This form is useful when the object is already known and can be attached to the action in an expression such as “usar + la”.
si
In “si hay otras personas esperando”, “si” introduces the condition “if other people are waiting”. The pattern “si + situation” is useful when asking what to do under a possible condition.
hay
In “hay otras personas esperando”, “hay” says that other people are present or waiting. The pattern “hay + noun” is commonly used to say that something or someone exists or is present.
otras
In “otras personas”, “otras” means “other” people, referring to people besides the speaker and listener. It is useful before a noun when referring to additional people or things.
personas
In “otras personas esperando”, “personas” means people who may be waiting for the treadmill. The pattern “personas + action” can identify what people are doing in a situation.
esperando
In “personas esperando”, “esperando” means waiting. Together, “hay otras personas esperando” explains why the speaker should limit use of the treadmill.
Limita
In “Limita tu tiempo a unos diez minutos”, “Limita” gives the direct instruction to keep the time within a set amount. The reusable pattern is “limita + object + a + amount”.
tu
In “tu tiempo”, “tu” shows that the time belongs to the person being addressed. It is useful before a noun when referring directly to the listener’s activity, object, or responsibility.
a
In “limita tu tiempo a unos diez minutos”, “a” introduces the limit that the time should reach. The pattern “limitar algo a + amount” is useful when setting a maximum or target amount.
unos
In “unos diez minutos”, “unos” makes the number approximate, meaning around ten minutes. This pattern is useful when giving an estimate rather than an exact amount.
minutos
In “unos diez minutos”, “minutos” names the units used to measure the recommended time. The phrase is useful for setting or describing the length of an activity.
cuando
In “cuando hay mucha gente en el gimnasio”, “cuando” introduces the time or situation in which the limit applies. The pattern “cuando + situation” is useful for saying when advice should be followed.
mucha
In “mucha gente”, “mucha” indicates a large amount of people. The expression “mucha gente” is a common way to describe a crowded place.
gente
In “mucha gente en el gimnasio”, “gente” means people considered as a group. The phrase “mucha gente” is useful when saying that a place is crowded.
en
In “en el gimnasio”, “en” places the people inside or at the gym. The pattern “en + place” is useful for saying where someone or something is.
gimnasio
In “el gimnasio”, “gimnasio” means the gym where the shared treadmill is located. It can be used after a place expression such as “en el gimnasio” to identify the location of an activity.
limpiarla
In “¿Debo limpiarla después de terminar?”, “limpiarla” means “clean it”, with “la” referring to the treadmill. The pattern “limpiar + la” is useful when cleaning a known feminine object.
después
In “después de terminar”, “después” means afterward or later than another action. The pattern “después de + action” is useful for saying what happens after an activity.
terminar
In “después de terminar”, “terminar” means to finish the activity. The pattern “después de + action” places this finishing point before the next action, which here is cleaning the treadmill.
Usa
In “Usa el spray y una toalla de papel”, “Usa” gives the direct instruction to use the listed cleaning items. The pattern “Usa + object” is useful when telling someone what tool or material to use.
spray
In “el spray”, “spray” means the spray used to clean the treadmill. It is one of the two items named after “Usa” in the cleaning instruction.
y
In “el spray y una toalla de papel”, “y” joins the spray with the paper towel. It is useful for linking two items, actions, or ideas in one instruction.
una
In “una toalla de papel”, “una” introduces one paper towel as an item to use. It is useful before a noun when referring to one unspecified item.
toalla
In “toalla de papel”, “toalla” means towel. The complete phrase “toalla de papel” identifies the paper towel used for cleaning.
papel
In “toalla de papel”, “papel” identifies the material or type of the towel. The full phrase “toalla de papel” means “paper towel”, not a separate sheet of paper here.
del
In “del estante”, “del” introduces the rack as the source of the paper towel. It combines the meaning of “de” and “el” in the exact phrase “del estante”.
estante
In “del estante”, “estante” means the rack or shelf where the cleaning items are kept. The pattern “de + place” identifies where an object comes from.
La
In “La limpiaré”, “La” means “it” and refers back to the treadmill. It appears before “limpiaré” to show what the speaker will clean.
limpiaré
In “La limpiaré”, “limpiaré” expresses the speaker’s commitment to clean the treadmill. The pattern “La limpiaré” is useful when promising to clean a known object.
antes
In “antes de irme”, “antes” means before and places one action earlier than another. The pattern “antes de + action” is useful for saying what must happen before leaving or doing something else.
irme
In “antes de irme”, “irme” means leaving or going away, referring to the speaker. The full expression is useful when explaining that one action will happen before the speaker leaves.
Así
In “Así el equipo queda listo”, “Así” means “that way” or “so” and connects the cleaning action with its result. It is useful for explaining how an action produces a practical outcome.
equipo
In “el equipo”, “equipo” means the gym equipment, including the treadmill being cleaned. The phrase “el equipo” can refer to equipment already identified in the situation.
queda
In “el equipo queda listo”, “queda” describes the condition in which the equipment is left after the action. Together, “queda listo” means that it is ready afterward.
listo
In “queda listo para la siguiente persona”, “listo” means ready for use. The pattern “queda listo para + person or purpose” explains who or what something is prepared for.
para
In “para la siguiente persona”, “para” introduces the intended user of the equipment. The pattern “listo para + person” is useful when saying who can use something next.
siguiente
In “la siguiente persona”, “siguiente” means next, referring to the person who will use the equipment after the current user. It is useful for identifying the next person or step in an order.
persona
In “la siguiente persona”, “persona” means the individual who will use the equipment next. The phrase is useful when referring to the next user without naming them.
Grammar Points
después de + infinitivo
después de terminar
des-PWES day tehr-mee-NARafter finishing
Después de va seguido de un infinitivo cuando la misma persona realiza las dos acciones.
unos + sustantivo plural
unos minutos
OO-nos mee-NOO-tosabout a few minutes
Unos delante de un sustantivo plural puede expresar una cantidad aproximada.
Spanish Vocabulary
ahora
adv
ah-OH-rah
now
está usando esta cinta de correr ahora
alguien
pron
al-GYEN
someone
¿Alguien está usando esta cinta de correr ahora?
cinta de correr
noun
SEEN-tah day koh-RRER
treadmill
esta cinta de correr
controlar
verb
kohn-troh-LAR
to keep track of; to control
controla
controla el tiempo
cuánto tiempo
phrase
KWAHN-toh TYEHM-poh
how long; how much time
¿Cuánto tiempo debo usarla?
esperar
verb
es-peh-RAR
to wait
esperando
hay otras personas esperando
libre
adj
LEE-bray
free; available
Parece libre
limitar
verb
lee-mee-TAR
to limit
limita
Limita tu tiempo
parecer
verb
pah-reh-SER
to seem; to look
parece
Parece libre
tiempo
noun
TYEHM-poh
time
controla el tiempo
unos
det
OO-nos
about; approximately
unos diez minutos
usar
verb
oo-SAR
to use
usando
está usando esta cinta de correr
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
It looks free, but keep an eye on the time.
Show Answer
Parece libre, pero controla el tiempo.Should I wipe it down after I finish?
Show Answer
¿Debo limpiarla después de terminar?I'll clean it before I leave.
Show Answer
La limpiaré antes de irme.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to keep track of; to control
Show Answer
controlato seem; to look
Show Answer
parecenow
Show Answer
ahorafree; available