Improving a Home Office Setup | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At home, two adults adjust a work setup to reduce shoulder pain, improve screen height, and manage glare..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Improving a Home Office Setup to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Me duelen los hombros después de trabajar en esta mesa pequeña todo el día.

meh DWEH-len lohs OHM-brohs dehs-PWEHS deh trah-bah-HAR en EH-stah MEH-sah peh-KEH-nyah TOH-doh el DEE-ah. My shoulders hurt after working at this small table all day.
B

Tu espacio de trabajo es malo para tu cuerpo, especialmente porque el monitor está tan bajo.

too ehs-PAH-syoh deh trah-BAH-hoh ehs MAH-loh PAH-rah too KWEHR-poh ehs-peh-syal-MEN-teh POR-keh el moh-nee-TOR ehs-TAH tahn BAH-hoh. Your setup is hard on your body, especially with the monitor so low.
A

Podría elevarlo con unos libros hasta que compre un soporte adecuado.

poh-DREE-ah eh-leh-BAR-loh kohn OO-nohs LEE-brohs AH-stah keh KOHM-preh oon soh-POR-teh ah-deh-KWah-doh. I could raise it with books until I buy a proper stand.
B

Eso mejoraría tu postura.

EH-soh meh-hoh-rah-REE-ah too pohs-TOO-rah. That would help your posture.
B

También deberías comprobar si el reflejo de la ventana afecta a la pantalla.

tahm-BYEN deh-beh-REE-ahs kohm-proh-BAR see el reh-FLEH-hoh deh lah ben-TAH-nah ah-FEHK-tah ah lah pahn-TAH-yah. You should also check whether glare from the window is affecting the screen.
A

La luz del sol de la tarde hace que sea difícil leer la pantalla.

lah loos del sohl deh lah TAR-deh AH-seh keh SEH-ah dee-FEE-seel leh-ER lah pahn-TAH-yah. The afternoon sunlight makes the screen difficult to read.
B

Intenta mover un poco el escritorio o usa la cortina durante las llamadas.

een-TEHN-tah moh-BER oon POH-koh el ehs-kree-TOH-ryoh oh OO-sah lah kor-TEE-nah doo-RAHN-teh lahs yah-MAH-dahs. Try moving the desk slightly, or use the curtain during calls.
A

Si me siento más cómodo, también debería poder trabajar mejor.

see meh SYEN-toh mahs KOH-moh-doh tahm-BYEN deh-beh-REE-ah poh-DER trah-bah-HAR meh-HOR. If I feel more comfortable, I should be able to work better too.
B

Los pequeños ajustes importan cuando repites la misma postura durante horas.

lohs peh-KEH-nyohs ah-HOOS-tehs eem-POR-tahn KWAHN-doh reh-PEE-tehs lah MEES-mah pohs-TOO-rah doo-RAHN-teh OH-rahs. Small adjustments matter when you repeat the same position for hours.
A

Puedo probar primero esta distribución antes de comprar nada.

PWEH-doh proh-BAR pree-MEH-roh EH-stah dees-tree-boo-SYON AHN-tehs deh kohm-PRAR NAH-dah. I can try this layout first before buying anything.
B

Tiene sentido, porque quizá la solución más barata sea suficiente.

TYEH-neh sehn-TEE-doh POR-keh kee-SAH lah soh-loo-SYON mahs bah-RAH-tah SEH-ah soo-fee-SYEN-teh. That makes sense, because the cheapest solution may be enough.

Word by Word

Me In Me duelen los hombros, Me shows that the pain affects the speaker: the shoulders hurt for the speaker. It is used before the verb in this pattern to identify the person experiencing the effect.
duelen In Me duelen los hombros, duelen means hurt or ache, referring to the shoulders. The plural form matches los hombros, and this construction describes a physical sensation affecting someone.
los Here los means the and introduces the specific plural noun los hombros. It is used before a masculine plural noun in expressions such as los pequeños ajustes.
hombros Hombros means shoulders, the body part that hurts in Me duelen los hombros. It is useful in descriptions of pain, posture, or physical comfort.
después In después de trabajar, después means after and places the work before the shoulder pain in time. A common pattern is después de followed by an activity or event.
de Here de links después with the activity trabajar, giving the meaning after working. It commonly follows después when the next action is expressed with an infinitive.
trabajar Trabajar means to work in después de trabajar. This infinitive names the activity that happens before the main situation and can follow expressions such as después de.
en In en esta mesa pequeña, en means at or on, locating the work in relation to the table. It is used with a place or surface, such as en esta mesa.
esta Esta means this and points to the particular table near or relevant to the speaker in esta mesa pequeña. It appears before the feminine singular noun mesa.
mesa Mesa means table, the surface where the speaker works in esta mesa pequeña. It can be combined with a demonstrative and description to identify a particular table.
pequeña Pequeña means small and describes the table in esta mesa pequeña. Its form matches the feminine singular noun mesa.
todo In todo el día, todo means all or the whole and indicates the complete span of the day. This expression is used to say that an activity continues throughout that period.
el Here el means the and forms the time expression todo el día. It introduces the masculine singular noun día.
día Día means day in todo el día, describing the full period during which the speaker worked. It is commonly used with todo el to express the whole day.
Tu Tu means your in Tu espacio de trabajo and addresses the other person directly. It comes before the noun phrase that belongs to or concerns that person.
espacio In espacio de trabajo, espacio means space and refers to the area arranged for working. The pattern espacio de + activity identifies a space intended for that activity.
trabajo Here trabajo specifies that the espacio is for work, giving espacio de trabajo the meaning workspace or work area. It follows de in this noun combination.
es In Tu espacio de trabajo es malo para tu cuerpo, es states what the workspace is like. It connects the subject with the description malo para tu cuerpo.
malo Malo means bad in malo para tu cuerpo and evaluates the workspace negatively because of its effect on the body. The pattern malo para + person or thing describes something harmful or unsuitable for it.
para Here para links malo with the affected person or thing, giving the meaning bad for your body. The pattern adjective para + noun identifies who or what the evaluation concerns.
cuerpo Cuerpo means body in malo para tu cuerpo, the part affected by the unsuitable setup. It is used after tu to refer to the listener’s body.
especialmente Especialmente means especially and highlights the monitor’s low position as the most relevant problem. It can be placed before the reason or detail receiving extra emphasis.
porque Porque means because and introduces the reason the workspace is bad for the body: el monitor está tan bajo. It is used to connect an explanation to a preceding statement.
monitor Monitor means monitor, the screen device whose position is being discussed. In el monitor está tan bajo, it is the thing described as being low.
está In el monitor está tan bajo, está describes the monitor’s current position or state. It is used with a location or condition that applies at the time of speaking.
tan Tan means so in tan bajo and emphasizes the degree of the monitor’s low position. It commonly appears directly before an adjective to intensify it.
bajo Bajo means low and describes the monitor’s position in el monitor está tan bajo. It is the adjective made stronger by tan.
Podría Podría means could and presents raising the monitor as a possible option in Podría elevarlo con unos libros. It is useful for suggesting a possible action without presenting it as certain.
elevarlo Elevarlo means raise it in Podría elevarlo con unos libros, referring to raising the monitor. The form combines the action of raising with lo, which points back to the monitor.
con Here con means with and indicates what the speaker would use to raise the monitor: unos libros. It commonly introduces a tool, material, or means used for an action.
unos Unos means some or a few in unos libros, referring to an unspecified small number of books. It appears before the plural noun libros.
libros Libros means books, the objects proposed as support under the monitor. It follows unos to identify an unspecified number of books used with con.
hasta In hasta que compre un soporte adecuado, hasta means until and marks buying the stand as the endpoint of the temporary solution. It introduces the time or condition that ends the current arrangement.
que Here que introduces the clause after hasta, namely compre un soporte adecuado. Together, hasta que connects the temporary action with the later event that ends it.
compre In hasta que compre un soporte adecuado, compre refers to the speaker buying a suitable stand at a later point. After hasta que, this form presents that event as pending rather than already completed.
un Un means a and introduces the singular noun soporte in un soporte adecuado. It presents one suitable stand without identifying a specific one.
soporte Soporte means stand or support, the item the speaker plans to buy for the monitor. In un soporte adecuado, it is modified by adecuado to specify the needed kind of support.
adecuado Adecuado means suitable or proper in un soporte adecuado. It describes the stand as appropriate for the intended purpose.
Eso Eso means that and points back to the proposed use of books to raise the monitor. It lets the speaker refer to the previous idea as the subject of Eso mejoraría tu postura.
mejoraría In Eso mejoraría tu postura, mejoraría means would improve and describes the expected result of the proposed adjustment. It presents the improvement as a possible consequence, not as a guaranteed fact.
postura Postura means posture or body position, the thing that raising the monitor would improve. It is used here in a context of arranging a work setup for better physical comfort.
También También means also and adds another recommendation to the earlier suggestion about raising the monitor. It commonly introduces an additional action or point.
deberías Deberías means you should and gives the listener advice to check the glare. It is followed here by the infinitive comprobar to state the recommended action.
comprobar Comprobar means check or verify in deberías comprobar si el reflejo de la ventana afecta a la pantalla. It introduces an investigation of whether a stated condition is occurring.
si Here si means whether in comprobar si el reflejo de la ventana afecta a la pantalla, introducing the question being checked. In this sentence it does not introduce a condition; it introduces something to verify.
reflejo Reflejo means reflection or glare in el reflejo de la ventana, referring to light from the window that may affect the screen. The pattern reflejo de + source identifies where the reflection comes from.
la Here la means the and introduces the feminine singular nouns la ventana and la pantalla. It identifies each noun as a specific window or screen in the situation.
ventana Ventana means window, the source associated with the glare in el reflejo de la ventana. It follows de to show the source or relation of the reflection.
afecta Afecta means affects in el reflejo de la ventana afecta a la pantalla. It describes the glare having an effect on the screen.
a In afecta a la pantalla, a links the verb afecta with the thing affected, la pantalla. This is the preposition used in this exact expression to mark the target of the effect.
pantalla Pantalla means screen, the object affected by the window reflection and made difficult to read. It appears after afecta a as the thing receiving that effect.
luz Luz means light in La luz del sol de la tarde. It names the sunlight that causes the reading problem in the next part of the sentence.
del Del means of the or from the and links luz with sol in luz del sol. It is the contracted form used in this exact noun phrase.
sol Sol means sun in luz del sol, identifying the source of the light. The phrase luz del sol refers to sunlight.
tarde Tarde means afternoon in de la tarde and specifies when the sunlight occurs. It follows de la in this time-related expression.
hace In hace que sea difícil leer la pantalla, hace means makes and introduces the effect caused by the afternoon sunlight. The pattern hacer que + clause expresses that one thing causes a condition or result.
sea Here sea describes the screen-reading activity as difficult within hace que sea difícil leer la pantalla. It appears after hace que to present the resulting condition caused by the sunlight.
difícil Difícil means difficult and describes reading the screen in sea difícil leer la pantalla. The pattern difícil + infinitive explains that an activity is hard to do.
leer Leer means to read in difícil leer la pantalla, naming the activity made difficult by the sunlight. It is an infinitive following the adjective difícil.
Intenta Intenta means try and gives the listener a direct suggestion to move the desk. It is followed by mover to state the action being recommended.
mover Mover means move in Intenta mover un poco el escritorio. It names the action suggested after intenta and takes el escritorio as the object.
poco In mover un poco el escritorio, poco means a little and limits the amount of movement. The expression un poco can modify an action to request a small degree.
escritorio Escritorio means desk, the object that should be moved slightly. It follows un poco in the phrase un poco el escritorio and identifies the furniture being adjusted.
o O means or and offers an alternative to moving the desk: using the curtain during calls. It links two possible suggestions.
usa Usa means use and gives a direct suggestion to use the curtain during calls. It is followed by la cortina, the object being recommended.
cortina Cortina means curtain, the item suggested for managing the sunlight during calls. It appears after usa as the object of that action.
durante Durante means during and specifies when the curtain should be used: during calls. It is followed by a noun phrase naming the relevant activity or period.
las Here las means the and introduces the feminine plural noun llamadas in las llamadas. It identifies the calls as the specific occasions under discussion.
llamadas Llamadas means calls in durante las llamadas, referring to the work calls during which the curtain may be useful. It follows durante las to name the relevant period.
siento In me siento más cómodo, siento means feel and describes the speaker’s physical or personal state. With me, the phrase expresses how the speaker feels rather than what the speaker perceives externally.
más Más means more in más cómodo and increases the degree of comfort. It is placed before the adjective to make a comparison with the previous state.
cómodo Cómodo means comfortable in me siento más cómodo, describing the speaker’s improved physical state. It follows más because the sentence expresses greater comfort.
debería In también debería poder trabajar mejor, debería means should and expresses an expected result if the speaker feels more comfortable. It is followed by poder to form the idea of being expected to be able to work better.
poder Poder means be able to in debería poder trabajar mejor. It is followed by trabajar and expresses ability to carry out that activity.
mejor Mejor means better in trabajar mejor, describing improved quality or effectiveness of working. It modifies the action trabajar to compare it with the earlier way of working.
pequeños Pequeños means small and describes the adjustments in los pequeños ajustes. Its form matches the masculine plural noun ajustes.
ajustes Ajustes means adjustments, referring to small changes in the work setup. In los pequeños ajustes importan, these changes are the subject of importan.
importan Importan means matter or are important in los pequeños ajustes importan. The plural form refers to the plural subject los pequeños ajustes.
cuando Cuando means when and introduces the situation in which small adjustments matter: repeating the same position for hours. It connects a main statement with a time or circumstance.
repites Repites means repeat in cuando repites la misma postura, referring to the listener maintaining the same position again and again. It is followed by the object la misma postura.
misma Misma means same in la misma postura and emphasizes that the position is unchanged. Its form matches the feminine singular noun postura.
horas Horas means hours in durante horas, indicating a long period of maintaining the same position. It can follow durante to express how long a situation continues.
Puedo Puedo means can in Puedo probar primero esta distribución, expressing the speaker’s ability or willingness to try the arrangement. It is followed by the infinitive probar.
probar Probar means try in Puedo probar primero esta distribución. It names the action the speaker can carry out and takes esta distribución as what will be tried.
primero Primero means first in probar primero esta distribución, showing that the speaker wants to test the current arrangement before buying anything. It marks the order of actions.
distribución Distribución means layout or arrangement, referring to the way the desk and other items are placed. In probar esta distribución, it is the arrangement being tested.
antes In antes de comprar nada, antes means before and places buying after the trial of the layout. The pattern antes de + infinitive introduces an action that has not yet happened.
comprar Comprar means to buy in antes de comprar nada, naming the purchase that the speaker will postpone. It follows de after antes.
nada In comprar nada, nada means anything within the phrase before buying anything. It refers broadly to any purchase related to the setup.
Tiene In Tiene sentido, Tiene contributes to the expression meaning that the idea is understandable or reasonable. This fixed expression is used to respond positively to an explanation or proposal.
sentido In Tiene sentido, sentido contributes to the expression meaning makes sense or is reasonable. Together with Tiene, it evaluates the previous suggestion as logical.
quizá Quizá means perhaps or maybe and marks the claim about the cheapest solution as uncertain. It can introduce a possible explanation, result, or option.
solución Solución means solution, referring to the arrangement that may be enough for the problem. It is described by más barata and sea suficiente.
barata Barata means cheap or inexpensive in la solución más barata, identifying the solution with the lowest cost among the options being considered. Its form matches the feminine singular noun solución.
suficiente Suficiente means enough or sufficient in quizá la solución más barata sea suficiente. It says that the least expensive solution may meet the need without additional equipment.

Grammar Points

después de + infinitivo

Después de trabajar, me duelen los hombros.

dehs-PWEHS deh trah-bah-HAR, meh DWEH-len lohs OHM-brohs.

After working, my shoulders hurt.

Use después de before an infinitive to mean “after doing something.”

doler + pronombre indirecto + parte del cuerpo

Me duelen los hombros.

meh DWEH-len lohs OHM-brohs.

My shoulders hurt.

Spanish uses an indirect object pronoun and makes the verb agree with the painful body part.

Spanish Vocabulary

bajo adj
BAH-hoh low

el monitor está tan bajo

cuerpo noun
KWEHR-poh body
después de prep
dehs-PWEHS deh after

después de trabajar

doler verb
doh-LER to hurt duelen

Me duelen los hombros.

elevar verb
eh-leh-BAR to raise elevarlo
espacio de trabajo phrase
ehs-PAH-syoh deh trah-BAH-hoh workspace

Tu espacio de trabajo

especialmente adv
ehs-peh-syal-MEN-teh especially
hombro noun
OHM-broh shoulder hombros

Me duelen los hombros.

mesa noun
MEH-sah table

esta mesa pequeña

monitor noun
moh-nee-TOR monitor
soporte noun
soh-POR-teh stand
trabajar verb
trah-bah-HAR to work

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

That would help your posture.

Show AnswerEso mejoraría tu postura.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

shoulder

Show Answerhombros

to hurt

Show Answerduelen

table

Show Answermesa

monitor

Show Answermonitor