Requesting a replacement for a faulty product | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a shop, a customer brings back a faulty lamp with the receipt and packaging so staff can check a possible replacement..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Requesting a replacement for a faulty product to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Esta lámpara dejó de funcionar al poco tiempo.

EH-stah LAHM-pah-rah deh-HOH deh foon-syoh-NAHR ahl POH-koh TYEHM-poh. This lamp stopped working after a short time.
B

¿Tiene el comprobante de compra consigo?

TYEH-neh ehl kohm-proh-BAHN-teh deh KOHM-prah kohn-SEE-goh? Do you have proof of purchase with you?
A

Tengo el recibo y el embalaje original.

TEHN-goh ehl reh-SEE-boh ee ehl ehm-bah-LAH-heh oh-ree-hee-NAHL. I have the receipt and the original packaging.
B

Entonces podemos comprobar si es posible reemplazarla.

ehn-TOHN-sehs poh-DEH-mohs kohm-proh-BAHR see ehs poh-SEE-bleh reh-ehm-plah-SAHR-lah. Then we can check whether a replacement is possible.
A

Preferiría un reemplazo.

preh-feh-ree-REE-ah oon reh-ehm-PLAH-soh. I would prefer a replacement.
A

Todavía necesito el mismo tipo de lámpara.

toh-dah-VEE-ah neh-seh-SEE-toh ehl MEES-moh TEE-poh deh LAHM-pah-rah. I still need the same type of lamp.
B

Eso parece razonable. Primero deberíamos probar el artículo.

EH-soh pah-REH-seh rah-soh-NAH-bleh. PREE-meh-roh deh-beh-REE-ah-mohs proh-BAHR ehl ahr-TEE-koo-loh. That sounds reasonable. We should test the item first.
A

También traje el cable, por si ayuda.

tahm-BYEHN TRAH-heh ehl KAH-bleh, pohr see ah-YOO-dah. I brought the cable as well, in case that helps.
B

Eso nos da lo que necesitamos para confirmar el problema y gestionar el cambio.

EH-soh nohs dah loh keh neh-seh-see-TAH-mohs pah-rah kohn-feer-MAHR ehl proh-BLEH-mah ee hehs-TYOH-NAHR ehl KAHM-byoh. That gives us what we need to confirm the problem and handle the exchange.

Word by Word

Esta “Esta” means “this” and points to the lamp being discussed. It appears before the noun in “Esta lámpara” to identify a specific nearby item.
lámpara “Lámpara” means “lamp,” the product that stopped working. It is the noun identified by “Esta” in “Esta lámpara”; use it when referring to this kind of lighting product.
dejó In “dejó de funcionar,” “dejó” means “stopped,” describing the moment when the lamp ceased to work. Its citation form is dejar, and this form is used with the lamp as the subject.
de In “dejó de funcionar,” “de” introduces the action that stopped: functioning. The reusable pattern is dejar de plus an infinitive for saying that an activity or condition has stopped.
funcionar “Funcionar” means “to work” or “to function” in “dejó de funcionar.” It is the infinitive used after “de” in the pattern dejar de funcionar.
al “Al poco tiempo” means “after a short time.” “Al” is the combined form of a and el, used here to introduce the time period after which the lamp stopped working.
poco In “al poco tiempo,” “poco” means a short or small amount of time. Together with “tiempo,” it describes that the problem appeared soon after the lamp was used.
tiempo “Tiempo” means “time” in “al poco tiempo.” The phrase “al poco tiempo” is a reusable way to refer to something happening after a short period.
Tiene “Tiene” means “do you have” in the formal question about proof of purchase. Its citation form is tener, and “Tiene ... consigo” asks whether someone has something with them.
el “El” means “the” and introduces the specific document in “el comprobante de compra.” It is used before the noun phrase referring to the proof of purchase.
comprobante “Comprobante” means proof or a document that serves as evidence, here proof of purchase. In “el comprobante de compra,” it identifies the document the shop needs to check the purchase.
compra “Compra” means “purchase” in “comprobante de compra.” It specifies what the comprobante proves; the pattern comprobante de plus a noun identifies the subject of the proof.
consigo “Consigo” means “with you” in the formal question “¿Tiene el comprobante de compra consigo?” It is used with tener to ask whether a person has an item in their possession.
Tengo “Tengo” means “I have,” stating that the speaker possesses the receipt and packaging. Its citation form is tener, and it is followed here by the things the speaker has.
recibo “Recibo” means “receipt,” one of the documents brought to the shop. It appears after “Tengo” as the direct item possessed by the speaker.
y “Y” means “and” and connects the receipt with the original packaging. It joins the two items listed after “Tengo.”
embalaje “Embalaje” means “packaging,” referring to the product’s original packing material. In “el embalaje original,” the adjective specifies which packaging it is.
original “Original” means that the packaging is the product’s original packaging. It follows “embalaje” in “el embalaje original” to describe the item brought back to the shop.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” and introduces the shop’s consequence from having the purchase documents. It is useful at the start of a sentence when one action or fact leads to the next.
podemos “Podemos” means “we can,” expressing what the shop staff are able to do next. Its citation form is poder, and it is followed by the infinitive “comprobar.”
comprobar “Comprobar” means “to check” or “to verify” whether a replacement is possible. It follows “podemos” as the action the staff can carry out.
si “Si” introduces the question of whether replacing the lamp is possible in “comprobar si es posible reemplazarla.” It links the checking action to the condition being checked.
es “Es” means “is” in “es posible,” describing the possibility of replacing the lamp. Its citation form is ser, and it links the subject understood from the following action with the adjective “posible.”
posible “Posible” means “possible” in the phrase “es posible reemplazarla.” It evaluates whether the replacement can be carried out and commonly follows ser in this kind of statement.
reemplazarla “Reemplazarla” means “to replace it,” referring to the lamp. It combines the infinitive reemplazar with the attached object pronoun la, and it follows “es posible” in the dialogue.
Preferiría “Preferiría” means “I would prefer,” politely stating the customer’s desired solution. Its citation form is preferir, and “Preferiría un reemplazo” is a reusable pattern for expressing a preferred option.
un “Un” means “a” or “an” and introduces the requested replacement in “un reemplazo.” It presents the replacement as one possible item rather than a previously identified specific replacement.
reemplazo “Reemplazo” means “replacement,” the solution the customer prefers for the faulty lamp. In “Preferiría un reemplazo,” it names the desired product outcome.
Todavía “Todavía” means “still,” showing that the customer continues to need the same type of lamp. It commonly appears before the verb in a sentence describing an ongoing need or situation.
necesito “Necesito” means “I need,” expressing the customer’s continuing requirement. Its citation form is necesitar, and it is followed here by the thing needed: “el mismo tipo de lámpara.”
mismo “Mismo” means “same” in “el mismo tipo de lámpara.” It identifies the type as identical to the type of lamp the customer already had.
tipo “Tipo” means “type” or “kind” in “el mismo tipo de lámpara.” The pattern mismo tipo de plus a noun is used to specify that an item should be of the same kind.
Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to the customer’s request for a replacement. In “Eso parece razonable,” it makes the previous proposal the subject of the evaluation.
parece “Parece” means “seems” and gives the meaning “sounds” in “parece razonable.” Its citation form is parecer, and it is followed by an adjective expressing an evaluation.
razonable “Razonable” means “reasonable,” describing the replacement request as acceptable or sensible. It completes the evaluation in “Eso parece razonable.”
Primero “Primero” means “first” and marks the initial step in the shop’s process. It is placed at the beginning of “Primero deberíamos probar el artículo” to establish the order of actions.
deberíamos “Deberíamos” means “we should,” making a recommendation about testing the item. Its citation form is deber, and it is followed by the infinitive “probar.”
probar “Probar” means “to test” in “probar el artículo.” It is the infinitive after “deberíamos” and takes the item being tested as its object.
artículo “Artículo” means “item” or “article,” here referring to the lamp being checked. In “probar el artículo,” it is the product that staff should test.
También “También” means “also” or “as well,” adding the cable to the other items the customer brought. It commonly appears before the verb or the added information it emphasizes.
traje “Traje” means “I brought,” adding information about another item the customer brought to the shop. Its citation form is traer, and it is followed by the item brought: “el cable.”
cable “Cable” means “cable,” the additional item the customer brought. It is the direct object of “traje” and is included to help with checking the faulty lamp.
por In “por si ayuda,” “por” contributes to a precautionary expression meaning “in case it helps.” The reusable pattern por si plus a verb introduces something provided or done as a precaution.
ayuda “Ayuda” means “helps” in “por si ayuda,” referring to the possibility that the cable may help with the problem. Its citation form is ayudar, and it appears after “por si” to express the possible benefit.
nos “Nos” means “us” in “nos da lo que necesitamos.” It identifies the shop staff as the people receiving what the available items provide.
da “Da” means “gives” in “Eso nos da lo que necesitamos.” Its citation form is dar, and the pattern dar a alguien lo que necesita expresses providing someone with what they need.
lo In “lo que necesitamos,” “lo” helps form the expression meaning “what we need,” referring to an unspecified thing or set of things. It works together with “que” to introduce the needed information or resources.
que In “lo que necesitamos,” “que” links “lo” to the clause describing what is needed. Together, the expression means “what we need,” with “que” introducing the following description.
necesitamos “Necesitamos” means “we need,” describing the items or information required to handle the problem. Its citation form is necesitar, and it follows “lo que” in the expression “lo que necesitamos.”
para “Para” means “to” or “in order to” and introduces the purpose of having what is needed. Here it connects the available items with the actions “confirmar” and “gestionar.”
confirmar “Confirmar” means “to confirm,” referring to verifying that the problem exists. It is an infinitive after “para” and is coordinated with “gestionar” in the purpose phrase.
problema “Problema” means “problem,” here the fault affecting the lamp. In “confirmar el problema,” it is the issue that the shop wants to verify.
gestionar “Gestionar” means “to handle” or “to manage” the exchange process. It is an infinitive after “para” and appears with “el cambio” as the matter being handled.
cambio “Cambio” means “exchange” in this shop context, specifically the product exchange. In “gestionar el cambio,” it names the process the staff will handle after confirming the problem.

Grammar Points

dejar de + infinitivo

La lámpara dejó de funcionar al poco tiempo.

lah lahm-PAH-rah deh-HOH deh foon-syoh-NAHR ahl POH-koh TYEHM-poh.

The lamp stopped working after a short time.

Use dejar de + infinitive to say that an action or state stopped.

preferiría + sustantivo

Preferiría un reemplazo del mismo tipo.

preh-feh-ree-REE-ah oon reh-ehm-PLAH-soh dehl MEES-moh TEE-poh.

I would prefer a replacement of the same type.

Preferiría is the conditional form used to make a preference sound polite.

Spanish Vocabulary

al poco tiempo phrase
ahl POH-koh TYEHM-poh after a short time
compra noun
KOHM-prah purchase

de compra

comprobante noun
kohm-proh-BAHN-teh proof

el comprobante de compra

comprobar verb
kohm-proh-BAHR to check
consigo pron
kohn-SEE-goh with you

¿Tiene el comprobante de compra consigo?

dejó de funcionar phrase
deh-HOH deh foon-syoh-NAHR stopped working

dejó de funcionar al poco tiempo

embalaje noun
ehm-bah-LAH-heh packaging

el embalaje original

entonces adv
ehn-TOHN-sehs then
lámpara noun
LAHM-pah-rah lamp

Esta lámpara

posible adj
poh-SEE-bleh possible
recibo noun
reh-SEE-boh receipt

el recibo

reemplazarla verb
reh-ehm-plah-SAHR-lah to replace it

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Do you have proof of purchase with you?

Show Answer¿Tiene el comprobante de compra consigo?

I would prefer a replacement.

Show AnswerPreferiría un reemplazo.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

purchase

Show Answercompra

receipt

Show Answerrecibo

lamp

Show Answerlámpara

packaging

Show Answerembalaje