About This Lesson
Use Choosing Needed Items and Avoiding Extra Purchases to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
Vine por unos zapatos, pero los otros artículos expuestos me están distrayendo.
VEE-neh por OO-nos sah-PAH-tos, PEH-roh lohs OH-tros ar-TEE-koo-los eks-PWES-tos meh es-TAHN dees-trah-YEN-doh. I came for shoes, but the other items on display are distracting me.
B
Empieza por lo que viniste a buscar antes de añadir cualquier otra cosa.
em-PYEH-sah por loh keh bee-NEES-teh ah-nyee-DEER koo-al-KYEHR OH-trah KOH-sah. Start with what you came for before adding anything else.
A
Los zapatos son necesarios, pero la chaqueta solo me tienta.
lohs sah-PAH-tos sohn neh-seh-SAH-ryos, PEH-roh lah chah-KEH-tah SOH-loh meh TYEN-tah. The shoes are necessary, but the jacket is only tempting.
B
Entonces, por ahora, deja la chaqueta fuera de tu cesta.
en-TOHN-sehs, por ah-OH-rah, DEH-hah lah chah-KEH-tah FWEH-rah deh too SEHS-tah. Then keep the jacket out of your basket for now.
A
Estos calcetines combinarían con los zapatos y sustituirían mi par gastado.
ES-tohs kal-seh-TEE-nehs kom-bee-nah-REE-an kohn lohs sah-PAH-tos ee soos-tee-too-ee-REE-an mee par gahs-TAH-doh. These socks would match the shoes and replace my worn pair.
B
Encajan mejor con tu plan que la chaqueta.
en-KAH-han meh-HOR kohn too plahn keh lah chah-KEH-tah. They fit your plan better than the jacket.
A
Me llevaré los zapatos y los calcetines, y después me iré.
meh yeh-bah-REH lohs sah-PAH-tos ee lohs kal-seh-TEE-nehs, ee dehs-PWEHS meh ee-REH. I'll take the shoes and socks, then head out.
B
Así mantienes tu compra centrada y práctica.
ah-SEE mahn-TYEH-nehs too KOHM-prah sen-TRAH-dah ee PRAHK-tee-kah. That keeps your shopping trip focused and practical.Word by Word
Vine
In "Vine por unos zapatos", "Vine" means “I came.” It is the first-person past form of venir, and the pattern "Vine por unos zapatos" expresses coming for a particular item.
por
In "Vine por unos zapatos", "por" means “for” and gives the purpose of coming. The reusable pattern is "Vine por" followed by the item or reason.
unos
In "unos zapatos", "unos" means “some” and introduces an unspecified pair or quantity of shoes. It is used directly before the plural noun in this expression.
zapatos
In "unos zapatos", "zapatos" means “shoes.” It is the plural form of zapato, and the same noun appears in "los zapatos" when the shoes are already identified.
pero
In "Vine por unos zapatos, pero...", "pero" means “but” and introduces a contrast between the reason for coming and the distracting items. It connects two contrasting parts of a sentence.
los
In "los otros artículos" and "los zapatos", "los" means “the” before identified masculine plural nouns. It helps refer to specific items rather than introducing them as unspecified.
otros
In "los otros artículos", "otros" means “other” and distinguishes these items from the shoes being sought. It agrees with the plural noun "artículos" and is placed before it here.
artículos
In "los otros artículos expuestos", "artículos" means “items” or merchandise. It is the plural of artículo and refers here to shop goods shown for sale.
expuestos
In "los otros artículos expuestos", "expuestos" means “on display” and describes the items shown in the shop. It follows the noun in this expression and identifies which items are meant.
me
In "me están distrayendo", "me" means “me” and marks the person affected by the distracting action. The reusable pattern is "me están" followed by an action affecting the speaker.
están
In "me están distrayendo", "están" means “are” and combines with "distrayendo" to express an ongoing action. The form is used with the plural subject "los otros artículos" in this dialogue.
distrayendo
In "me están distrayendo", "distrayendo" means “distracting.” Together with "están", it describes something that is currently taking the speaker’s attention away, and the pattern is "están" plus this ongoing-action form.
Empieza
In "Empieza por lo que viniste a buscar", "Empieza" means “start” as a direct instruction to the person being addressed. The reusable pattern is "Empieza por" followed by the priority or starting point.
lo
In "lo que viniste a buscar", "lo" helps refer to “what” the person came to look for rather than to a named object. Together, "lo que" introduces the thing described by the following clause.
que
In "lo que viniste a buscar", "que" connects "lo" with the clause explaining which thing is meant. The whole expression "lo que" means “what” in this sentence.
viniste
In "lo que viniste a buscar", "viniste" means “you came.” It is the second-person past form of venir, and the pattern "viniste a buscar" describes coming in order to look for something.
a
In "viniste a buscar", "a" means “to” and links the movement in "viniste" with the purpose expressed by "buscar". The reusable pattern is "venir" plus "a" and an infinitive for coming to do something.
buscar
In "viniste a buscar", "buscar" means “to look for.” It remains in the infinitive after "a", and the pattern "a buscar" expresses the purpose of coming.
antes
In "antes de añadir cualquier otra cosa", "antes" means “before” and places one action earlier than another. The reusable time pattern is "antes de" followed by an action.
de
In "antes de añadir", "de" completes the expression "antes de", meaning “before.” It links the time relation to the infinitive "añadir" in this dialogue.
añadir
In "antes de añadir cualquier otra cosa", "añadir" means “to add.” It is an infinitive after "antes de", and the expression refers to adding anything beyond the intended purchase.
cualquier
In "cualquier otra cosa", "cualquier" means “any” and leaves the additional thing unspecified. It is used immediately before "otra cosa" in this expression.
otra
In "cualquier otra cosa", "otra" means “other” or “another” and marks the thing as additional to what has already been chosen. It directly modifies "cosa" here.
cosa
In "cualquier otra cosa", "cosa" means “thing” and refers broadly to any additional purchase. The full pattern "cualquier otra cosa" means “anything else.”
son
In "Los zapatos son necesarios", "son" means “are” and links the shoes with the description "necesarios". It is the present plural form of ser used with "Los zapatos".
necesarios
In "Los zapatos son necesarios", "necesarios" means “necessary” and says that the shoes are needed. It matches the plural noun "zapatos" and completes the pattern "son necesarios".
la
In "la chaqueta", "la" means “the” before the identified jacket. It introduces the singular feminine noun "chaqueta" in this dialogue.
chaqueta
In "la chaqueta", "chaqueta" means “jacket.” It is the item being considered as an unnecessary extra and is also mentioned in "fuera de tu cesta".
solo
In "la chaqueta solo me tienta", "solo" means “only” and limits the claim to temptation rather than necessity. It is placed before "me tienta" to focus the meaning on what the jacket does.
tienta
In "la chaqueta solo me tienta", "tienta" means “tempts me.” The jacket is the subject and "me" identifies the person tempted; the reusable pattern is an item followed by "me tienta".
Entonces
In "Entonces, por ahora, deja la chaqueta fuera de tu cesta", "Entonces" means “then” and presents a consequence or next step. It is useful when responding to the situation just described.
ahora
In "por ahora", "ahora" means “now.” Together, "por ahora" means “for now” and marks the decision as temporary.
deja
In "deja la chaqueta fuera de tu cesta", "deja" means “leave” or “keep” as a direct instruction. The pattern "deja" plus an object and a location tells someone where to keep something.
fuera
In "fuera de tu cesta", "fuera" means “out” and expresses exclusion from the basket. The reusable location pattern is "fuera de" followed by the place or container.
tu
In "tu cesta", "tu" means “your” and identifies the basket as belonging to the person addressed. It appears directly before the noun "cesta".
cesta
In "tu cesta", "cesta" means “basket.” Here it refers to the shopping basket, and the full expression "fuera de tu cesta" means outside or out of your basket.
Estos
In "Estos calcetines", "Estos" means “these” and points to particular socks that are being considered. It appears before the plural noun it identifies.
calcetines
In "Estos calcetines", "calcetines" means “socks.” It is the plural of calcetín, and these socks are presented as a useful replacement for the worn pair.
combinarían
In "Estos calcetines combinarían con los zapatos", "combinarían" means “would match” or “would go well.” It presents the matching as a possible benefit, and the reusable pattern is "combinarían con" followed by the item they match.
con
In "combinarían con los zapatos", "con" means “with” and introduces the item that the socks would match. The pattern "combinar con" expresses coordination or visual compatibility between items.
y
In "combinarían con los zapatos y sustituirían mi par gastado", "y" means “and” and joins two related benefits of the socks. It connects the two verb phrases without changing their separate meanings.
sustituirían
In "sustituirían mi par gastado", "sustituirían" means “would replace.” It presents the socks as a possible replacement, and the reusable pattern is "sustituirían" followed by the thing being replaced.
mi
In "mi par gastado", "mi" means “my” and identifies the pair as belonging to the speaker. It is placed directly before the noun "par".
par
In "mi par gastado", "par" means “pair,” referring here to a pair of socks. The expression combines the noun with "gastado" to identify the old pair that needs replacing.
gastado
In "mi par gastado", "gastado" means “worn” and describes the condition of the pair. It follows "par" here and identifies the pair that is no longer in good condition.
Encajan
In "Encajan mejor con tu plan", "Encajan" means “fit” in the sense of fitting well with the plan, not physical size. The reusable pattern is "encajar con" followed by the plan, goal, or situation something suits.
mejor
In "Encajan mejor con tu plan que la chaqueta", "mejor" means “better” and shows that the socks suit the plan more than the jacket does. The comparison pattern is "mejor con" followed by what something fits well with.
plan
In "tu plan", "plan" means “plan,” referring here to keeping the purchase focused on needed items. The pattern "encajar con tu plan" describes an option that supports someone’s intended plan.
llevaré
In "Me llevaré los zapatos y los calcetines", "llevaré" means “I will take” the items with me. It is the first-person future form of llevar, and the pattern "Me llevaré" followed by objects states what the speaker will take.
después
In "y después me iré", "después" means “afterwards” and places leaving after taking the shoes and socks. It is useful for sequencing the next action in a plan.
iré
In "me iré", "iré" means “I will go” or “I will leave.” It is the first-person future form of ir, and with "me" the expression describes the speaker leaving the shop.
Así
In "Así mantienes tu compra centrada y práctica", "Así" means “that way” or “so” and points to the result of the choices just described. It introduces a consequence or practical outcome.
mantienes
In "mantienes tu compra centrada y práctica", "mantienes" means “you keep” or “you maintain.” It is the second-person present form of mantener, and the pattern "mantener" plus an object plus a description expresses keeping something in a certain state.
compra
In "tu compra", "compra" means “purchase” or “shopping” and refers to the focused set of items being bought. The possessive pattern "tu compra" identifies the purchase as the addressee’s.
centrada
In "tu compra centrada y práctica", "centrada" means “focused” and describes the purchase as staying directed toward the needed items. It agrees with the feminine noun "compra" in this expression.
práctica
In "tu compra centrada y práctica", "práctica" means “practical” and describes the purchase as useful and sensible. It is coordinated with "centrada" and also describes the feminine noun "compra".
Grammar Points
Condicional simple: -rían
Los calcetines combinarían mejor.
lohs kal-seh-TEE-nehs kom-bee-nah-REE-an meh-HOR.The socks would match better.
La terminación -rían expresa una posibilidad o una acción hipotética; combinarían significa “would match”.
Futuro simple en primera persona: -é
Me llevaré la chaqueta y me iré.
meh yeh-bah-REH lah chah-KEH-tah ee meh ee-REH.I will take the jacket and leave.
Las formas llevaré e iré expresan acciones futuras realizadas por “yo”; los pronombres me forman verbos pronominales.
Spanish Vocabulary
añadir
verb
ah-nyee-DEER
to add
artículo
noun
ar-TEE-koo-loh
item
artículos
buscar
verb
boos-KAR
to look for
chaqueta
noun
chah-KEH-tah
jacket
cualquier
det
koo-al-KYEHR
any
distraer
verb
dees-trah-EHR
to distract
distrayendo
empezar
verb
em-peh-SAR
to start
Empieza
expuesto
adj
eks-PWES-toh
displayed
expuestos
necesario
adj
neh-seh-SAH-ryoh
necessary
necesarios
tentar
verb
tehn-TAR
to tempt
tienta
venir
verb
beh-NEER
to come
Vine
zapato
noun
sah-PAH-toh
shoe
zapatos
Quiz
Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to add
Show Answer
añadiritem
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artículosto look for
Show Answer
buscardisplayed