Planning a group dinner | Learn Spanish in English

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Use Planning a group dinner to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Tenemos que elegir un restaurante para nuestro grupo el sábado.

teh-NEH-mohs keh eh-leh-HEER oon rehs-tow-RAHN-teh PAH-rah NWEHS-troh GROO-poh el SAH-bah-doh We need to choose a restaurant for our group on Saturday.

Entonces deberíamos conocer las preferencias alimentarias de todos antes de hacer una reserva.

ehn-TOHN-sehs deh-beh-REE-ah-mohs koh-noh-SEHR lahs preh-feh-REHN-syahs ah-lee-mehn-TAH-ryahs deh TOH-dohs AHN-tehs deh ah-SEHR oo-nah reh-SEHR-bah Then we should check everyone's food preferences before making a reservation.

Algunas personas quieren sushi, pero otras prefieren una comida caliente.

ahl-GOO-nahs pehr-SOH-nahs KYEH-rehn SOO-shee, PEH-rroh OH-trahs preh-FYEH-rehn OO-nah koh-MEE-dah kah-LYEHN-teh Some people want sushi, but others prefer a hot meal.

Un lugar con un menú variado sería más flexible.

oon loo-GAHR kohn oon meh-NOO bah-RYAH-doh seh-REE-ah mahs fleh-SEE-bleh A place with a varied menu would be more flexible.

Encontré un restaurante informal con opciones vegetarianas y mesas grandes.

ehn-kohn-TREH oon rehs-tow-RAHN-teh een-for-MAHL kohn ohp-SYOH-nehs beh-heh-tah-RYAH-nahs ee MEH-sahs GRAHN-dehs I found a casual restaurant with vegetarian options and big tables.

Parece una opción más segura para un grupo con preferencias diferentes.

pah-REH-seh OO-nah ohp-SYOHN mahs seh-GOO-rah PAH-rah oon GROO-poh kohn preh-feh-REHN-syahs dee-feh-REHN-tehs That sounds like a safer choice for a mixed group.

¿Debería preguntarle al grupo antes de reservar o elegirlo ahora?

deh-beh-REE-ah preh-goon-TAR-leh ahl GROO-poh AHN-tehs deh reh-sehr-BAHR oh eh-leh-HEER-loh ah-OH-rah Should I ask the group before booking, or choose it now?

Dales dos opciones y pídeles una respuesta rápida.

DAH-lehs dohs ohp-SYOH-nehs ee PEE-deh-lehs OO-nah reh-SPOO-ehs-tah RAH-pee-dah Give them two options and ask for a quick response.

Enviaré una encuesta breve para que podamos decidir esta noche.

ehm-byah-REH OO-nah ehn-KWEHS-tah BREH-beh PAH-rah keh poh-DAH-mohs deh-see-DEER EHS-tah NOH-cheh I will send a short poll so we can decide tonight.

Eso debería ayudar a que el plan avance sin pedirles opinión a demasiadas personas.

EH-soh deh-beh-REE-ah ah-yoo-DAR ah keh el plahn ah-BAHN-seh seen peh-DEER-lehs oh-pee-NYOHN ah deh-mah-SYAH-dahs pehr-SOH-nahs That should keep the plan moving without asking too many people for opinions.

Word by Word

Tenemos In “Tenemos que elegir”, “Tenemos” means “we need to” because it combines with que and an infinitive. It is the first-person plural form of tener. A reusable pattern is “Tenemos que” plus an infinitive for a shared necessity.

que In “Tenemos que elegir”, “que” connects tenemos with elegir and helps express “need to”; it does not mean “that” by itself here. The reusable construction is “tener que” plus an infinitive.

elegir “Elegir” means “to choose” in “Tenemos que elegir un restaurante”. It is an infinitive after tener que. A new example is: “Necesitamos elegir una fecha” means “We need to choose a date.”

un “Un” means “a” before the masculine singular noun restaurante in “un restaurante”. It is the masculine singular form of the indefinite article. A reusable pattern is “un” plus a masculine singular noun.

restaurante “Restaurante” means “restaurant” in “un restaurante para nuestro grupo”. It names the place being considered for the meal. A reusable pattern is “elegir un restaurante” when selecting a place to eat.

para In “para nuestro grupo”, “para” means “for” and marks the group the restaurant is intended for. It commonly comes before a noun or pronoun that identifies the intended recipient or purpose.

nuestro “Nuestro” means “our” and agrees with the masculine singular noun grupo in “nuestro grupo”. It identifies the group as belonging to or associated with the speakers. A reusable pattern is “nuestro” plus a masculine singular noun.

grupo “Grupo” means “group” in “nuestro grupo”. Here it refers to the people planning to eat together. A reusable pattern is “un grupo de” plus the people or things included.

el In “el sábado”, “el” is the masculine singular definite article used with the day sábado. Together, “el sábado” identifies the planned day. A reusable pattern is “el” plus a day of the week.

sábado “Sábado” means “Saturday” in “el sábado”. The article in “el sábado” makes the reference to the planned day clear in this sentence. A new example is: “Nos vemos el sábado” means “See you on Saturday.”

Entonces “Entonces” means “then” or “so” and moves from the need to choose a restaurant to the next suggestion. It is placed at the beginning of the sentence to connect with what was just said. It is useful when introducing a consequence or next step.

deberíamos “Deberíamos” means “we should” in “deberíamos conocer las preferencias”. It is the first-person plural conditional form of deber and presents a recommendation rather than a direct order. A reusable pattern is “deberíamos” plus an infinitive.

conocer “Conocer” means “to know” or “to find out” in “conocer las preferencias alimentarias de todos”. Here it refers to learning what the people prefer before making the reservation. A reusable pattern is “conocer” plus the information or person to be known.

las “Las” is the feminine plural definite article before “preferencias” in “las preferencias alimentarias”. It agrees with the plural feminine noun. A reusable pattern is “las” plus a feminine plural noun.

preferencias “Preferencias” means “preferences” in “las preferencias alimentarias”. It refers to the foods or meal types people prefer. It is the plural form of preferencia. A reusable pattern is “conocer las preferencias de” someone or a group.

alimentarias “Alimentarias” means “food-related” in “preferencias alimentarias”. It is the feminine plural form of alimentario and agrees with preferencias. The exact expression “preferencias alimentarias” is useful when discussing people’s food choices.

de In “de todos”, “de” means “of” and connects the preferences with the people who have them. A reusable pattern is “las preferencias de” plus a person or group.

todos “Todos” means “everyone” or “all of them” in “de todos”, referring to all members of the group. It is the masculine plural form of todo, which can refer to a mixed or unspecified group. A reusable pattern is “todos” plus a verb when referring to everyone doing something.

antes “Antes” means “before” in “antes de hacer una reserva” and introduces an earlier action or time. The exact reusable construction is “antes de” plus an infinitive.

hacer “Hacer” means “to make” in the expression “hacer una reserva”, which means to make a reservation. It is an infinitive after antes de. A reusable pattern is “hacer” plus a noun for carrying out an action or arranging something.

una “Una” means “a” before the feminine singular noun reserva in “una reserva”. It is the feminine singular form of the indefinite article. A reusable pattern is “una” plus a feminine singular noun.

reserva “Reserva” means “reservation” in “hacer una reserva”. It refers to arranging a place at the restaurant. It is the feminine singular form of the noun. A reusable pattern is “hacer una reserva” when booking a table or place.

Algunas “Algunas” means “some” in “Algunas personas”. It is the feminine plural form of alguno and agrees with personas. A reusable pattern is “algunas” plus a feminine plural noun when referring to part of a group.

personas “Personas” means “people” in “Algunas personas”. It identifies some members of the dinner group. It is the plural form of persona. A reusable pattern is “personas que” plus a clause describing them.

quieren “Quieren” means “want” in “quieren sushi”. It is the third-person plural present form of querer, referring to algunas personas. A reusable pattern is “quieren” plus a food, object, or infinitive.

sushi “Sushi” means “sushi” in “quieren sushi”. It is the food some people want to eat. A reusable pattern is “querer” plus the name of a food or meal.

pero “Pero” means “but” and contrasts the people who want sushi with those who prefer a hot meal. It connects two contrasting parts of the sentence. It is useful for introducing an opposing preference or fact.

otras “Otras” means “others” in “pero otras”, referring to other people in contrast with algunas personas. It is the feminine plural form of otro and stands for other people without repeating personas. A reusable pattern is “unas personas..., pero otras...” when contrasting groups.

prefieren “Prefieren” means “prefer” in “prefieren una comida caliente”. It is the third-person plural present form of preferir and refers to otras. A reusable pattern is “prefieren” plus the food or option someone chooses over another.

comida “Comida” means “meal” or “food” in “una comida caliente”. It is the feminine singular noun being described by caliente. A reusable pattern is “una comida” plus an adjective describing its type or temperature.

caliente “Caliente” means “hot” or “warm” in “una comida caliente”. It describes the temperature or serving style of the meal. A reusable pattern is “comida caliente” when talking about a hot meal.

lugar “Lugar” means “place” in “Un lugar con un menú variado”. Here it refers to a possible restaurant. A reusable pattern is “un lugar con” plus a feature or service.

con In “con un menú variado”, “con” means “with” and introduces a feature the place has. A reusable pattern is “un lugar con” plus a noun describing what is available there.

menú “Menú” means “menu” in “un menú variado”. It refers to the selection of food offered by the place. A reusable pattern is “un menú” plus an adjective describing its range or style.

variado “Variado” means “varied” in “un menú variado” and agrees with the masculine singular noun menú. It describes a menu with different types of choices. A reusable pattern is “un menú variado” when a group needs several options.

sería “Sería” means “would be” in “sería más flexible”. It is the conditional form of ser and presents a possible evaluation of the place. A reusable pattern is “sería” plus an adjective when describing a likely result or advantage.

más “Más” means “more” in “más flexible” and creates the comparison “more flexible”. The comparison comes from más together with the adjective, not from flexible alone. A reusable pattern is “más” plus an adjective.

flexible “Flexible” means “flexible” in “más flexible”, describing a place that can accommodate different food preferences. The adjective remains the same form here. A reusable pattern is “ser más flexible” when discussing an option that can suit different needs.

Encontré “Encontré” means “I found” in “Encontré un restaurante”. It is the first-person singular past form of encontrar and reports a completed discovery. A reusable pattern is “Encontré” plus the object that was found.

informal “Informal” means “casual” or “informal” in “un restaurante informal”. It describes the restaurant’s atmosphere or style. A reusable pattern is “un restaurante informal” when referring to a relaxed place to eat.

opciones “Opciones” means “options” in “opciones vegetarianas”. It refers to the different dishes or choices available. It is the plural form of opción. A reusable pattern is “opciones” plus an adjective describing the choices.

vegetarianas “Vegetarianas” means “vegetarian” in “opciones vegetarianas”. It is the feminine plural form of vegetariano and agrees with opciones. A reusable pattern is “opciones vegetarianas” when checking whether a restaurant can serve vegetarians.

y “Y” means “and” and links “opciones vegetarianas” with “mesas grandes”. It joins two features of the restaurant. It is useful for adding another related item or description.

mesas “Mesas” means “tables” in “mesas grandes”. It refers to the furniture that can accommodate the group. It is the plural form of mesa. A reusable pattern is “mesas” plus an adjective describing their size or arrangement.

grandes “Grandes” means “large” or “big” in “mesas grandes” and agrees with the plural noun mesas. It describes tables suitable for a group. It is the plural form of grande. A reusable pattern is “mesas grandes” when discussing seating for several people.

Parece “Parece” means “seems” or “sounds” in “Parece una opción”. It is the third-person singular present form of parecer and gives an impression about the restaurant. A reusable pattern is “Parece” plus a noun phrase or adjective.

opción “Opción” means “option” or “choice” in “una opción más segura”. It names one possible restaurant choice. It is the feminine singular form of the noun. A reusable pattern is “una opción para” plus a purpose or group.

segura “Segura” means “safe” in “una opción más segura” and agrees with the feminine noun opción. The word más makes the full expression comparative, meaning “safer”; segura alone does not create that comparison. A reusable pattern is “una opción segura” when describing a dependable choice.

diferentes “Diferentes” means “different” in “preferencias diferentes”. It describes preferences that are not the same. It is the plural form of diferente. A reusable pattern is a plural noun followed by “diferentes” when comparing members of a group.

Debería “Debería” means “should I” in “Debería preguntarle al grupo”. It is the singular conditional form of deber and frames a request for advice. A reusable pattern is “Debería” plus an infinitive when asking whether an action is advisable.

preguntarle “Preguntarle” means “to ask him, her, or them” in “preguntarle al grupo”. It combines the infinitive preguntar with le, whose reference is clarified by al grupo. A reusable pattern is “preguntarle a” someone or a group about a decision.

al “Al” is the contraction of a and el in “preguntarle al grupo”. Here it means “to the” group as the people being asked. The exact reusable phrase is “preguntarle al grupo” when seeking a group’s response.

reservar “Reservar” means “to book” or “to reserve” in “antes de reservar”. It is an infinitive naming the booking action. A reusable pattern is “reservar” plus the thing being booked, such as a table in a new example.

o “O” means “or” and presents a choice between asking the group and choosing the restaurant immediately. It links alternative actions. It is useful when offering two possible actions or options.

elegirlo “Elegirlo” means “to choose it” in “elegirlo ahora”. It combines elegir with the attached pronoun lo, which refers to the restaurant or choice already mentioned. A reusable pattern is an infinitive with an attached object pronoun when the object is already understood.

ahora “Ahora” means “now” in “elegirlo ahora”. It places the possible choice at the present time rather than after asking the group. A reusable pattern is placing “ahora” after the verb or object to emphasize immediate action.

Dales “Dales” means “give them” in “Dales dos opciones”. It is a command using dar with the attached pronoun les, which refers to the group. A reusable pattern is “Dales” plus the thing to be given.

dos “Dos” means “two” in “dos opciones”. It gives the exact number of choices to present to the group. A reusable pattern is “dos” plus a plural noun.

pídeles “Pídeles” means “ask them for” in “pídeles una respuesta”. It is a command using pedir with the attached pronoun les, referring to the group. A reusable pattern is “pídeles” plus the thing requested.

respuesta “Respuesta” means “response” in “una respuesta rápida”. It refers to what the group should send after receiving the options. It is the feminine singular form of the noun. A reusable pattern is “pedir una respuesta” when requesting an answer.

rápida “Rápida” means “quick” in “una respuesta rápida” and agrees with the feminine noun respuesta. It describes the desired speed of the answer. It is the feminine singular form of rápido. A reusable pattern is “una respuesta rápida” for a prompt reply.

Enviaré “Enviaré” means “I will send” in “Enviaré una encuesta”. It is the first-person singular future form of enviar and states a planned action. A reusable pattern is “Enviaré” plus the item that will be sent.

encuesta “Encuesta” means “poll” or “survey” in “una encuesta breve”. Here it is a short poll used to collect the group’s preferences. It is the feminine singular form of the noun. A reusable pattern is “enviar una encuesta” when collecting several people’s choices.

breve “Breve” means “short” or “brief” in “una encuesta breve”. It describes the poll as limited in length or scope. The form is the same with this feminine noun. A reusable pattern is a noun followed by “breve” when emphasizing that it will take little time.

podamos “Podamos” means “we can” in “para que podamos decidir”. It is the first-person plural subjunctive form of poder, used after para que to express the intended result. A reusable pattern is “para que podamos” plus an infinitive when explaining a purpose.

decidir “Decidir” means “to decide” in “podamos decidir”. It is an infinitive after podamos and names the decision the group will make. A reusable pattern is “poder” plus decidir when expressing the ability to reach a decision.

esta “Esta” means “this” in “esta noche” and agrees with the feminine noun noche. Together, “esta noche” means “tonight” in this dialogue. It is the feminine singular form related to este. A reusable pattern is “esta” plus a feminine singular noun.

noche “Noche” means “night” in “esta noche”, which here means “tonight”. It identifies when the group should decide. A reusable pattern is “esta noche” for an action planned for the current evening.

Eso “Eso” means “that” in “Eso debería ayudar”. It refers to the proposed action of sending a short poll. It is a neuter demonstrative commonly used to refer back to an idea or situation. A reusable pattern is “Eso debería” plus an infinitive when evaluating a proposed action.

ayudar “Ayudar” means “to help” in “ayudar a que el plan avance”. Here it introduces the intended positive effect of the poll on the plan. A reusable pattern is “ayudar a que” plus a clause describing the result.

a In “ayudar a que el plan avance”, “a” links ayudar with the following result clause introduced by que. It is part of the construction “ayudar a que”, rather than a standalone translation of “to” before an infinitive. A reusable pattern is “ayudar a que” plus a subjunctive clause.

plan “Plan” means “plan” in “el plan avance”. It refers to the group-dinner arrangements. It is the masculine singular noun serving as the subject of avance. A reusable pattern is “el plan” plus a verb describing how the plan develops.

avance “Avance” means “move forward” or “advance” in “que el plan avance”. It is the third-person singular subjunctive form of avanzar after que. A reusable pattern is “que el plan avance” when hoping or helping arrangements progress.

sin “Sin” means “without” in “sin pedirles opinión”. It introduces an action that is not done. A reusable pattern is “sin” plus an infinitive to describe something avoided or omitted.

pedirles “Pedirles” means “to ask them for” in “pedirles opinión”. It combines the infinitive pedir with the attached pronoun les, referring to the group. A reusable pattern is “pedirles” plus the thing requested.

opinión “Opinión” means “opinion” in “pedirles opinión”. Here it refers to the group’s views about the restaurant choice. It is the feminine singular noun used without an article in this expression. The exact reusable pattern is “pedirles opinión” when asking a group for its view.

demasiadas “Demasiadas” means “too many” in “demasiadas personas” and agrees with the feminine plural noun personas. It indicates that the number of people asked for opinions would be excessive. It is the feminine plural form of demasiado. A reusable pattern is “demasiadas” plus a plural noun when saying that there are more than necessary.

Grammar Points

Imperativo + pronombre indirecto: pídeles

Pídeles dos opciones.

PEE-deh-lehs dohs ohp-SYOH-nehs

Ask them for two options.

In commands, the indirect-object pronoun attaches to the verb: pídeles = ask them for.

Infinitivo + pronombre: elegirlo

Decidir sin elegirlo.

deh-see-DEER seen eh-leh-HEER-loh

To decide without choosing it.

Object pronouns attach to an infinitive: elegirlo = to choose it.

Spanish Vocabulary

alimentarias adj

ah-lee-mehn-TAH-ryahs food-related

conocer verb

koh-noh-SEHR to know; to find out

elegir verb

eh-leh-HEER to choose

grupo noun

GROO-poh group

preferencias noun

preh-feh-REHN-syahs preferences

prefieren verb

preh-FYEH-rehn they prefer

quieren verb

KYEH-rehn they want

reserva noun

reh-SEHR-bah reservation

restaurante noun

rehs-tow-RAHN-teh restaurant

sábado noun

SAH-bah-doh Saturday

tenemos verb

teh-NEH-mohs we have; we need to

todos pron

TOH-dohs everyone; all of them

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

food-related

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alimentarias

Saturday

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sábado

we have; we need to

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tenemos

group

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grupo