Restarting work after a long pause | Learn Spanish in English

Sentence explanations

1. Después del almuerzo, me siento completamente desconectado de la tarea.

   After lunch, I feel completely disconnected from the task.

   Después

   after

   almuerzo

   lunch

   me siento

   I feel

   completamente

   completely

   desconectado

   disconnected

   tarea

   task

   More detail

   Después expresses a later time: “after” or “afterward.” Here, después de is followed by del, the contraction of de + el: después del almuerzo means “after lunch.” Example: Después de la clase, descanso. — “After class, I rest.” almuerzo is the masculine singular noun “lunch.” The related verb almorzar means “to have lunch,” but it is a different word. Example: El almuerzo empieza a la una. — “Lunch starts at one.” me siento is the first-person singular present form of reflexive sentirse, used here for “I feel.” Me is the reflexive pronoun connected with the first-person subject; siento is the irregular present form of sentir. In sentirse + adjective, the adjective describes the subject’s state: Me siento cansado. — “I feel tired.” This is different from sentarse, “to sit down,” although the forms are similar. completamente is an adverb meaning “completely.” It intensifies the following description, so the stated feeling is complete in degree. Example: Está completamente listo. — “He/She is completely ready.” desconectado means “disconnected” here: the speaker feels separated from the task. It is a masculine singular adjective form related to the verb desconectar, “to disconnect.” The feminine singular form is desconectada; plural agreement uses desconectados or desconectadas when the referent is plural. Example: Me siento desconectado de la conversación. — “I feel disconnected from the conversation.” tarea is the feminine singular noun “task” or “assignment.” In de la tarea, la agrees with feminine singular tarea, and de introduces what the speaker feels disconnected from. Example: La tarea es breve. — “The task is short.” Together, después del almuerzo sets the time, and me siento completamente desconectado de la tarea says that the speaker feels completely disconnected from the task at that time. A reusable pattern is Después de [event or activity], me siento [adjective] de [thing or activity].

2. Empieza con un repaso breve en lugar de pasar directamente a la parte más difícil.

   Start with a small review instead of jumping into the hardest part.

   Empieza

   start

   repaso

   review

   breve

   brief

   en lugar de

   instead of

   pasar

   moving on

   directamente

   directly

   parte

   part

   más difícil

   hardest

   More detail

   Empieza is the affirmative command form of empezar for tú singular: “start.” The ending identifies the addressee as one familiar or informally addressed person; it is not the usted form (empiece) or the plural ustedes form (empiecen). Example: Empieza aquí. — “Start here.” repaso is a noun meaning “review” or “recap.” It is related to the verb repasar, “to review,” but the form in this sentence is the noun. Example: Hacemos un repaso antes del examen. — “We do a review before the exam.” breve describes repaso as short or limited in length. This adjective has the same form for masculine and feminine singular nouns; its plural is breves. Example: Fue una reunión breve. — “It was a brief meeting.” en lugar de is a reusable construction meaning “instead of.” It is followed here by the infinitive pasar, so the pattern is en lugar de + infinitive: “instead of doing something.” It contrasts beginning with a review and moving directly to the difficult part. pasar is the infinitive meaning “to move on” in this context. Other uses of the same verb include “to pass” or “to spend time,” so its meaning here comes from the surrounding phrase: pasar directamente a means “move directly on to.” Example: Prefiero repasar antes de pasar al siguiente tema. — “I prefer to review before moving on to the next topic.” directamente is an adverb meaning “directly.” It describes how the movement to the next part would happen: without an intervening review. It is based on the feminine adjective form directa plus -mente; the adverb itself does not change for gender or number. parte is a feminine noun meaning “part” or “section.” Here it refers to a section or portion, without specifying the exact content. Example: Esta parte requiere más tiempo. — “This part requires more time.” más difícil means “more difficult,” and in la parte más difícil it forms a relative superlative: “the most difficult part.” Difícil is the base adjective; más difícil compares it with the other parts, and the definite noun phrase la parte identifies the one at the highest difficulty. Example: Este es el ejercicio más difícil. — “This is the most difficult exercise.” Together, Empieza con un repaso breve gives the instruction “Start with a brief review.” en lugar de pasar directamente a la parte más difícil specifies the alternative: do that review rather than moving straight to the most difficult section. The complete meaning is: “Start with a small review instead of jumping into the hardest part.”

3. Perdí el ritmo porque hicimos una pausa a mitad del análisis.

   I lost momentum because we paused in the middle of the analysis.

   Perdí

   I lost

   el ritmo

   momentum

   porque

   because

   hicimos

   we did

   una pausa

   a pause

   a mitad de

   in the middle of

   el análisis

   the analysis

   More detail

   Perdí comes from perder (“to lose”). It is the first-person singular preterite: “I lost.” The accent mark is part of this form. In this sentence, the loss is presented as a completed past event. Compare the useful contrast perdí “I lost” and perdí el ritmo “I lost momentum.” El ritmo means “the momentum” here; ritmo can also mean “rhythm” in other contexts. Ritmo is a masculine singular noun, so it appears with the masculine singular article el. Example: El ritmo cambia. — “The rhythm changes.” Porque introduces the reason for the preceding statement: “because.” It links a result or event to its cause. Example: Paré porque estaba cansado. — “I stopped because I was tired.” Hicimos comes from hacer (“to do; to make”). It is the first-person plural preterite, “we did” or “we made”; its irregular preterite stem is hic-. With una pausa, the natural construction hacer una pausa means “to take a pause” or “to pause.” Example: Hicimos una pausa. — “We paused.” Una pausa means “a pause.” Pausa is a feminine singular noun, so the indefinite article is feminine singular: una. The article does not by itself state a numerical count; it presents a pause as an individual, nonspecific event. Example: Necesito una pausa. — “I need a pause.” A mitad de is a reusable phrase meaning “in the middle of.” It places something within the course of an activity or process and is followed by the relevant noun phrase: a mitad de la reunión — “in the middle of the meeting.” El análisis means “the analysis.” Análisis is a masculine singular noun here, shown by el; its written form is also used for the plural, where the article changes: el análisis “the analysis,” los análisis “the analyses.” Together, Perdí el ritmo says “I lost momentum.” Porque hicimos una pausa gives the cause, “because we paused,” and a mitad del análisis locates that pause in the process: “in the middle of the analysis.” The whole utterance therefore means: “I lost momentum because we paused in the middle of the analysis.”

4. Mira la última nota y elige la próxima prioridad.

   Look at the last note and pick the next priority.

   Mira

   look

   última

   last

   nota

   note

   elige

   choose

   próxima

   next

   prioridad

   priority

   More detail

   Mira is the affirmative command form of mirar for tú singular: “look.” The command addresses one person informally. Example: Mira el mapa. — “Look at the map.” última is the feminine singular form of último, meaning “last” here. It agrees with the feminine singular noun nota; the adjective, not the noun, carries this gender and number marking. Compare el último informe — “the last report” and la última nota — “the last note.” nota is a feminine noun meaning “note” in this sentence. Its plural is notas. Example: La nota está aquí. — “The note is here.” elige is the affirmative tú command of elegir, meaning “choose” or “pick.” It is a command to one informal listener, distinct from the present-tense statement él/ella elige, “he/she chooses,” which has the same form but a different function in context. Example: Elige una opción. — “Choose an option.” próxima is the feminine singular form of próximo, meaning “next” here. It agrees with prioridad, a feminine singular noun. Its masculine counterpart is próximo, as in el próximo paso — “the next step.” prioridad is a feminine noun meaning “priority.” Its plural is prioridades. Example: Esta prioridad es urgente. — “This priority is urgent.” Together, Mira la última nota means “Look at the last note,” and elige la próxima prioridad means “pick the next priority.” The two affirmative commands are joined by y, so the complete utterance tells one informal listener to perform both actions: “Look at the last note and pick the next priority.”

5. El siguiente paso es comprobar si los números coinciden con el archivo original.

   The next step is checking whether the numbers match the source file.

   siguiente

   next

   paso

   step

   comprobar

   to check

   si

   whether

   números

   numbers

   coinciden

   match

   archivo

   file

   original

   original

   More detail

   siguiente means “next” here. It is an adjective modifying paso, so it agrees with that noun: siguiente is used with singular nouns, while siguientes is plural. It does not change for masculine versus feminine singular: el siguiente paso, la siguiente etapa. paso means “step.” It is a masculine singular noun; its plural is pasos. The phrase el siguiente paso is a reusable way to identify the next action in a process. comprobar means “to check” or “to verify.” This is the infinitive form. After a linking expression such as El paso es..., an infinitive can name the action that the step consists of: El paso es revisar los datos means “The step is reviewing the data.” si introduces an embedded yes-or-no question here, so comprobar si... means “to check whether...” It has no accent in this use. This is different from sí, which means “yes.” números means “numbers.” It is the plural of the masculine noun número; the written accent remains in the plural because of Spanish stress and accent rules. In this sentence, números is the subject of coinciden. coinciden means “match” here. It is the present indicative, third-person plural form of coincidir, agreeing with plural números: los números coinciden. The same verb can also mean that people or things coincide in another sense, but here the intended meaning is that the numbers agree with the file. archivo means “file.” It is a masculine singular noun, so the phrase uses el archivo; its plural is archivos. original means “original” or “source” here. It is a singular adjective modifying masculine singular archivo. The form is also original with a feminine singular noun, as in la versión original; the plural is originales. Together, El siguiente paso identifies the next step, es comprobar states what that step consists of, and si los números coinciden con el archivo original specifies what must be checked: whether the numbers match the original source file. The complete meaning is “The next step is checking whether the numbers match the source file.”

6. Eso te da un punto claro desde el que puedes continuar.

   That gives you a clear point to resume from.

   Eso

   That

   te da

   gives you

   punto

   point

   claro

   clear

   desde el que

   from which

   puedes

   you can

   continuar

   continue; resume

   More detail

   Eso is a neuter demonstrative meaning “that” or “that thing/situation.” It points to something already established, without specifying a masculine or feminine noun. Compare esto “this” and eso “that.” te da combines dar “to give” with te, the unstressed pronoun for “to you.” da is the present-tense third-person singular form of dar; the thing that gives is eso. The pronoun te identifies the recipient as one person addressed informally, but it does not itself mark gender. Example: La guía te da una idea. — “The guide gives you an idea.” punto means “point.” Here it is a figurative starting point or reference point, not necessarily a physical dot. Its plural is puntos. claro describes punto: “clear” or “well-defined.” It is the masculine singular form agreeing with masculine singular punto. The feminine singular form is clara, as in una instrucción clara (“a clear instruction”); plural forms are claros and claras. desde el que means “from which.” desde marks the starting point, and que introduces a relative clause. In this phrase, el agrees with the masculine singular noun punto; que does not change for gender or number. A reusable pattern is el lugar desde el que... — “the place from which...” puedes is the present-tense second-person singular form of poder, “can” or “be able to,” used with informal tú. It expresses ability or possibility here. The infinitive after it names the action that is possible: puedes continuar — “you can continue.” continuar is the infinitive “to continue.” In this sentence, the fixed translation makes the intended sense “to resume,” that is, to continue from the clear point after a pause or interruption. The same verb can also mean simply to keep going: Quiero continuar. — “I want to continue.” Together, Eso te da un punto claro means “That gives you a clear point,” and desde el que puedes continuar adds “from which you can continue.” The whole utterance therefore means: “That gives you a clear point to resume from.”

7. También tengo que cerrar las aplicaciones de chat porque me distraigo constantemente.

   I also need to close chat apps because I keep getting distracted.

   También

   also

   tengo que

   need to

   cerrar

   close

   aplicaciones

   apps

   chat

   chat

   me distraigo

   I get distracted

   constantemente

   constantly

   More detail

   También adds this action or fact to something already understood: “also” or “too.” It does not replace the earlier information. Example: También trabajo los sábados. — “I also work on Saturdays.” tengo que expresses necessity or obligation. The form tengo is the first-person singular present form of tener; the following verb stays in the infinitive: tener que + infinitive. Example: Tengo que estudiar. — “I have to study.” cerrar is the infinitive “to close.” Here it is the action required after tengo que. It can describe closing a physical object or ending access to something, depending on the object. Example: Voy a cerrar la ventana. — “I am going to close the window.” aplicaciones means “applications” or “apps.” Its singular base form is aplicación; the ending -es marks the plural. In this utterance, it refers to the chat apps being closed. Example: Estas aplicaciones son útiles. — “These apps are useful.” chat is a noun used for chat or messaging. In aplicaciones de chat, de chat identifies the type of applications: “chat apps.” The preposition de links a noun with the kind or function of another noun. Example: Uso una aplicación de música. — “I use a music app.” me distraigo means “I get distracted.” Me is the first-person object/reflexive pronoun, and distraigo is the first-person singular present form of the pronominal verb distraerse. This form describes the subject becoming distracted, rather than directly distracting another person. Compare Me distraigo con el ruido. — “I get distracted by the noise.” — with El ruido me distrae. — “The noise distracts me.” constantemente is an adverb meaning “constantly” or “continually.” It describes how often the speaker gets distracted. Example: El teléfono suena constantemente. — “The phone rings constantly.” The parts combine as También + tengo que + cerrar + las aplicaciones de chat + porque + me distraigo + constantemente. Las marks the apps as a definite plural feminine noun phrase, while porque introduces the reason. The complete meaning is: “I also need to close the chat apps because I keep getting distracted.”

8. Mantenlas cerradas mientras trabajas sin distracciones y después revisa tus mensajes.

   Keep them closed while you work without distractions, then check your messages.

   Mantenlas

   keep them

   cerradas

   closed

   mientras trabajas

   while you work

   sin distracciones

   without distractions

   después

   afterwards

   revisa

   check

   mensajes

   messages

   More detail

   Mantenlas comes from mantener (“to keep/maintain”). It is the affirmative command for tú, with the direct-object clitic las attached: mantén + las becomes the correctly spelled mantenlas. Here las refers to the feminine plural chat applications established by the context. The clitic agrees with that feminine plural object. Example: Mantenlas cerradas. — “Keep them closed.” cerradas is the feminine plural form of cerrado, related to the verb cerrar (“to close”). It describes the state that the applications should remain in, so it agrees with feminine plural las; it does not change because of the person receiving the command. Compare cerrado (masculine singular) and cerradas (feminine plural). Example: Deja las ventanas cerradas. — “Leave the windows closed.” mientras trabajas uses mientras (“while”) with trabajas, the present-tense tú form of trabajar (“to work”). It introduces an action happening during the period described by the main command. Example: Escucha música mientras trabajas. — “Listen to music while you work.” sin distracciones means that the work is done without distractions. sin is the preposition “without,” and distracciones is the plural noun “distractions.” Example: Estudio sin distracciones. — “I study without distractions.” después is a time adverb meaning “afterwards” or “then.” It places the next action after the preceding activity; it does not itself specify exactly how much time passes. revisa comes from revisar (“to check/review”). Here it is the affirmative tú command: “check.” Example: Revisa el documento. — “Check the document.” mensajes is the plural noun “messages.” In tus mensajes, tus means “your” and agrees with the plural noun; the phrase identifies the messages to be checked. Example: Leo mis mensajes. — “I read my messages.” Together, Mantenlas cerradas means “Keep them closed,” with the attached las pointing to the chat applications. mientras trabajas sin distracciones sets the period and condition: work while free from distractions. después revisa tus mensajes adds a second tú command to perform afterward. The complete meaning is: “Keep them closed while you work without distractions, then check your messages.”

9. Eso parece manejable. Puedo recuperar la concentración poco a poco.

   That feels manageable. I can rebuild focus gradually.

   Eso

   That

   parece

   seems

   manejable

   manageable

   Puedo

   I can

   recuperar

   regain

   concentración

   focus

   poco a poco

   gradually

   More detail

   Eso is a neuter demonstrative pronoun meaning “that.” Here it points to an already understood situation or idea, without identifying a specific noun. Unlike este/esta and estos/estas, eso does not mark masculine/feminine or singular/plural agreement. parece comes from parecer and is the present-tense third-person singular form: “seems” or “appears.” With parecer + an adjective, Spanish describes how something appears: La situación parece manejable. — “The situation seems manageable.” manejable means “manageable,” something that can be handled. It is singular here, and this adjective has the same form for masculine and feminine singular nouns; its plural is manejables. Puedo comes from poder and is the first-person singular present form, “I can.” poder is commonly followed by an infinitive: Puedo descansar. — “I can rest.” The form puedo identifies the speaker as the subject; the following infinitive does not change for person. recuperar is the infinitive “to regain” or “to recover.” In this sentence it describes restoring concentration, rather than recovering a physical object. For example, Puedo recuperar el ritmo. means “I can regain my rhythm.” concentración is the feminine noun “concentration” or “focus.” It is the thing being regained in this sentence. The related verb concentrarse means “to concentrate,” as in Necesito concentrarme. — “I need to concentrate.” poco a poco is a repeated adverbial expression meaning “gradually” or “little by little.” It presents a process as happening in small stages: Vuelve poco a poco. — “It comes back gradually.” Together, Eso parece manejable says that the situation or idea being referred to seems manageable. Puedo recuperar la concentración poco a poco says that the speaker can regain focus gradually. The complete utterance is therefore: “That feels manageable. I can rebuild focus gradually.”

10. Empieza por ahí y el resto debería parecer menos pesado.

    Start there, and the rest should feel less heavy.

    Empieza

    start; begin

    por ahí

    there / from there

    el resto

    the rest

    debería

    should

    parecer

    seem; appear

    menos pesado

    less heavy

    More detail

    Empieza means “start” here. It is the affirmative command for tú singular, from empezar; the stem change e → ie appears in this form. Example: Empieza ahora. — “Start now.” por ahí identifies the place or point from which to begin: “there” or “from there.” por presents the starting point in this pattern, while ahí is the location word. Example: Sigue por ahí. — “Continue from there.” El resto means “the rest,” referring to what remains of the relevant task, material, or situation. Resto is a masculine singular noun, so it appears with el; its plural is los restos when referring to multiple remains or remnants. Example: El resto puede esperar. — “The rest can wait.” Debería expresses what would be expected or advisable: “should.” It is the third-person singular conditional form of deber, matching the singular subject el resto. The conditional makes this a prediction or expectation rather than a direct statement of certainty. Example: El plan debería funcionar. — “The plan should work.” Parecer is the infinitive “to seem” or “to appear.” After a conjugated form of deber, Spanish uses the infinitive: debería parecer — “should seem.” Unlike parecerse, which means “to resemble,” parecer here describes how something feels or appears. Example: La tarea parece sencilla. — “The task seems easy.” Menos pesado means “less heavy” in this sentence. Menos marks a lower degree, and pesado is the masculine singular form of the adjective pesado, agreeing with el resto; the feminine singular form is pesada, and plural forms include pesados and pesadas. Here “heavy” can describe the perceived burden or difficulty, not only physical weight. Example: El trabajo parece menos pesado hoy. — “The work seems less heavy today.” Together, Empieza por ahí gives the instruction “Start there.” Then el resto debería parecer menos pesado says that, after that starting point, the remaining part is expected to feel less burdensome. The complete meaning is: “Start there, and the rest should feel less heavy.”