Fixing a printing problem in the library | Learn Spanish in English

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Use Fixing a printing problem in the library to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Mi documento está atascado en la cola de la impresora y no sale nada.

mee doh-koo-MEN-toh eh-STAH ah-tahs-KAH-doh en lah KOH-lah deh lah eem-preh-SOH-rah ee noh SAH-leh NAH-dah. My document is stuck in the printer queue, and nothing is coming out.

Comprobemos la pantalla antes de volver a enviar el trabajo.

kohm-proh-BEH-mohs lah pahn-TAH-yah AHN-tehs deh vohl-VEHR ah en-BYAR ehl trah-BAH-hoh. Let's check the screen before sending the job again.

Elegí la impresión a doble cara, pero la pantalla muestra un error.

eh-leh-HEE lah eem-preh-SYOHN ah DOH-bleh KAH-rah, PEH-roh lah pahn-TAH-yah MOWS-trah oon eh-ROR. I chose double-sided printing, but the display shows an error.

Puede que haya un atasco de papel, así que no toque los controles por ahora.

PWEH-deh keh AH-yah oon ah-TAS-koh deh pah-PEHL, ah-SEE keh noh TOH-keh lohs kohn-TROH-lehs por ah-OH-rah. There may be a paper jam, so leave the controls alone for now.

No quiero volver a enviarlo y añadir otro trabajo a la cola.

noh KYEH-roh vohl-VEHR ah en-BYAR-loh ee ah-nyee-DEER OH-troh trah-BAH-hoh ah lah KOH-lah. I do not want to resend it and add another job to the queue.

Puedo cancelar el trabajo fallido antes de que lo intente de nuevo.

PWEH-doh kahn-seh-LAR ehl trah-BAH-hoh fah-YEE-doh AHN-tehs deh keh loh een-TEHN-teh deh NWEH-boh. I can cancel the failed job before you try again.

¿Podría revisar la impresora antes de que yo envíe algo más?

poh-DREE-ah reh-bee-SAR lah eem-preh-SOH-rah AHN-tehs deh keh yoh en-BYEE-eh AL-goh mahs? Could you check the printer before I send anything else?

Voy a echar un vistazo, pero por favor, no abra la máquina por su cuenta.

boy ah eh-CHAR oon bees-TAH-soh, PEH-roh por fah-BOR, noh AH-brah lah MAH-kee-nah por soo KWEHN-tah. I'll take a look, but please do not open the machine yourself.

Esperaré aquí mientras usted la revisa.

eh-speh-rah-REH ah-KEE MYEHN-trahs oo-STEHD lah reh-BEE-sah. I'll wait here while you check it.

Eso nos ayudará a solucionar el problema sin añadir más trabajos de impresión.

EH-soh nohs ah-yoo-dah-RAH ah soh-loo-syoh-NAR ehl proh-BLEH-mah seen ah-nyee-DEER mahs trah-BAH-hohs deh eem-preh-SYOHN. That will help us clear the problem without adding more print jobs.

Word by Word

Mi Here, "Mi" means "my" and identifies the document as belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun in "Mi documento"; use mi before a singular possessed noun when referring to something as yours.

documento Here, "documento" means "document", the file being sent to the printer. In "Mi documento", it is the thing that is stuck; use it for a document you are printing, reading, or sending.

está Here, "está" means "is" and presents the document's current condition. It is a form of estar used with "atascado" in "está atascado"; use estar with a description of a current state.

atascado Here, "atascado" means "stuck" or unable to move forward in the printer queue. With "está", it describes the document's current state; use it after estar when something is blocked.

en Here, "en" means "in" and places the document in the printer queue. The pattern "en" plus a place or container identifies where something is; here it appears in "en la cola".

la Here, "la" is the feminine singular form of "the" before "cola". It introduces the specific queue in "la cola"; use it before a known feminine singular noun.

cola Here, "cola" means "queue", specifically the printer queue. In "la cola de la impresora", de la impresora identifies which queue; use cola de + a system or service when naming its queue.

de Here, "de" links the queue to the printer in "cola de la impresora". It expresses the relationship between two nouns; use noun de noun to identify what something belongs to or is associated with.

impresora Here, "impresora" means "printer", the machine whose queue is being discussed. In "la impresora", it is a specific device; use it when referring to a printer in a practical setting.

y Here, "y" means "and" and joins the statement about the queue with the statement about nothing coming out. Use it to connect related clauses or items.

no Here, "no" makes "sale nada" negative, giving the meaning that nothing comes out. It appears before the conjugated verb; use no before a verb to negate the action or situation.

sale Here, "sale" means "comes out" in the statement that nothing is coming out of the printer. It is a form of salir and appears in "no sale nada"; use salir when something leaves or emerges from a place or device.

nada Here, "nada" means "nothing" and identifies what does not come out in "no sale nada". It follows the verb in this negative statement; use nada when saying that no thing appears, happens, or is produced.

Comprobemos Here, "Comprobemos" means "let's check" and proposes that the two speakers inspect the screen together. It is a form of comprobar; use Comprobemos plus the thing to be checked when suggesting a shared check.

pantalla Here, "pantalla" means "screen" or "display", the printer interface they want to inspect. In "la pantalla", it is a specific screen; use pantalla for the visible interface of a device.

antes Here, "antes" means "before" and places the screen check earlier than sending the job again. In "antes de volver a enviar", it introduces a prior action; use antes de + an infinitive to order two actions.

volver Here, "volver" contributes the meaning of doing something again in "volver a enviar". It is an infinitive used in the pattern volver a + infinitive; use this pattern when repeating an action.

a Here, "a" is the linking word in "volver a enviar", the construction for doing something again. It comes between volver and the repeated action; keep it in the pattern volver a + infinitive.

enviar Here, "enviar" means "to send", referring to sending the print job. It is the infinitive after "volver a" in "volver a enviar el trabajo"; use enviar with the item or job being sent.

el Here, "el" is the masculine singular form of "the" before "trabajo". It identifies a particular job in "el trabajo"; use it before a known masculine singular noun.

trabajo Here, "trabajo" means "job", specifically the print job sent to the printer. In "enviar el trabajo", it is the object being sent; use trabajo for a task or job handled by a system.

Elegí Here, "Elegí" means "I chose" and tells the listener which printing option the speaker selected. It is a form of elegir; use Elegí plus an option when reporting your own earlier selection.

impresión Here, "impresión" refers to the printing option selected by the speaker in "la impresión a doble cara". It names the printing mode in this context; use it when discussing a print setting or printing result.

doble Here, "doble" means "double" in the printing expression "a doble cara". It modifies cara to indicate both sides; use a doble cara when specifying double-sided printing.

cara Here, "cara" means "side" in "a doble cara", not a person's face. Together with doble, it describes printing on both sides; use this expression for a double-sided printing setting.

pero Here, "pero" means "but" and contrasts the selected printing option with the error shown on the display. Use it to connect an expected result with an opposing fact.

muestra Here, "muestra" means "shows" because the screen displays an error message. It is a form of mostrar in "la pantalla muestra un error"; use pantalla or another device as the subject when describing what it displays.

un Here, "un" is the masculine singular form of "a" or "an" before "error". It introduces one unspecified error in "un error"; use it before a masculine singular noun when introducing one item.

error Here, "error" means "error", the problem shown by the printer display. In "muestra un error", it is the information displayed; use error when a device reports that something has gone wrong.

Puede Here, "Puede" signals that a paper jam is possible rather than certain in "Puede que haya". It is a form of poder; use Puede que + a clause to present a possibility.

que Here, "que" introduces the clause describing the possibility in "Puede que haya un atasco". It connects Puede with the possible situation; use Puede que before a clause when suggesting that something may be the case.

haya Here, "haya" presents the possible presence of a paper jam in "Puede que haya un atasco". It is a form of haber used after the possibility expression; use Puede que haya + a noun when saying that something may be present.

atasco Here, "atasco" means "jam" or "blockage", specifically a printer blockage. In "un atasco de papel", de papel identifies what is involved; use atasco de + material when naming this kind of blockage.

papel Here, "papel" means "paper", the material involved in the possible jam. In "atasco de papel", it specifies the type of blockage; use papel when discussing the sheets handled by a printer.

así Here, "así" contributes the meaning "so" in "así que no toque", linking the possible jam to the instruction that follows. Use así que to introduce a consequence or resulting instruction.

toque Here, "toque" means "touch" or "handle" in the instruction "no toque los controles". It is a form of tocar; use no toque + an object when politely telling one person not to handle something.

los Here, "los" is the masculine plural form of "the" before "controles". It identifies the specific controls in "los controles"; use it before a known masculine plural noun.

controles Here, "controles" means "controls", the buttons or settings on the printer. In "no toque los controles", it is the object that must not be handled; use controles for the parts used to operate a device.

por Here, "por" is part of the time expression "por ahora", meaning "for now". It does not mean "for" by itself in this phrase; use por ahora when a temporary instruction or situation applies at the present time.

ahora Here, "ahora" means "now" in "por ahora", marking the present period. Together with por, it limits the instruction to the current moment; use ahora to refer to the present time.

quiero Here, "quiero" means "I want" and expresses the speaker's intention not to resend the item. It is a form of querer in "No quiero volver a enviarlo"; use no quiero + infinitive to state that you do not want to do something.

enviarlo Here, "enviarlo" means "to send it", with lo referring to the item already being discussed. It combines enviar with the object pronoun lo; use an infinitive plus an attached object pronoun when naming an action and its object together.

añadir Here, "añadir" means "to add", referring to placing another print job in the queue. In "añadir otro trabajo a la cola", the object comes before the destination; use añadir + item + a + place or collection.

otro Here, "otro" means "another" and identifies one additional job in "otro trabajo". It comes before the singular noun; use otro + noun when referring to an additional item of the same kind.

Puedo Here, "Puedo" means "I can" and offers the speaker's ability to cancel the failed job. It is a form of poder; use Puedo + infinitive to offer or state what you are able to do.

cancelar Here, "cancelar" means "to cancel", referring to stopping the failed print job. It follows Puedo in "Puedo cancelar"; use cancelar with a job, request, or process that should be stopped.

fallido Here, "fallido" means "failed" and describes the job that did not complete successfully. In "el trabajo fallido", it comes after the noun and identifies its status; use it to describe an unsuccessful job or attempt.

lo Here, "lo" means "it" and refers to the job that the person may try again. In "antes de que lo intente", it appears before the verb as the object; use lo before a conjugated verb when referring back to a masculine or unspecified item.

intente Here, "intente" means "try" in the clause about trying the job again. It is a form of intentar and appears in "antes de que lo intente de nuevo"; use antes de que + a clause to place one pending action before another.

nuevo Here, "nuevo" contributes the meaning "again" in the expression "de nuevo". Together, de nuevo says that the attempt will be repeated; use de nuevo after an action when referring to doing it again.

Podría Here, "Podría" means "could" and makes the request polite in "¿Podría revisar la impresora...?". It is a form of poder; use ¿Podría + infinitive? when politely asking someone to do something.

revisar Here, "revisar" means "to check" the printer for the cause of the problem. It follows Podría in "Podría revisar la impresora"; use revisar + an object when asking someone to inspect it.

yo Here, "yo" means "I" and explicitly identifies the person who may send something else. In "antes de que yo envíe", the subject is stated for clarity or emphasis; use yo before a verb when highlighting who performs the action.

envíe Here, "envíe" means "send" in the speaker's possible next action. It is a form of enviar and appears after "antes de que yo"; use antes de que + a subject and verb to refer to an action that has not happened yet.

algo Here, "algo" means "something" and refers to any additional item the speaker might send. In "algo más", it forms the object phrase for sending anything else; use algo when the specific item is not identified.

más Here, "más" means "more" or "else" in "algo más", referring to an additional item. It follows algo to expand the meaning beyond the item already discussed; use algo más when asking about or referring to anything additional.

Voy Here, "Voy" means "I am going" and introduces the speaker's immediate intention in "Voy a echar un vistazo". It is a form of ir; use voy a + infinitive to state what you are about to do or intend to do.

echar un vistazo Here, "echar un vistazo" means "to take a look" as one complete expression. Echar supplies the action, un introduces one, and vistazo means a quick look; use the whole expression when offering or describing a brief inspection.

favor Here, "favor" appears in "por favor" to make the instruction polite, meaning "please". The polite request uses the complete expression por favor; use it when asking someone to do something courteously.

abra Here, "abra" means "open" in the polite instruction not to open the machine. It is a form of abrir in "no abra la máquina"; use no abra + an object when telling one person respectfully not to open something.

máquina Here, "máquina" means "machine", referring to the printer as a device that should not be opened. In "abrir la máquina", it is the object of abrir; use máquina for a piece of equipment.

su Here, "su" means "your" when addressing the other person formally in "por su cuenta". It comes before cuenta and belongs to the formal you in this context; use su before a noun when referring respectfully to something associated with the person addressed.

cuenta Here, "cuenta" means "own initiative" in the expression "por su cuenta", meaning "on your own". It does not mean an account here; use por su cuenta when saying that someone acts without assistance.

Esperaré Here, "Esperaré" means "I will wait" and communicates the speaker's decision to remain in place. It is a form of esperar; use Esperaré plus a place or time when promising to wait.

aquí Here, "aquí" means "here" and identifies the place where the speaker will wait. It commonly follows a verb of staying or waiting; use aquí to point to the current location.

mientras Here, "mientras" means "while" and links the waiting with the printer check happening at the same time. In "mientras usted la revisa", it introduces the simultaneous action; use mientras + a clause to connect overlapping activities.

usted Here, "usted" means formal singular "you" and identifies the person checking the printer. It is stated explicitly in "mientras usted la revisa"; use usted in a formal interaction when naming the person addressed.

revisa Here, "revisa" means "checks" the printer. It is a form of revisar in "usted la revisa", where la refers to the printer; use revisar with an object when inspecting it.

Eso Here, "Eso" means "that" and points back to the checking and waiting arrangement just described. It can serve as the subject of a response such as "Eso nos ayudará"; use eso to refer to an already mentioned action, idea, or situation.

nos Here, "nos" means "us" and identifies the people who will benefit from the solution. It appears before the verb in "nos ayudará"; use nos before a conjugated verb when the action affects or helps us.

ayudará Here, "ayudará" means "will help" and describes the expected benefit of checking the printer safely. It is a form of ayudar in "nos ayudará a solucionar"; use ayudar a + infinitive to say what assistance will make possible.

solucionar Here, "solucionar" means "to solve" or "to fix" the printing problem. It follows ayudará a in "nos ayudará a solucionar el problema"; use solucionar + a problem when describing how an issue will be resolved.

problema Here, "problema" means "problem", referring to the stuck or failed printing process. In "solucionar el problema", it is the issue being fixed; use it for a difficulty that needs a solution.

sin Here, "sin" means "without" and introduces an action that will not happen: adding more print jobs. In "sin añadir", it comes before an infinitive; use sin + infinitive to say that something is done without another action.

trabajos Here, "trabajos" means "jobs", referring to additional print jobs sent to the queue. In "más trabajos de impresión", más makes the noun plural and de impresión identifies their type; use trabajos for tasks or jobs handled by a system.

Grammar Points

volver a + infinitivo

volver a enviar

vohl-VEHR ah en-BYAR

to resend

volver a + infinitive expresses doing something again.

futuro simple: -é

esperaré

eh-speh-rah-REH

I will wait

The ending -é marks the first-person singular of the simple future.

Spanish Vocabulary

a doble cara phrase

ah DOH-bleh KAH-rah double-sided

atascado adj

ah-tahs-KAH-doh stuck

atasco de papel phrase

ah-TAS-koh deh pah-PEHL paper jam

cola noun

KOH-lah queue

documento noun

doh-koo-MEN-toh document

enviar verb

en-BYAR to send

error noun

eh-ROR error

impresión noun

eem-preh-SYOHN printing

impresora noun

eem-preh-SOH-rah printer

pantalla noun

pahn-TAH-yah screen; display

salir verb

sah-LEER to come out sale

trabajo noun

trah-BAH-hoh job

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I'll wait here while you check it.

Show Answer

Esperaré aquí mientras usted la revisa.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

queue

Show Answer

cola

stuck

Show Answer

atascado

job

Show Answer

trabajo

to send

Show Answer

enviar