Responding to a coffee spill on a laptop | Learn Spanish in English

Sentence explanations

1. Derramé café cerca de mi laptop y algo de líquido se metió debajo del teclado.

   I spilled coffee near my laptop, and some liquid went under the keyboard.

   Derramé

   I spilled

   café

   coffee

   cerca de

   near

   laptop

   laptop

   algo de

   some

   líquido

   liquid

   se metió

   went in

   debajo del

   under the

   teclado

   keyboard

   More detail

   Derramé is the first-person singular preterite of derramar (“to spill”). The ending -é shows that the speaker completed the action in the past: derramé = “I spilled.” Present derramo means “I spill” or “I am spilling,” depending on context. café means “coffee.” It is a masculine noun, as shown by forms such as el café and un café. In this sentence it names what was spilled. cerca de is a reusable preposition meaning “near” or “close to.” Example: Vivo cerca de la estación. — “I live near the station.” laptop is a noun meaning “laptop.” Spanish usage commonly treats this loanword as feminine (la laptop), although the possessive mi here does not show gender. The phrase cerca de mi laptop means “near my laptop”; mi means “my” with a singular noun. algo de means “some” or “an amount of.” It introduces an unspecified quantity without stating an exact amount. In algo de líquido, the quantity is unspecified and the substance is liquid. Example: Necesito algo de agua. — “I need some water.” líquido means “liquid.” It is a masculine singular noun here: el líquido. The adjective líquido can also mean “liquid” when it modifies another noun, but here it functions as the noun naming the substance. se metió comes from meterse, “to get into” or “to go in.” Metió is the third-person singular preterite of meter; se is the reflexive/inherently pronominal part of meterse. Together, se metió presents the liquid as having gone into a space. Example: El agua se metió en la bolsa. — “The water got into the bag.” debajo del means “under the.” It combines debajo de (“under”) with el: de + el = del. The phrase debajo del teclado therefore means “under the keyboard.” teclado means “keyboard.” It is a masculine noun: el teclado. Example: El teclado está limpio. — “The keyboard is clean.” Putting the parts together: Derramé café = “I spilled coffee”; cerca de mi laptop specifies that the spill happened near the speaker’s laptop; and algo de líquido se metió debajo del teclado says that some of the liquid went under the keyboard. The complete meaning is: “I spilled coffee near my laptop, and some liquid went under the keyboard.”

2. Desconéctala de inmediato y apágala si todavía está encendida.

   Unplug it immediately and turn it off if it is still running.

   Desconéctala

   unplug it

   de inmediato

   immediately

   apágala

   turn it off

   todavía

   still

   encendida

   on

   More detail

   Desconéctala means “unplug it” here. It is the affirmative command form for tú of desconectar, with the direct-object clitic la attached. La refers to the laptop identified by the context and translation; its feminine singular form agrees with la laptop. The written accent preserves the command’s stress after the clitic is attached. Compare desconecta (“unplug”) with desconéctala (“unplug it”). de inmediato is a reusable adverbial expression meaning “immediately,” emphasizing that the action should happen without delay. Example: Sal de inmediato. — “Leave immediately.” apágala means “turn it off.” It is the affirmative tú command of apagar with the feminine singular direct-object clitic la attached. The clitic again refers to the laptop, and the accent marks the resulting stress. Compare apaga (“turn off”) with apágala (“turn it off”). todavía means “still” in this sentence: the condition may continue to hold at the relevant time. Example: La pantalla todavía está encendida. — “The screen is still on.” encendida means “on” here, describing a device that remains powered on. It is the feminine singular form of the adjective encendido, agreeing with la laptop; the form is not an adjective derived from the neighboring verb está. Compare encendido for a masculine singular noun and encendida for a feminine singular noun. Example: La luz está encendida. — “The light is on.” Together, Desconéctala de inmediato gives the first instruction: unplug the laptop right away. y apágala adds a second instruction: turn it off. si todavía está encendida makes that second instruction conditional—do so if the laptop is still on. The complete meaning is: “Unplug it immediately and turn it off if it is still running.”

3. ¿Debería intentar secar la laptop con un secador de pelo?

   Should I try to dry it with a hair dryer?

   ¿Debería

   Should I?

   intentar

   try

   secar

   dry

   la laptop

   the laptop

   secador de pelo

   hair dryer

   More detail

   ¿Debería: This is the first-person singular conditional of deber, used here to ask whether the speaker ought to do something: “Should I…?” The conditional form is debería; it is not an affirmative command to the listener. intentar: This infinitive means “to try.” A useful pattern is intentar + infinitive, as in Intento ayudar — “I try to help.” The following infinitive names the action being attempted. secar: This infinitive means “to dry.” Here it is the action attempted, and it takes la laptop as its direct object. Example: Necesito secar la ropa — “I need to dry the clothes.” la laptop: This means “the laptop.” laptop is the noun, and la is the feminine singular definite article used with it here. The article identifies the specific laptop; it does not by itself assert a numerical count. In this utterance, the fixed translation and the surrounding context support understanding it as the device referred to by “it.” secador de pelo: This means “hair dryer.” It is a noun phrase for a device used to dry hair. de pelo specifies the type of secador; it does not mean that the laptop is being dried by hair. Together, ¿Debería intentar secar la laptop con un secador de pelo? asks whether the speaker should try to dry the laptop using a hair dryer. The pattern ¿Debería + infinitive ...? is reusable for asking whether the speaker ought to carry out an action. Here, intentar secar means “try to dry,” and con un secador de pelo identifies the means. The translation’s “it” refers to the laptop in this context.

4. El calor puede causar más daño. Deja que un técnico la revise.

   Heat can cause more damage. Let a technician check it.

   El calor

   heat

   puede

   can

   causar

   cause

   más

   more

   daño

   damage

   Deja que

   let

   técnico

   technician

   la

   it (the laptop)

   revise

   check

   More detail

   El calor means “heat” here. calor is a masculine noun, so the definite article is el. This form refers to heat as a general substance or phenomenon, not to a particular hot object. Example: El calor daña la batería. — “Heat damages the battery.” puede is the third-person singular present form of poder, “to be able to” or “can.” Here it expresses possibility or potential: heat can cause damage. The subject is el calor, which is singular. The useful pattern is poder + infinitive: puede causar — “can cause.” causar is the infinitive “to cause.” After a conjugated form of poder, Spanish uses the infinitive rather than a second conjugated verb. Example: El agua puede causar problemas. — “Water can cause problems.” más means “more.” Here it modifies daño, indicating a greater amount or degree of damage. It is not itself the adjective describing a noun; the comparison is expressed by más + noun in this phrase. Example: Esto puede causar más ruido. — “This can cause more noise.” daño is the masculine noun “damage” or “harm.” In más daño, it is treated as an amount of harm rather than as a count of separate objects. Example: El agua causa daño. — “Water causes damage.” Deja que begins an informal singular affirmative command: deja is the tú command of dejar, “to let” or “allow,” followed by que and a subordinate clause. The exact form deja addresses one person with tú; it is not the usted command, which is deje. The reusable pattern is Deja que + clause: “Let …” or “Allow …”. un técnico means “a technician.” técnico is a masculine noun here, and un is its indefinite article. The phrase introduces a technician without asserting a numerical count as a separate teaching point. Example: Un técnico puede ayudar. — “A technician can help.” la is a feminine singular direct-object clitic meaning “it” in this sentence. The supplied context and translation identify its referent as the laptop. Its feminine singular form agrees with the feminine noun la laptop in the intended reading. Spanish clitic forms vary with the object’s gender and number: for example, lo for el libro, la for la llave, and plural los or las for plural objects. revise is the third-person singular present subjunctive form of revisar, “to check” or “inspect.” After deja que, Spanish uses the subjunctive because the speaker is allowing or requesting a possible action by another person. The understood subject is the technician, corresponding to singular él/ella/usted; the command deja itself addresses tú. This is not the same person form as the command. Example: Deja que ella revise el cable. — “Let her check the cable.” Together, El calor puede causar más daño says “Heat can cause more damage”: the subject is heat, puede causar expresses potential, and más daño identifies a greater amount of harm. Deja que un técnico la revise says “Let a technician check it”: the speaker gives a tú-directed command, and la refers to the laptop while the technician is the person who will inspect it. The two sentences therefore advise against further drying attempts and recommend allowing a technician to inspect the laptop.

5. Me preocupa porque mis archivos del proyecto están ahí.

   I am worried because my project files are on it.

   Me preocupa

   I am worried; it concerns me

   archivos

   files

   proyecto

   project

   están

   are located

   ahí

   there; on it

   More detail

   Me preocupa means “I am worried” in this fixed utterance. me marks the person affected, and preocupa is the third-person singular present form of preocupar. The following porque clause gives the reason for the worry; it should not be described as the grammatical subject that determines the singular form. Example: Me preocupa el ruido. — “The noise worries me.” archivos means “files.” Its singular base form is archivo; the final -s marks the plural. Here it refers to the project files. Example: Mis archivos están aquí. — “My files are here.” proyecto means “project.” In del proyecto, del is the contraction of de + el; this expresses the relation between the files and the project: “the project files” or “the files of the project.” están is the third-person plural present form of estar, used here for location. Its plural form matches archivos. Compare the singular: El archivo está ahí. — “The file is there.” ahí is a location adverb meaning “there.” In this fixed context, the intended location is rendered as “on it,” so están ahí contributes “are on it.” ahí itself does not change for the number or gender of the files. Together, porque mis archivos del proyecto están ahí gives the reason: “because my project files are on it.” The complete utterance means “I am worried because my project files are on it.”

6. Revisa la copia de seguridad en la nube desde otro dispositivo antes de volver a tocar la laptop.

   Check your cloud backup from another device before you touch the laptop again.

   Revisa

   check; review

   copia de seguridad

   backup

   nube

   cloud

   desde

   from

   otro

   another; other

   dispositivo

   device

   antes de

   before

   volver a

   again; return to doing

   tocar

   touch

   laptop

   laptop

   More detail

   Revisa is the affirmative command form of revisar for tú singular: “check” or “review.” Compare revisar (infinitive), revisa (tú command), and revise (usted command). Example: Revisa el archivo. — “Check the file.” copia de seguridad means “backup,” literally a safety copy. It is a noun phrase, and la agrees with the feminine noun copia: la copia de seguridad. Example: Guarda una copia de seguridad. — “Save a backup.” Here, una introduces a backup but does not by itself specify a numerical count beyond that singular grammatical form. nube means “cloud.” In la nube, the feminine article agrees with this noun. In technology contexts, la nube refers to online or remote storage rather than a physical cloud. Example: El archivo está en la nube. — “The file is in the cloud.” desde marks the starting point or source of an action. In desde otro dispositivo, it means “from another device”: the backup should be checked using that device as the access point. Example: Lo abrí desde el teléfono. — “I opened it from the phone.” otro means “another” or “other.” It is the masculine singular form agreeing with dispositivo: otro dispositivo. Related forms include otra with a feminine singular noun and otros or otras with plural nouns. Example: Usa otra computadora. — “Use another computer.” dispositivo means “device.” It is a masculine noun here, shown by otro dispositivo. Example: Este dispositivo funciona. — “This device works.” antes de means “before” and introduces a following action or event. Before an infinitive, as here, the pattern is antes de + infinitive: antes de volver. Example: Léelo antes de salir. — “Read it before leaving.” volver a is a reusable pattern meaning “to do something again” when followed by an infinitive. In volver a tocar, both volver and tocar are infinitives: volver a supplies the repeated-action meaning, while tocar names the action repeated. Example: Voy a volver a intentarlo. — “I am going to try it again.” tocar means “to touch.” In this sentence it follows volver a, so the relevant meaning is “touch again,” not simply “touch.” Its infinitive form is used after this construction. Example: No toques la pantalla. — “Don’t touch the screen.” laptop means “laptop.” The phrase la laptop uses the feminine article in the supplied sentence; the article belongs to the noun phrase and does not change the meaning of the loanword itself. Example: La laptop está apagada. — “The laptop is turned off.” Together, Revisa la copia de seguridad en la nube gives “Check your cloud backup.” desde otro dispositivo specifies that the check should be made from another device. antes de volver a tocar la laptop places that action before touching the laptop again. The complete utterance is therefore: “Check your cloud backup from another device before you touch the laptop again.”

7. La mayoría de los archivos ya estaban sincronizados.

   Most of the files were already synced.

   La mayoría de

   most of

   archivos

   files

   ya

   already

   estaban

   were

   sincronizados

   synced

   More detail

   La mayoría de means “most of” or “the majority of.” It introduces a partitive group: la mayoría de + plural noun refers to more than half or most members of that group. The noun mayoría is feminine singular, as shown by la; the following noun names the group being counted. Example: La mayoría de las tareas está terminada. — “Most of the tasks is finished.” archivos means “files.” Its singular base form is archivo; the plural ending -s marks more than one file. Here it follows de in la mayoría de los archivos, identifying the group from which most are being considered. The article los and the noun form are masculine plural. ya means “already.” It places the state before the relevant reference point: the files were synced by then. Example: Ya está listo. — “It is already ready.” estaban is a form of estar, “to be,” in the imperfect indicative: third-person plural, meaning “they were” in an ongoing or background past state. In this sentence, the plural form is used with the plural group expressed by la mayoría de los archivos; estar describes a state or condition. Example: Los documentos estaban abiertos. — “The documents were open.” sincronizados means “synced” or “synchronized” here. It is the masculine plural form of sincronizado, agreeing with the masculine plural noun archivos. The form comes from the verb sincronizar, but here it functions with estar as a state: estaban sincronizados means “were synced.” Example: Los datos están sincronizados. — “The data is synced.” Together, La mayoría de los archivos identifies most of the files, ya means that the state had been reached by then, and estaban sincronizados says that those files were in a synced state. The complete meaning is: “Most of the files were already synced.”

8. Mantén la laptop apagada y no intentes encenderla demasiado pronto.

   Keep the laptop off, and do not try to start it too soon.

   Mantén

   Keep

   laptop

   laptop

   apagada

   off

   no intentes

   do not try

   encenderla

   turn it on

   demasiado pronto

   too soon

   More detail

   Mantén is the affirmative command for tú of mantener (“to keep”). The accent is part of this form. For a formal singular command, Spanish uses mantenga; for a plural ustedes command, mantengan. Example: Mantén la puerta abierta. — “Keep the door open.” laptop is a feminine noun here, as shown by the feminine adjective form apagada. It means “laptop”; Spanish also commonly uses computadora portátil for “laptop.” apagada describes the laptop’s resulting state: “off.” It is the feminine singular form of apagado, agreeing with la laptop. The masculine singular form is apagado, as in el teléfono está apagado — “the phone is off.” no intentes means “do not try.” intentes is the negative tú command form of intentar; negative commands use no plus the subjunctive form. Intentar is followed by an infinitive when saying what someone tries to do: No intentes correr. — “Do not try to run.” encenderla combines the infinitive encender (“to turn on” or “to switch on”) with the direct-object pronoun la. Here la refers to the laptop, and its feminine singular form matches la laptop. The same pattern works with another feminine singular object: Voy a encenderla. — “I am going to turn it on.” demasiado pronto means “too soon.” Demasiado marks an excessive degree, while pronto means “soon” in this time expression. Compare Hazlo pronto — “Do it soon” — with No lo hagas demasiado pronto — “Do not do it too soon.” Together, Mantén la laptop apagada tells the listener to keep the laptop in the off state. y no intentes encenderla demasiado pronto adds a coordinated negative instruction: the listener should not try to turn that laptop on too soon. The complete meaning is: “Keep the laptop off, and do not try to start it too soon.”

9. Llevaré la laptop a un técnico y le preguntaré cuál es el siguiente paso.

   I will take it to a technician and ask about the next step.

   Llevaré

   I will take

   laptop

   laptop

   técnico

   technician

   preguntaré

   I will ask

   cuál

   which one

   siguiente

   next

   paso

   step

   More detail

   Llevaré means “I will take.” It is the first-person singular future of llevar (“to take/carry”): llevaré, llevarás, llevará. The ending -é identifies “I” in this future form. Example: Llevaré el equipo mañana. — “I will take the equipment tomorrow.” laptop is the noun “laptop.” Spanish commonly uses this borrowed noun with the feminine article la in this sentence; the article belongs to the noun phrase la laptop. Example: La laptop funciona bien. — “The laptop works well.” técnico means “technician.” Here it is a person who can deal with the laptop. The form técnico is the masculine singular noun; the feminine counterpart is técnica when referring to a woman. In a un técnico, un introduces one unspecified technician, but the sentence does not otherwise identify that person. preguntaré means “I will ask.” It is the first-person singular future of preguntar (“to ask”): preguntaré, preguntarás, preguntará. The future form says that the asking will happen later. Example: Preguntaré mañana. — “I will ask tomorrow.” cuál is an interrogative form used to ask which option or what answer is relevant. It carries an accent when used interrogatively. In cuál es el siguiente paso, it introduces the question about the next step; it is not the noun paso itself. Example: ¿Cuál es la respuesta? — “What is the answer?” siguiente means “next” here. It is an adjective modifying paso, and it does not change for masculine versus feminine singular: el siguiente paso, la siguiente pregunta. Its plural form is siguientes: los siguientes pasos. Example: La siguiente reunión es el lunes. — “The next meeting is on Monday.” paso means “step” in this context, as in a step in a process. It is a masculine singular noun, so the phrase is el siguiente paso. Its plural is pasos. Example: Este paso es importante. — “This step is important.” Together, Llevaré la laptop a un técnico says “I will take the laptop to a technician.” The following y le preguntaré cuál es el siguiente paso joins a second future action: “and I will ask what the next step is.” le marks the technician as the person being asked, while cuál es el siguiente paso identifies the information being requested. The complete utterance is therefore: “I will take it to a technician and ask about the next step.”

10. Un técnico puede revisarla sin empeorar el daño.

    A technician can check it without making the damage worse.

    técnico

    technician

    puede

    can

    revisarla

    check it

    empeorar

    make worse

    daño

    damage

    More detail

    “técnico” means “technician” here. The noun is masculine singular; the feminine form is “técnica,” and the plural forms are “técnicos” and “técnicas.” The article “un” matches the masculine singular noun; here it introduces an unspecified technician, without treating the article alone as a stated numerical count. “puede” is the third-person singular present form of “poder,” “can/be able to.” The subject here is “un técnico,” so the form agrees with that singular subject. Useful present forms include “puedo” (I can), “puedes” (you can), and “pueden” (they/you plural can). Example: “Una técnica puede ayudar.” — “A technician can help.” “revisarla” combines the infinitive “revisar,” “to check/examine,” with the direct-object clitic “la,” “it/her.” In this sentence, “la” refers to the previously mentioned “la laptop.” Because that antecedent is feminine singular, Spanish uses “la.” The clitic is attached to the infinitive: “revisar” + “la” → “revisarla.” With a masculine singular object, the corresponding form would be “revisarlo.” Example: “Voy a revisar la solicitud.” → “Voy a revisarla.” — “I am going to check the application.” “sin” introduces what does not happen: “without.” Before an infinitive, the reusable pattern is “sin + infinitive,” as in “sin esperar” (“without waiting”). Here it connects the checking with the condition that the damage is not made worse. “empeorar” is the infinitive “to make worse” or “to worsen.” In this sentence it describes worsening the damage, with the understood object supplied by “el daño.” The same verb can describe something becoming worse without an expressed agent, depending on context: “La situación puede empeorar.” — “The situation can get worse.” “daño” means “damage” or “harm.” It is a masculine singular noun, shown by “el.” Its plural is “daños.” The phrase “empeorar el daño” means “make the damage worse”; “daño” is the affected thing, not the person performing the action. Together, “un técnico puede revisarla” means “a technician can check it.” The clitic “la” identifies the thing being checked, while “puede” expresses ability or possibility. “sin empeorar el daño” adds the condition “without making the damage worse.” The complete utterance therefore means: “A technician can check it without making the damage worse.”