Making a plan after being locked out | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In daily life, two adults make a plan after someone is locked out and decide when to contact the landlord or a locksmith..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Making a plan after being locked out to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Me he quedado fuera y mi llave de repuesto está dentro del apartamento.

meh eh keh-DAH-doh FWEH-rah ee mee YAH-beh deh reh-POO-ehs-toh ehs-TAH DEN-troh del ah-par-tah-MEN-toh I am locked out, and my spare key is inside the apartment.
B

Intenta llamar primero al casero.

een-TEHN-tah yah-MAHR pree-MEH-roh al kah-SEH-roh Try the landlord first.
B

Después, llama a un cerrajero si no puedes conseguir ayuda pronto.

dehs-PWEHS YAH-mah ah oon seh-rrah-HEH-roh see noh PWEH-dehs kohn-seh-GEER ah-YOO-dah PROHN-toh Then call a locksmith if you cannot get help soon.
A

Dejé un mensaje, pero el casero todavía no ha respondido.

deh-HEH oon men-SAH-heh PEH-roh el kah-SEH-roh toh-dah-BEE-ah noh ah rehs-pohn-DEE-doh I left a message, but the landlord has not replied yet.
B

Espera un poco más, a menos que necesites entrar de inmediato.

ehs-PEH-rah oon POH-koh mahs ah MEH-nohs keh neh-seh-SEE-tehs ehn-TRAR deh ee-meh-dee-AH-toh Wait a little longer unless you need to get in right away.
A

Puede que tenga que demostrar que vivo aquí si viene alguien a ayudar.

PWEH-deh keh TEN-gah keh deh-mohs-TRAR keh BEE-boh ah-KEE see BEE-eh-neh ahl-GYEHN ah ah-YOO-dar I may need to prove I live here if someone comes to help.
B

Ten lista tu identificación y espera en un lugar cálido.

tehn LEES-tah too ee-den-tee-fee-kah-SYOHN ee ehs-PEH-rah ehn oon loo-GAR KAH-lee-doh Keep your identification ready and wait in a warm place.
A

No quiero llamar a un cerrajero a menos que sea necesario.

noh KYEH-roh yah-MAHR ah oon seh-rrah-HEH-roh ah MEH-nohs keh SEH-ah neh-seh-SAH-ryoh I do not want to call a locksmith unless it is necessary.
B

Si el casero todavía no responde, llama a un cerrajero y explícale la situación.

see el kah-SEH-roh toh-dah-BEE-ah noh rehs-POHN-deh YAH-mah ah oon seh-rrah-HEH-roh ee ehk-SPLHEE-kah-leh lah see-too-ah-SYOHN If the landlord still does not reply, call one and explain the situation.
A

Puedo sentarme en el vestíbulo y dejar el teléfono encendido.

PWEH-doh sehn-TAR-meh ehn el behs-TEE-boo-loh ee deh-HAR el teh-leh-FOH-noh ehn-sehn-DEE-doh I can sit in the lobby and keep my phone on.
B

Puedes mantenerte caliente allí mientras le das un poco más de tiempo al casero.

PWEH-dehs mahn-teh-NEHR-teh KAH-lee-en-teh ah-YEE MYEHN-trahs leh dahs oon POH-koh mahs tee-EM-poh al kah-SEH-roh You can stay warm there while you give the landlord a little more time.

Word by Word

Me Me marks the speaker as the person affected in Me he quedado fuera: the speaker has ended up locked out. Its position before the verb phrase is reusable when the speaker is affected by the situation.
he He is the auxiliary in he quedado, helping express that the speaker has ended up outside. Here it combines with quedado rather than carrying the full meaning alone; use the same kind of auxiliary-plus-action form to describe a completed experience.
quedado Quedado is the action form paired with he in Me he quedado fuera; together they say that the speaker has ended up outside. The related verb quedar can describe ending up or remaining in a state, while this exact phrase means being locked out here.
fuera Fuera means outside in Me he quedado fuera, describing the speaker’s location outside the apartment and, in context, being locked out. It is useful after an expression of ending up or remaining to indicate being outside.
y Y connects the two facts in Me he quedado fuera y mi llave de repuesto está dentro del apartamento. It is reusable for joining two related statements or actions.
mi Mi means my in mi llave de repuesto and shows that the key belongs to the speaker. Use it directly before a noun when identifying something as belonging to the speaker.
llave Llave means key in mi llave de repuesto, the item that could open the apartment. It is useful with a description of the key, as in the exact phrase llave de repuesto.
de De links llave and repuesto in llave de repuesto, creating the description spare key. This use is reusable when one noun is described by another noun or by the purpose of the item.
repuesto Repuesto describes the key as a spare or replacement in llave de repuesto. Use it in this kind of noun description for an extra item kept for use when the main one is unavailable.
está Está means is located in mi llave de repuesto está dentro del apartamento. It states where the key is at this moment; use it with a place expression such as dentro del apartamento.
dentro Dentro means inside in dentro del apartamento, giving the location of the spare key. It is reusable with a following place expression to say that something is inside a particular area.
del Del means of the or in the, and it links dentro with apartamento in dentro del apartamento. It is the fixed combination of de and el used before the specific place named here.
apartamento Apartamento means apartment, the place where the spare key is located in dentro del apartamento. Use it as the place after a location expression when referring to this kind of home.
Intenta Intenta tells one person to try in Intenta llamar primero al casero. It is useful for giving advice about making an effort, especially before another possible action.
llamar Llamar means to call in Intenta llamar primero al casero. It follows Intenta and names the action to try; use it with a person introduced by a when saying whom to contact.
primero Primero means first in Intenta llamar primero al casero and marks this as the first step in the plan. It is reusable for ordering actions or advice.
al Al marks the person being contacted in llamar al casero. It combines a with el, and this form is reusable after llamar when naming the person to call.
casero Casero means landlord in llamar al casero and in the later references to the person who may help. Use it as the person contacted about a problem with the apartment.
Después Después means then or afterward in Después, llama a un cerrajero. It signals that this action comes after the first step; use it to sequence the next piece of advice.
llama Llama tells one person to call in llama a un cerrajero. It is useful for giving direct advice about contacting a person or service.
a A marks the person being contacted in llama a un cerrajero. Use it after llamar when naming the person or professional who should receive the call.
un Un means a or an in un cerrajero and introduces an unspecified locksmith. Use it before a singular noun when referring to one person or thing without identifying a particular one.
cerrajero Cerrajero means locksmith in llama a un cerrajero, the professional who can help open the apartment. Use it when naming the person to contact for a lock or access problem.
si Si introduces a condition in si no puedes conseguir ayuda pronto and Si el casero todavía no responde. It is reusable before a situation that determines whether the next action should happen.
no No makes the following statement negative in no puedes conseguir ayuda pronto and No quiero llamar a un cerrajero. Place it before the verb when saying that an action cannot happen or is not wanted.
puedes Puedes means you can or you are able to in no puedes conseguir ayuda pronto and Puedes mantenerte caliente allí. Use it before an action to talk about someone’s ability or possibility of doing that action.
conseguir Conseguir means to get or obtain in conseguir ayuda. It describes obtaining the assistance needed; use it with a thing or result that someone manages to obtain.
ayuda Ayuda means help in conseguir ayuda, referring to assistance from the landlord or locksmith. It is useful after an expression such as conseguir when talking about obtaining assistance.
pronto Pronto means soon in conseguir ayuda pronto and sets a short time limit for getting assistance. Use it to describe an action that should happen in the near future.
Dejé Dejé means I left in Dejé un mensaje, reporting that the speaker already left a message for the landlord. Use this form with an object when saying that you left something, especially a message.
mensaje Mensaje means message in Dejé un mensaje, the communication left for the landlord. Use it with dejar when reporting that a message was sent or left.
pero Pero means but in Dejé un mensaje, pero el casero todavía no ha respondido. It introduces a result that contrasts with the preceding fact; use it to connect an action with an unexpected or different outcome.
todavía Todavía means still or yet in todavía no ha respondido and todavía no responde. Together with no, it shows that the lack of a reply continues up to the present.
ha Ha is the auxiliary in ha respondido and helps say that the landlord has replied or, with no, has not replied. It is reusable before the action form when describing a completed action connected with the present.
respondido Respondido means replied or responded in ha respondido. In todavía no ha respondido, it describes the reply that has not happened yet; use the related verb responder when talking about replying to a message or request.
Espera Espera tells one person to wait in Espera un poco más and espera en un lugar cálido. It is useful for giving advice to delay an action or remain somewhere.
poco Poco means a small amount in un poco más and refers here to a short additional period of waiting. Use it with a quantity or duration when only a small amount is intended.
más Más means more or longer in un poco más and un poco más de tiempo. It adds an additional amount or duration to the waiting period.
a menos que The exact expression a menos que means unless and introduces an exception to the advice. Here a, menos, and que work together: a and menos form the limiting idea, while que introduces the following condition, as in a menos que necesites entrar.
necesites Necesites means you need in a menos que necesites entrar, presenting a possible need that would change the advice. Use it before an action when describing a condition in which someone needs to do something.
entrar Entrar means to enter or get in in necesites entrar. It names the action the speaker may need to take; use it after an expression of need when talking about gaining access to a place.
inmediato Inmediato contributes the idea of immediate in de inmediato, meaning right away. This exact expression is useful when emphasizing that an action should happen without waiting.
Puede Puede means may or might in Puede que tenga que demostrar que vivo aquí and introduces a possibility. Use Puede que before a situation that is possible but not certain.
que Que introduces the possible situation in Puede que tenga que demostrar que vivo aquí and the statement being proved in demostrar que vivo aquí. It connects one expression with the clause that completes its meaning.
tenga Tenga means have in tenga que demostrar, where the full sequence expresses needing to prove something. Use this form with que and an action when describing a possible requirement in the situation.
demostrar Demostrar means to prove in demostrar que vivo aquí. It names the action of showing that a statement is true; use it before a statement introduced by que when explaining what must be proved.
vivo Vivo means I live in vivo aquí, stating where the speaker resides. Use it with a place expression when saying where you live.
aquí Aquí means here in vivo aquí and refers to the speaker’s current place. It is reusable after an action or statement when identifying the location near the speaker.
viene Viene means comes in viene alguien a ayudar, describing someone arriving to provide assistance. Use it with a person or thing that is approaching or arriving at the relevant place.
alguien Alguien means someone in viene alguien a ayudar and leaves the person’s identity unspecified. Use it when an unknown or unnamed person performs the action.
ayudar Ayudar means to help in a ayudar and explains the purpose of someone’s arrival. It is useful after a to-expression when stating the purpose of coming.
Ten Ten tells one person to keep or have something ready in Ten lista tu identificación. It is useful for giving practical instructions about keeping an item available for immediate use.
lista Lista means ready in Ten lista tu identificación and describes the identification as prepared for use. It is useful after an instruction to say that an item should be ready.
tu Tu means your in tu identificación and shows that the identification belongs to the person being addressed. Use it directly before a noun when referring to something belonging to that person.
identificación Identificación means identification in Ten lista tu identificación, referring to the identification the speaker may need to show. Use it when naming the personal identification needed to establish who someone is.
en En means in or at in en un lugar cálido and introduces the place where the person should wait. Use it before a location when saying where someone or something is or should be.
lugar Lugar means place in un lugar cálido, referring to a suitable place for waiting. Use it with a description after it when specifying what kind of place is intended.
cálido Cálido means warm in un lugar cálido and describes the place where the speaker should wait. Use it to describe a comfortable temperature or a warm location.
quiero Quiero means I want in No quiero llamar a un cerrajero and expresses the speaker’s reluctance to make that call. Use it before an action when saying what you want or do not want to do.
sea Sea means be or is in a menos que sea necesario and links the condition with the idea of necessity. Use it before an adjective when describing whether a situation has a particular quality or requirement.
necesario Necesario means necessary in sea necesario, saying that calling a locksmith would be required only under that condition. Use it to describe an action or situation that is required.
el El means the in el casero and identifies the landlord as a specific person in this situation. Use it before a singular noun when referring to a particular person or thing.
responde Responde means replies or responds in Si el casero todavía no responde, describing whether the landlord sends a reply. Use it when talking about someone responding to a message or request.
explícale Explícale means explain it to him or her in explícale la situación. The attached le identifies the person who should receive the explanation; use this form when directing someone to explain something to another person.
la La means the in la situación and identifies the situation as the specific matter to be explained. Use it before a noun when referring to a particular thing already relevant to the conversation.
situación Situación means situation in explícale la situación, referring to the problem of being locked out and needing help. Use it when explaining what is happening as a whole.
Puedo Puedo means I can or I am able to in Puedo sentarme en el vestíbulo. Use it before an action to say that the speaker is able or willing to do it.
sentarme Sentarme means to sit down in Puedo sentarme en el vestíbulo. The attached me makes the speaker the person who sits; use it when describing the speaker sitting in a place.
vestíbulo Vestíbulo means lobby in en el vestíbulo, the place where the speaker can wait. Use it after a location expression when referring to the entrance or common area of a building.
dejar Dejar means leave or keep in dejar el teléfono encendido. Here it describes leaving the phone in a continuing switched-on state; use it with an object and a state when saying that something should remain that way.
teléfono Teléfono means phone in dejar el teléfono encendido. It is the object whose state the speaker plans to maintain while waiting.
encendido Encendido means switched on in dejar el teléfono encendido and describes the phone’s continuing state. Use it after an object when saying that the object is left turned on.
mantenerte Mantenerte means keep yourself or stay in mantenerte caliente. The attached te makes the person addressed the one who remains in the state; use it when advising someone to stay in a particular condition.
caliente Caliente means warm in mantenerte caliente and describes the state the person should maintain. Use it after an expression of staying or keeping oneself in a condition.
allí Allí means there in Puedes mantenerte caliente allí and refers back to the lobby as the place to wait. Use it to point to a place already identified in the conversation.
mientras Mientras means while in allí mientras le das un poco más de tiempo al casero and connects two actions happening during the same period. Use it before a clause that describes what happens at the same time as another action.
le Le means to him or her in le das un poco más de tiempo al casero and refers to the landlord as the recipient. Use it with dar when indicating who receives or is given something.
das Das means you give in le das un poco más de tiempo al casero. Here it means allowing the landlord more time; use it with a recipient and the thing or amount given.
tiempo Tiempo means time in un poco más de tiempo and refers to an additional period allowed for the landlord to reply. It is useful with dar when saying that someone is given more time.

Grammar Points

a menos que + subjuntivo

A menos que necesites ayuda, espera.

ah MEH-nohs keh neh-seh-SEE-tehs ah-YOO-dah ehs-PEH-rah

Unless you need help, wait.

After «a menos que», Spanish uses the subjunctive because the condition is uncertain or hypothetical.

me he quedado fuera

Me he quedado fuera del apartamento.

meh eh keh-DAH-doh FWEH-rah del ah-par-tah-MEN-toh

I have been locked out of the apartment.

The present perfect uses «haber» plus a past participle; «me» shows the reflexive form of «quedarse».

Spanish Vocabulary

apartamento noun
ah-par-tah-MEN-toh apartment del apartamento
ayuda noun
ah-YOO-dah help
casero noun
kah-SEH-roh landlord al casero
cerrajero noun
seh-rrah-HEH-roh locksmith un cerrajero
conseguir verb
kohn-seh-GEER to get; to obtain
dejar verb
deh-HAR to leave dejé
llamar verb
yah-MAHR to call
llave de repuesto phrase
YAH-beh deh reh-POO-ehs-toh spare key mi llave de repuesto
mensaje noun
men-SAH-heh message un mensaje
pronto adv
PROHN-toh soon
quedarse fuera phrase
keh-DAHR-seh FWEH-rah to be locked out me he quedado fuera
responder verb
rehs-pohn-DEHR to reply ha respondido

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Try the landlord first.

Show AnswerIntenta llamar primero al casero.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to call

Show Answerllamar

help

Show Answerayuda

soon

Show Answerpronto

to get; to obtain

Show Answerconseguir