Preparing for a Stormy Commute | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: Before a stormy commute, two adults discuss leaving earlier, avoiding flooded streets, and protecting work equipment..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Preparing for a Stormy Commute to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Puede haber una tormenta durante mi trayecto al trabajo.

PWEH-deh ah-BER oo-nah tor-men-TAH doo-RAN-teh mee tray-EK-toh ahl trah-BAH-hoh. A storm may hit during my commute.
B

Si tienes que desplazarte, sal antes y deja abierta la posibilidad de cambiar de ruta.

see tee-EH-nes keh des-plah-SAR-teh, sahl AN-tes ee DEH-hah ah-BYER-tah lah poh-see-bee-lee-DAHD deh kahm-BYAR deh ROO-tah. If you have to travel, leave earlier and keep your route flexible.
A

Necesito ir a la oficina.

neh-seh-SEE-toh eer ah lah oh-fee-SEE-nah. I need to go to the office.
A

Pero puedo volver antes de que se intensifique.

PEH-roh PWEH-doh bol-BER AN-tes deh keh seh een-tehn-see-FEE-keh. But I can come back before it gets stronger.
B

Ponte zapatos impermeables y evita las calles que suelen inundarse.

PON-teh sah-PAH-tohs eem-pehr-meh-AH-bles ee eh-BEE-tah las KAH-yes keh SWEH-len ee-noon-DAR-seh. Wear waterproof shoes and avoid any streets that usually flood.
A

El paso subterráneo cerca de la estación suele inundarse cuando llueve mucho.

el PAH-soh soob-teh-RRAH-neh-oh SER-kah deh lah es-tah-SYON SWEH-leh ee-noon-DAR-seh KWAHN-doh YWEH-beh MOO-choh. The underpass near the station often floods in heavy rain.
B

Ve por la carretera principal, aunque te lleve un poco más de tiempo.

beh por lah kah-rreh-TEH-rah preen-see-PAHL, OWN-keh teh YEH-beh oon POH-koh mahs deh tee-EHM-poh. Take the main road instead, even if it adds a little time.
A

¿Me ayudaría una funda impermeable a proteger mi portátil?

meh ah-yoo-dah-REE-ah OO-nah FOON-dah eem-pehr-meh-AH-bleh ah proh-teh-HER mee por-tah-TEEL? Would a waterproof sleeve help protect my laptop?
B

Usa una, porque los retrasos son frustrantes, pero es peor tener el equipo dañado.

OO-sah OO-nah, POR-keh lohs froos-TRAN-tes sohn reh-TRAH-sohs, PEH-roh es PEH-or teh-NER el eh-KEE-poh dah-NYAH-doh. Use one, because delays are frustrating, but damaged equipment is worse.
A

Antes de salir, me aseguraré de que la batería de mi teléfono esté completamente cargada.

AN-tes deh sah-LEER, meh ah-seh-goo-rah-REH deh keh lah bah-teh-REE-ah deh mee teh-LEH-foh-noh es-TEH kom-pleh-tah-MEN-teh kahr-GAH-dah. Before I leave, I will make sure my phone battery is full.
B

Entonces podrás consultar las actualizaciones si cambia la ruta.

en-TON-ses poh-DRAS kon-sool-TAR las ahk-too-ah-lee-sah-SYOH-nes see KAHM-byah lah ROO-tah. Then you can check updates if the route changes.

Word by Word

Puede Puede expresses possibility here: there may be a storm during the speaker’s commute. It is the form used for a possible event, and it is useful when warning someone about what might happen.
haber Haber means to exist or occur in the impersonal expression Puede haber, so the sentence says that a storm may occur. It commonly follows a form expressing possibility or necessity in statements about something being present, and it is useful for giving a general warning.
una In una tormenta, una is the feminine singular indefinite article meaning a; in Usa una, it means one and refers back to the feminine noun funda. It is useful before a feminine singular noun or as a pronoun referring to one such item.
tormenta Tormenta means storm, the weather event that may occur during the commute. It is useful when discussing dangerous weather with someone who needs to plan a journey.
durante Durante means during and places the possible storm within the time of the commute. It commonly comes before a period or event, and it is useful for explaining when something happens.
mi Mi means my and identifies the commute as belonging to the speaker. It comes before the noun it describes, and it is useful when specifying personal belongings, plans, or activities.
trayecto Trayecto means journey or commute here, specifically the trip to work. It is useful for discussing the route and travel time between two places.
al Al means to the in trayecto al trabajo. It is the contraction of a and el, and it is useful before a masculine singular destination introduced with a.
trabajo Trabajo means work or the workplace in trayecto al trabajo, the destination of the commute. It is useful when describing where someone is traveling for their job.
Si Si introduces the condition if you have to travel in Si tienes que desplazarte. It is useful for setting a condition before advice or a possible result.
tienes Tienes means you have in the obligation expression tienes que desplazarte. It is useful in the pattern for saying that someone has to do something, especially when giving practical instructions.
que Que links tienes to desplazarte and helps form the obligation meaning you have to travel. It is useful between a form of tener and an infinitive when describing a required action.
desplazarte Desplazarte means to travel or get around in the context of commuting. The ending te refers to the person who must travel, and the form is useful when discussing movement from one place to another.
sal Sal is a direct instruction to leave or set out earlier. It is useful when advising someone about when to begin a journey.
antes Antes means earlier in sal antes and before in Antes de salir. It is useful for comparing times or placing one action before another.
y Y connects the two pieces of advice sal antes and deja abierta la posibilidad de cambiar de ruta. It is useful for joining actions or instructions that belong together.
deja Deja means leave or keep in the instruction deja abierta la posibilidad de cambiar de ruta. It is useful when telling someone to maintain an option or condition instead of closing it.
abierta Abierta means open and describes the possibility that should remain available. It agrees with the feminine noun posibilidad, and it is useful for describing an option that has not been ruled out.
la La is the feminine singular definite article before posibilidad, referring to the specific possibility of changing route. It is useful before a known or specified feminine singular noun.
posibilidad Posibilidad means possibility or option, here the option of changing route. It commonly introduces an action with de, and it is useful when discussing flexible plans.
de De links posibilidad to the action cambiar and gives the meaning the possibility of changing route. It is useful after a noun such as posibilidad when the following action explains its content.
cambiar Cambiar means to change in cambiar de ruta. It is used here for choosing a different route, and it is useful when plans, directions, or arrangements need to be modified.
ruta Ruta means route, the path used for the journey. It appears with cambiar and later with cambia, and it is useful when discussing alternative ways to reach a destination.
Necesito Necesito means I need and introduces the speaker’s necessary trip to the office. It commonly comes before an infinitive such as ir, and it is useful for stating a personal requirement.
ir Ir means to go in Necesito ir a la oficina. It is useful with a destination introduced by a when saying where someone needs or plans to go.
a A marks the destination in ir a la oficina, meaning to the office. It is useful after ir when specifying the place someone is going.
oficina Oficina means office, the destination in the speaker’s plan. It is useful when talking about going to or working at an office.
Pero Pero means but and contrasts the need to go to the office with the possibility of returning before the storm intensifies. It is useful for introducing an opposing point or qualification.
puedo Puedo means I can or I am able to in puedo volver. It commonly comes before an infinitive, and it is useful for describing an available action or possibility.
volver Volver means to return or come back, referring to returning before the weather gets stronger. It is useful when describing movement back to a previous place.
se Se is part of se intensifique, the pronominal form expressing the weather becoming more intense. It is not translated separately here; it helps form the change-of-state expression used after antes de que.
intensifique Intensifique means gets stronger or intensifies in antes de que se intensifique. This form presents the possible change as the event that must not happen first, and it is useful when discussing a condition becoming more severe.
Ponte Ponte is a direct instruction to put on, here referring to waterproof shoes. The te is attached to the command, and it is useful when telling someone to put on clothing or equipment.
zapatos Zapatos means shoes, the item someone is told to put on. It is useful when discussing footwear for a particular activity or weather condition.
impermeables Impermeables means waterproof and describes shoes that keep water out. It agrees with the plural noun zapatos, and it is useful when recommending protection from rain or wet ground.
evita Evita is a direct instruction to avoid the streets that usually flood. It is useful for warning someone not to use a dangerous place or route.
las Las is the feminine plural definite article before calles, referring to the specific streets under discussion. It is useful before known or specified feminine plural nouns.
calles Calles means streets, specifically streets that usually become flooded. It is useful when discussing routes through a town or city.
suelen Suelen means usually tend to in suelen inundarse, describing a repeated tendency of the streets. It commonly comes before an infinitive, and it is useful for stating what normally happens.
inundarse Inundarse means to become flooded, describing what the streets usually do in heavy rain. The form follows suelen, and it is useful for describing places that regularly become covered by water.
El El is the masculine singular definite article before paso, referring to the specific underpass near the station. It is useful before a known or specified masculine singular noun.
paso Paso means passage or crossing in paso subterráneo, which refers here to an underpass. It is useful when identifying a passage or route people use to get from one side to another.
subterráneo Subterráneo means underground and describes the paso located below ground. It agrees with the masculine noun paso, and it is useful for identifying an underground route or structure.
cerca Cerca means near in cerca de la estación, locating the underpass close to the station. It commonly appears with de before the place used as a reference point.
estación Estación means station, the reference point used to locate the underpass. It is useful when giving directions or identifying a place near public transport.
suele Suele means usually tends to in suele inundarse, describing the underpass’s recurring behavior. It commonly comes before an infinitive, and it is useful for describing a habitual event involving one subject.
cuando Cuando means when and introduces the condition cuando llueve mucho. It is useful for connecting an event with the time or circumstance in which it happens.
llueve Llueve means it rains in cuando llueve mucho. It is the weather expression used for rain, and it is useful when describing conditions that affect travel or outdoor plans.
mucho Mucho means a lot or heavily and shows that the rain is intense in llueve mucho. It is useful after a weather verb to describe a large amount or strong degree.
Ve Ve is a direct instruction to go or take the main road. It is useful when giving someone route advice or directing them toward a particular way.
por Por means by, along, or via in Ve por la carretera principal and identifies the route to use. It is useful for describing the road or path someone travels along.
carretera Carretera means road, specifically the main road recommended as an alternative. It is useful when giving directions for travel by road.
principal Principal means main and describes the carretera recommended for the journey. It agrees with the feminine noun carretera, and it is useful for identifying the primary route among alternatives.
aunque Aunque introduces the concession that the recommended road should be used even if it takes longer. It is useful when giving advice that remains valid despite a disadvantage or condition.
te Te means you as the person affected by the travel time in aunque te lleve un poco más de tiempo. It appears before the verb in this construction, and it is useful for identifying who experiences an action or result.
lleve Lleve expresses that the route may take you a little more time in aunque te lleve un poco más de tiempo. It is useful in a clause about the time an action or route requires for someone.
un Un forms the quantity expression un poco, meaning a small amount. It is useful before poco when describing a limited quantity of something such as time.
poco Poco means a little in un poco más de tiempo, indicating a small additional amount. It is useful for softening or limiting the size of a quantity.
más Más means more and compares the travel time with the expected time on another route. It is useful before a quantity when describing an increase.
tiempo Tiempo means time in the expression un poco más de tiempo, referring to journey duration. It is useful when explaining how long a route or activity takes.
Me Me means me in Me ayudaría, marking the speaker as the person who would receive help. It commonly appears before a conjugated verb, and it is useful for identifying who benefits from an action.
ayudaría Ayudaría means would help in the question about whether a waterproof sleeve would protect the laptop. It is useful for asking about the possible benefit of an object or action.
funda Funda means sleeve or case, here a waterproof covering for the laptop. It is useful when discussing an item used to protect another object.
proteger Proteger means to protect in ayudaría a proteger mi portátil. It is useful after a verb of help when stating the action that the help makes possible.
portátil Portátil means laptop, the equipment that needs protection from water. It is useful when discussing a personal computer used while traveling or working.
Usa Usa is a direct instruction to use the waterproof sleeve. It is useful when recommending that someone use a tool, object, or protective measure.
porque Porque means because and introduces the reason for using the sleeve. It is useful for explaining why advice should be followed.
los Los is the masculine plural definite article before retrasos, referring to delays as a general class of problems. It is useful before a known or specified masculine plural noun.
retrasos Retrasos means delays, the frustrating consequence mentioned in the advice. It is useful when discussing interruptions or extra waiting time during travel.
son Son means are and links retrasos with the description frustrantes. It is useful for describing a plural subject with a quality or condition.
frustrantes Frustrantes means frustrating and describes the delays. It agrees with the plural noun retrasos, and it is useful for expressing the negative effect of an inconvenient situation.
es Es means is and introduces the evaluation es peor tener el equipo dañado. It is useful for stating a judgment about a situation or outcome.
peor Peor means worse and marks damaged equipment as a more serious problem than delays. It is useful when comparing the negative consequences of two situations.
tener Tener means to have in es peor tener el equipo dañado, referring to being left with damaged equipment. It is useful as an infinitive when describing a situation or consequence.
equipo Equipo means equipment, here the work equipment that could be damaged by the storm. It is useful when discussing work tools or devices as a group.
dañado Dañado means damaged and describes the condition of the equipment. It agrees with the masculine noun equipo, and it is useful for reporting harm to an object.
salir Salir means to leave or go out in Antes de salir, referring to leaving for the commute. It is useful after antes de when placing an action before departure.
aseguraré Aseguraré means I will make sure in me aseguraré de que the phone battery is fully charged. It is useful for stating a future precaution or a check the speaker plans to complete.
batería Batería means battery, specifically the battery of the speaker’s phone. It is useful when checking whether an electronic device has enough power.
teléfono Teléfono means phone in la batería de mi teléfono. It is useful when identifying the device whose battery or status is being discussed.
esté Esté means be or is in the clause describing the battery’s condition after me aseguraré de que. It is useful for expressing the condition that someone wants to confirm.
completamente Completamente means completely or fully and modifies cargada. It is useful for specifying that a condition has reached its full degree.
cargada Cargada means charged or full, describing the battery’s desired condition. It agrees with the feminine noun batería, and it is useful when confirming that a battery has enough power.
Entonces Entonces means then and introduces the result of having a charged phone. It is useful for linking a previous preparation or condition to what can happen afterward.
podrás Podrás means you will be able to in podrás consultar las actualizaciones. It is useful for describing a future possibility or ability that depends on an earlier condition.
consultar Consultar means to check or consult, here referring to checking updates about the route. It is useful before information or a source that someone wants to examine.
actualizaciones Actualizaciones means updates, specifically new information about the route. It is useful when checking changing travel or service information.
cambia Cambia means changes in si cambia la ruta, describing a possible change to the route. It is useful after si when stating an event that would affect what happens next.

Grammar Points

suelen + infinitivo reflexivo

Las calles suelen inundarse.

las KAH-yes SWEH-len ee-noon-DAR-seh.

The streets usually flood.

Suelen + infinitive describes a usual action; inundarse uses se because the streets undergo the flooding.

podrás + infinitivo

Podrás consultar actualizaciones.

poh-DRAS kon-sool-TAR ahk-too-ah-lee-sah-SYOH-nes.

You will be able to check updates.

Podrás is the future form of poder and expresses future ability or possibility before an infinitive.

Spanish Vocabulary

desplazarte verb
des-plah-SAR-teh to travel or get around
evita verb
eh-BEE-tah avoid
oficina noun
oh-fee-SEE-nah office
ponte verb
PON-teh put on
ruta noun
ROO-tah route
sal verb
sahl leave
se intensifique verb
seh een-tehn-see-FEE-keh gets stronger or intensifies

Pero puedo volver antes de que se intensifique.

tienes que phrase
tee-EH-nes keh you have to

Si tienes que desplazarte, sal antes y deja abierta la posibilidad de cambiar de ruta.

tormenta noun
tor-men-TAH storm

Puede haber una tormenta durante mi trayecto al trabajo.

trayecto al trabajo phrase
tray-EK-toh ahl trah-BAH-hoh commute to work

Puede haber una tormenta durante mi trayecto al trabajo.

volver verb
bol-BER to come back
zapatos impermeables phrase
sah-PAH-tohs eem-pehr-meh-AH-bles waterproof shoes

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need to go to the office.

Show AnswerNecesito ir a la oficina.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to come back

Show Answervolver

storm

Show Answertormenta

to travel or get around

Show Answerdesplazarte

office

Show Answeroficina