Managing expired food in a shared fridge | Learn Spanish in English

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Use Managing expired food in a shared fridge to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Hay comida caducada en el frigorífico compartido otra vez.

eye koh-MEE-dah kah-doo-KAH-dah en el free-goh-REE-fee-koh kohm-par-TEE-doh OH-trah BES There's expired food in the shared fridge again.

Podría convertirse en un problema de higiene si permanece allí mucho más tiempo.

poh-DREE-ah kohn-behr-TEER-seh en oon proh-BLEH-mah deh ee-HYEH-neh see pehr-mah-NEH-seh ah-YEE MOO-cho mahs TYEM-poh It could become a hygiene problem if it sits there much longer.

Algunos recipientes no tienen etiquetas, así que nadie sabe de quién son.

al-GOO-nos reh-see-PYEN-tes no TYEH-nen eh-tee-KEH-tahs, ah-SEE keh NAH-dyeh SAH-beh deh KYEHN son Some containers aren't labeled, so nobody knows who owns them.

Deberíamos poner un aviso para pedirles a todos que añadan sus nombres y fechas.

deh-beh-REE-ah-mos poh-NEHR oon ah-BEE-soh pah-rah peh-DEER-les ah TOH-dos keh ah-NYAH-den soos NOHM-bres ee FEH-chahs We should post a notice asking people to add their names and dates.

¿Deberíamos tirar todo lo que tenga más de una semana?

deh-beh-REE-ah-mos tee-RAHR TOH-doh loh keh TEN-gah mahs deh OO-nah seh-MAH-nah Should we throw away anything older than a week?

Solo después de darles a todos un plazo claro.

SOH-loh des-PWES deh DAR-les ah TOH-dos oon PLAH-soh KLAH-roh Only after we give everyone a clear deadline.

Quizás podamos sugerir una limpieza semanal en el chat del grupo.

kee-SAHS poh-DAH-mos soo-heh-REER oo-nah leem-PYEH-sah seh-mah-NAHL en el chat del GROO-poh Maybe we can suggest a weekly cleanout in the group chat.

Eso haría que la limpieza semanal fuera predecible en lugar de repentina.

EH-soh ah-REE-ah keh lah leem-PYEH-sah seh-mah-NAHL FWEH-rah preh-deh-SEE-bleh en loo-GAHR deh reh-pen-TEE-nah That would make the weekly cleanout predictable instead of sudden.

La gente puede vaciar sus estantes antes del día de limpieza.

lah HEN-teh PWEH-deh bah-SEE-ahr soos eh-STAN-tes AN-tes del DEE-ah deh leem-PYEH-sah People can clear their shelves before cleaning day.

Eso debería hacer que el uso del frigorífico fuera justo y seguro para todos.

EH-soh deh-beh-REE-ah ah-SEHR keh el OO-soh del free-goh-REE-fee-koh FWEH-rah HOOS-toh ee seh-GOO-roh pah-rah TOH-dos That should make fridge use fair and safe for everyone.

Word by Word

Hay “Hay” introduces the existence of something: here, there is expired food. Use “Hay” before a noun when saying that something exists or is present.

comida “Comida” means food in this dialogue. It is used in “comida caducada” to identify what has expired; a common pattern is “comida” plus a description.

caducada “Caducada” means expired and describes the food in “comida caducada.” It is the feminine form used with “comida”; the citation form is “caducado.” You can use it with food or another item whose allowed period has ended.

en “En” shows the location of the food: it is in the fridge. Use “en” before a place or container when saying where something is.

el “El” means “the” before “frigorífico.” It identifies a specific masculine singular noun, and it commonly appears before a known place or object.

frigorífico “Frigorífico” means fridge or refrigerator here. In “en el frigorífico,” it names the container where the food is; use it after a location phrase when talking about a refrigerator.

compartido “Compartido” means shared and describes “frigorífico.” It is the masculine form used with that noun; use it for a place or resource used by more than one person.

otra In “otra vez,” “otra” contributes the idea of another occurrence, and the whole expression means again. “Otra” is the feminine form used with “vez”; use the expression when something happens one more time.

vez In “otra vez,” “vez” refers to an occurrence or time, and the whole expression means again. Use “vez” in expressions that count or refer to occasions.

Podría “Podría” presents a possible result: the situation could become a hygiene problem. It is a form of “poder” used to express possibility; use it before an action or result that may happen.

convertirse “Convertirse” means to become or turn into, as in becoming a problem. The reusable pattern is “convertirse en” plus the resulting person, thing, or condition.

un “Un” means “a” before “problema.” It introduces one nonspecific masculine singular problem; use it before a singular noun when presenting it as one possible example or case.

problema “Problema” means problem in “un problema de higiene.” Use it with “de” to identify the type or area of the problem, such as a hygiene problem.

de In “problema de higiene,” “de” connects the problem with the area it concerns: hygiene. A common pattern is a noun followed by “de” and another noun to specify its type or subject.

higiene “Higiene” means hygiene, the concern connected with the possible problem. Use it after “de” when describing a problem or measure related to cleanliness and health.

si “Si” introduces the condition that could lead to the problem: if the food remains there longer. Use “si” before a condition when discussing a possible result.

permanece “Permanece” says that something remains or stays in a place. Here it refers to the food staying there; use it with a place expression such as “allí” when emphasizing that something has not been removed.

allí “Allí” means there and points to the fridge or the place already being discussed. Use it to refer back to a specific location without repeating the place name.

mucho In “mucho más tiempo,” “mucho” strengthens “más” and means much. Use it before a comparative expression when the difference is large.

más “Más” means more in “mucho más tiempo.” Use it before a noun or description when comparing an amount or degree with what came before.

tiempo “Tiempo” means time in “mucho más tiempo.” Use it after an amount or comparison to say how long something continues.

Algunos “Algunos” means some and introduces part of a larger group: some containers. It is the masculine plural form used with “recipientes”; use it before a plural noun when referring to an unspecified portion of a group.

recipientes “Recipientes” means containers, referring to the food containers in the fridge. Use it for objects that hold food or another substance, often with a description of their contents.

no “No” negates the statement that the containers have labels. Place it before the verb when saying that something does not happen or is not the case.

tienen “Tienen” says that the containers have or possess something, namely labels. It is a form of “tener”; use “tener” followed by a noun to describe possession or what something contains.

etiquetas “Etiquetas” means labels, the identifying marks that the containers do not have. Use it with “tener” when talking about labels attached to objects.

así In “así que,” “así” points toward the result of the previous fact, and the whole expression means so or therefore. Use “así que” to connect a situation with its consequence.

que In “así que,” “que” completes the connector that introduces the consequence. The reusable expression “así que” links one statement to the result that follows.

nadie “Nadie” means nobody and refers to no person knowing who owns the containers. Use it as the subject when saying that no person does something.

sabe “Sabe” means knows in “nadie sabe quién son.” It is a form of “saber”; use it before information or a question word when saying that someone knows or does not know something.

quién “Quién” means who and introduces the question about ownership in “quién son.” Use it when identifying a person, including inside an indirect question after verbs such as “saber.”

son In “de quién son,” “son” links the containers with their owner and means are or belong to. Use this pattern to ask or say whose things they are.

Deberíamos “Deberíamos” gives a recommendation: we should put up a notice. It is a form of “deber” used to suggest an action; use it before an infinitive such as “poner.”

poner “Poner” means to put or post, and here it refers to posting a notice. A useful pattern is “poner un aviso” when displaying information for other people.

aviso “Aviso” means notice, a written message intended for the people using the fridge. Use it with verbs such as “poner” when placing a notice where others can see it.

para “Para” introduces the purpose of posting the notice: asking people to add information. Use “para” before an infinitive to explain what an action is intended to achieve.

pedirles “Pedirles” means to ask them, with “les” referring to the people being addressed. Here it introduces the request in “pedirles a todos que añadan”; a common pattern is “pedirle(s) a alguien que” followed by the requested action.

a In “a todos,” “a” identifies the people who receive the request. Use it after verbs such as “pedir” before the person or group being asked.

todos “Todos” means everyone or all, referring to all the people who use the shared fridge. In “a todos,” it identifies the complete group receiving the request.

añadan “Añadan” means add in the request for people to add their names and dates. It is used after “que” to state the action being requested; use it with the item being added, such as “sus nombres.”

sus “Sus” means their in “sus nombres y fechas,” showing that the names and dates belong to the people being asked. Use it before a plural noun when the owner is understood from context.

nombres “Nombres” means names, the identifying information people should add to their containers. Use it with verbs such as “añadir” when asking someone to write identifying details.

y “Y” means and and connects “nombres” with “fechas.” Use it to join two equivalent items or actions in the same statement.

fechas “Fechas” means dates, referring to the dates people should add to their containers. Use it with “nombres” when requesting more than one identifying detail.

tirar “Tirar” means to throw away in the question about removing old food. Use “tirar” followed by the item being discarded, such as “tirar todo.”

todo In “todo lo que tenga más de una semana,” “todo” refers to everything that meets the stated condition. Use it with “lo que” when referring generally to all things with a particular feature.

lo In “lo que,” “lo” helps refer to that which or what, without naming a specific object. The reusable pattern “lo que” introduces the thing or things described by the following clause.

tenga In “lo que tenga más de una semana,” “tenga” says has the condition of being more than a week old. It is a form of “tener” used inside the description of the items to be considered; use it with an amount or condition.

una “Una” means a or one before “semana.” It introduces one feminine singular week; use it before a singular noun when stating an amount or period.

semana “Semana” means week and provides the time measure in “más de una semana.” Use it after a number or quantity when describing a period of seven days.

Solo “Solo” means only and limits when the food should be thrown away. Use it before a time or condition to show that an action is restricted to that point.

después In “después de darles,” “después” means after and places one action later than another. Use “después de” before an infinitive when the later action follows that action.

darles “Darles” means to give them, with “les” referring to everyone receiving the deadline. Here it means giving people a clear time limit; a common pattern is “dar algo a alguien.”

plazo “Plazo” means deadline or time limit in “un plazo claro.” Use it when people are given a specific period or final point for completing an action.

claro “Claro” means clear and describes “plazo.” It is the masculine form used with that noun; use it when a deadline or instruction is easy to understand.

Quizás “Quizás” means maybe or perhaps and makes the proposed cleanout a possibility rather than a firm plan. Use it before a possible action or suggestion.

podamos “Podamos” means we can or we may in the suggestion about proposing a weekly cleanout. It is a form of “poder” used here to present the action as possible; use it before an infinitive such as “sugerir.”

sugerir “Sugerir” means to suggest, referring to proposing a weekly cleanout in the group chat. Use it before an idea, plan, or action that you want other people to consider.

limpieza “Limpieza” means cleaning or cleanout, and here it refers to removing old food and cleaning the fridge. Use it with a frequency word such as “semanal” to describe a recurring cleaning activity.

semanal “Semanal” means weekly and describes “limpieza.” Use it after or before a noun to show that an activity happens once each week.

chat “Chat” means chat and refers to the group’s messaging conversation. In “el chat del grupo,” it identifies the place where the suggestion can be shared.

del “Del” means “of the” or “from the” and is the contraction of “de” and “el.” In “del grupo,” it connects the chat with the group it belongs to.

grupo “Grupo” means group in “el chat del grupo.” Use it after “de” to identify the people or organization connected with something.

Eso “Eso” means that and refers to the proposed weekly cleanout as an idea. Use it to point back to something already mentioned, especially a plan or situation.

haría “Haría” means would make in “haría que,” describing the result that the plan would produce. It is a form of “hacer” used for a possible or conditional result; use “haría que” before the resulting state.

la “La” means “the” before “limpieza.” It identifies a specific feminine singular activity already being discussed, and it commonly appears before a known noun.

fuera In “haría que la limpieza semanal fuera predecible,” “fuera” describes the resulting state of the cleanout: it would be predictable. Use it after “hacer que” when describing the state produced by an action.

predecible “Predecible” means predictable, describing a cleanout whose timing can be anticipated. Use it for an event or schedule that people can expect in advance.

lugar In “en lugar de,” “lugar” contributes to the expression meaning instead of. Use the full phrase “en lugar de” to compare the chosen option with the alternative that is not chosen.

repentina “Repentina” means sudden and describes the cleanout as happening without advance expectation. It is the feminine form used with “limpieza”; use it for an event that occurs unexpectedly or quickly.

gente “Gente” means people and refers collectively to the fridge users. Use it as a collective noun when talking about people in general rather than naming each person.

puede “Puede” means can or is able to, saying that people have the option of clearing their shelves. It is a form of “poder”; use it before an infinitive such as “vaciar.”

vaciar “Vaciar” means to empty or clear, referring to removing the contents from the shelves. Use it with the place or container being cleared, such as “vaciar sus estantes.”

estantes “Estantes” means shelves, the parts of the fridge that people should clear. Use it with a possessive such as “sus” when each person has or uses particular shelves.

antes In “antes del día de limpieza,” “antes” means before and places one action earlier than another. Use “antes de” before an action or “antes del” before a masculine noun.

día “Día” means day in “el día de limpieza,” referring to the planned cleaning day. Use it with “de” to specify what kind of day or what happens on it.

debería “Debería” means should and expresses the expected result that the plan will make fridge use fair and safe. It is a form of “deber”; use it before an infinitive when stating an expectation or recommendation.

hacer In “hacer que,” “hacer” means to make or cause, introducing the result that the plan should produce. Use “hacer que” followed by a clause when one action causes a situation or state.

uso “Uso” means use in “el uso del frigorífico,” referring to how the fridge is used. Use it with “de” to identify the thing being used, such as the use of a refrigerator.

justo “Justo” means fair and describes “uso.” It is the masculine form used with that noun; use it when access or treatment is equitable for the people involved.

seguro “Seguro” means safe and also describes “uso.” It is the masculine form used with “uso”; use it when an activity or way of using something does not create the stated danger.

Grammar Points

podría + infinitivo

¿Podría sugerir una limpieza semanal?

poh-DREE-ah soo-heh-REER oo-nah leem-PYEH-sah seh-mah-NAHL

Could I suggest a weekly cleanout?

The conditional podría makes a suggestion sound more polite and less direct.

sugerir que + subjuntivo

Sugiero que añadan nombres y fechas.

soo-HYEH-roh keh ah-NYAH-den NOHM-bres ee FEH-chahs

I suggest that they add names and dates.

After suggesting that someone do something, Spanish uses the subjunctive: añadan.

Spanish Vocabulary

caducado adj

kah-doo-KAH-doh expired caducada

comida caducada

comida noun

koh-MEE-dah food

Hay comida caducada.

compartido adj

kohm-par-TEE-doh shared

el frigorífico compartido

convertirse verb

kohn-behr-TEER-seh to become

Podría convertirse en un problema

frigorífico noun

free-goh-REE-fee-koh fridge

en el frigorífico compartido

higiene noun

ee-HYEH-neh hygiene

un problema de higiene

mucho más tiempo phrase

MOO-cho mahs TYEM-poh much longer

otra vez adv

OH-trah BES again

permanecer verb

pehr-mah-neh-SEHR to remain; to stay permanece

si permanece allí

poder verb

poh-DEHR to be able to; can podría

Podría convertirse en un problema

problema noun

proh-BLEH-mah problem

un problema de higiene

recipiente noun

reh-see-PYEN-teh container recipientes

Algunos recipientes

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

problem

Show Answer

problema

food

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comida

expired

Show Answer

caducada

to become

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convertirse