Adjusting the shared spreadsheet for clarity | Learn Spanish in English

Sentence explanations

1. Tu pantalla se ve, pero el texto de la hoja de cálculo parece bastante pequeño.

   Your screen is visible, but the spreadsheet text looks rather small.

   Tu

   your

   pantalla

   screen

   se ve

   is visible

   pero

   but

   texto

   text

   hoja de cálculo

   spreadsheet

   parece

   looks; seems

   bastante

   rather; quite

   pequeño

   small

   More detail

   Tu means “your” before a singular noun. It agrees in number with the thing possessed: tu pantalla but tus pantallas; unlike many Spanish adjectives, tu does not change for the noun’s gender. pantalla is a feminine noun meaning “screen.” Its plural is pantallas. In this sentence, tu pantalla is the subject of the first clause. se ve comes from verse, literally “to be seen,” and here means “is visible.” ve is the third-person singular present form of ver, matching the singular subject pantalla. A useful example is La señal se ve bien. — “The signal is clearly visible.” pero introduces a contrast: “but.” It keeps the first fact in place while adding a different fact about the text. texto means “text.” It is a masculine noun; its plural is textos. Here it is the subject of the second clause, as shown by the singular forms parece and pequeño. hoja de cálculo is the Spanish expression for “spreadsheet.” hoja by itself can mean “sheet,” and de cálculo specifies what kind of sheet it is. The phrase el texto de la hoja de cálculo means “the text of the spreadsheet”: de links the text with the spreadsheet. parece is the third-person singular present form of parecer, “to seem” or “to look.” With an adjective, parecer describes how something appears: El texto parece claro. — “The text looks clear.” Here parece matches singular texto; it does not mean that the text is permanently small. bastante is an adverb of degree meaning “rather” or “quite” here. It strengthens pequeño, so bastante pequeño means “rather small.” It does not change for gender or number. pequeño is the masculine singular form of the adjective pequeño, “small.” It agrees with masculine singular texto: texto pequeño. The feminine singular form is pequeña, as in the example una letra pequeña — “small lettering.” Together, Tu pantalla se ve says “Your screen is visible,” while pero marks the contrast. El texto de la hoja de cálculo parece bastante pequeño says that the spreadsheet’s text looks rather small. The complete utterance is therefore: “Your screen is visible, but the spreadsheet text looks rather small.”

2. Puedo ampliar la imagen, de todos modos.

   I can zoom in, though.

   Puedo

   I can

   ampliar

   zoom in; enlarge

   imagen

   image

   de todos modos

   though; anyway

   More detail

   Puedo is the first-person singular present form of poder (“to be able to; can”). It expresses the speaker’s ability or possibility: puedo + infinitive. For example, Puedo esperar means “I can wait.” The form puedo identifies “I”; it does not mean “you can.” ampliar is an infinitive meaning “to enlarge” or, for an image, “to zoom in.” After a conjugated form of poder, the second verb stays in the infinitive: Puedo ampliar. The related form amplío means “I enlarge/zoom in,” but here the ability is expressed by puedo, while ampliar names the action. imagen is a feminine singular noun meaning “image.” The article in the utterance, la, agrees with it: la imagen. In this context, it is the image that can be enlarged; the noun itself does not express who performs the action. Example: La imagen es clara means “The image is clear.” de todos modos is a fixed expression meaning “anyway” or, here, “though.” It keeps the preceding possibility in place while adding a concession: the speaker can enlarge the image despite the situation just mentioned. It does not replace or negate the ability expressed by Puedo ampliar. Together, Puedo ampliar la imagen means “I can zoom in on the image,” and de todos modos adds “though”: “I can zoom in, though.” The utterance therefore presents zooming in as an available action, with a concessive qualification at the end.

3. Puede que algunas columnas queden fuera de la vista.

   It may push a few columns out of view.

   Puede que

   it may be that

   algunas

   some

   columnas

   columns

   queden

   end up; remain

   fuera de la vista

   out of view

   More detail

   Puede que introduces a possibility rather than a certainty. In this use, puede is an impersonal form of poder, and que introduces a clause with the subjunctive: Puede que + subjunctive = “It may be that …” or “ … may …”. Compare Puede que llueva — “It may rain.” algunas means “some” and agrees with columnas in feminine plural. The form is built from the singular feminine alguna; the masculine-plural counterpart is algunos. columnas is the plural of columna, “column.” Spanish nouns ending in -a are often feminine, and here the feminine plural is shown by -as. The word refers to the columns in the visual material, without adding a more specific type of column. queden is the third-person plural present subjunctive of quedar. Here quedar means “remain” or “end up” in a resulting state: the columns may end up outside the visible area. The plural form matches algunas columnas. The subjunctive is required here by the possibility pattern Puede que. fuera de la vista means “out of view.” fuera de expresses being outside a place, range, or accessible area, while la vista is “view” in this expression. For example, El texto queda fuera de la vista means “The text ends up out of view.” Together, Puede que marks the situation as possible, algunas columnas identifies the affected items, and queden fuera de la vista describes their resulting location or visibility. The whole utterance means: “It may be that some columns end up out of view,” or, in the fixed translation’s perspective, “It may push a few columns out of view.”

4. Está bien, siempre que las cifras clave sigan visibles.

   That works as long as the key figures stay visible.

   Está bien

   That works; it's fine

   siempre que

   as long as

   cifras

   figures

   clave

   key; important

   sigan

   continue

   visibles

   visible

   More detail

   Está bien uses estar in the present tense, third-person singular: está. With bien, it gives the fixed utterance’s evaluation “That works” or “That’s fine.” The form está agrees with an understood singular situation or arrangement, not with cifras. Example: La propuesta está bien. — “The proposal is fine.” siempre que is a conjunction introducing a condition. Here it means “as long as” and makes the condition inclusive: the arrangement is acceptable on the condition that the key figures remain visible. It does not replace or exclude the condition. Example: Puedes cambiarlo, siempre que conserves los datos. — “You can change it, as long as you keep the data.” cifras is the plural of the feminine noun cifra, meaning “figure” or “number.” In this context it refers to numerical figures, not necessarily to a count of people. Example: Las cifras coinciden. — “The figures match.” clave means “key” or “important.” In cifras clave, it identifies the figures as especially important. The expression is a useful noun-plus-modifier pattern: cifras clave = “key figures.” sigan is the third-person plural present subjunctive form of seguir (“to continue” or “to remain,” depending on what follows). siempre que supplies the condition that licenses the subjunctive here; this is not a command. With an adjective, seguir means “to continue to be” or “to remain”: Los datos siguen disponibles. — “The data remain available.” visibles is the plural form of visible, “visible.” It agrees in number with cifras; visible does not change for masculine versus feminine gender, but its plural is visibles. The phrase sigan visibles therefore means “remain visible.” Together, siempre que + las cifras clave + sigan visibles forms the condition “as long as the key figures remain visible.” Combined with Está bien, the whole utterance means: “That works as long as the key figures stay visible.”

5. En ese caso, pondré primero la sección de variaciones.

   In that case, I'll put the variance section first.

   En ese caso

   in that case

   pondré

   I’ll put

   primero

   first

   sección

   section

   variaciones

   variations

   More detail

   En ese caso sets the situation: “in that case.” ese is a demonstrative meaning “that,” and caso is the noun “case.” Together, this is a reusable way to connect an action to a condition already under discussion. Example: En ese caso, esperamos. — “In that case, we’ll wait.” pondré means “I will put” here. Its base form is poner (“to put”); the future form uses the irregular stem pondr- plus the first-person singular ending -é: pondré. The ending identifies the speaker as the subject. This is the simple future, used here for a future action or decision. Example: Pondré el informe aquí. — “I’ll put the report here.” primero is the adverb “first.” It indicates the order in which the section will be placed. It is distinct from the adjective primer/primero, which describes a noun; in this sentence, primero modifies the action pondré. Example: Lee primero esta parte. — “Read this part first.” sección is the feminine singular noun “section.” The article la agrees with it: la sección. The word can refer to an organized part of a document, presentation, or other larger whole. Example: La sección es breve. — “The section is brief.” variaciones is the plural noun “variations.” Its singular base form is variación; the plural ending -es appears because the singular ends in a consonant. In la sección de variaciones, de links the section to the material it contains or concerns: “the section of variations” or, in the fixed translation, “the variance section.” Example: Revisamos las variaciones. — “We review the variations.” As a whole, En ese caso introduces the relevant situation, pondré states the speaker’s future action, primero gives the placement order, and la sección de variaciones identifies what will be placed. The sentence therefore means: “In that case, I’ll put the variance section first.”

6. Las cifras respaldan la idea, pero la explicación necesita más contexto.

   The figures support the point, but the explanation needs more context.

   cifras

   figures

   respaldan

   support

   idea

   point; idea

   explicación

   explanation

   necesita

   needs

   más

   more

   contexto

   context

   More detail

   cifras is the plural of cifra, meaning figures or numbers. Here, the fixed translation selects the sense “figures” in the sense of numerical evidence. Its feminine plural form appears with las. Example: Las cifras cambiaron. — “The figures changed.” respaldan comes from respaldar, “to support” or “back up.” It is the present indicative, third-person plural form, matching the plural subject Las cifras. With a singular subject, use respalda: El informe respalda la propuesta. — “The report supports the proposal.” idea is a feminine singular noun meaning an idea; in this sentence, the fixed translation makes “point” the most natural meaning. The plural is ideas. Example: La idea es clara. — “The idea is clear.” explicación is a feminine singular noun meaning explanation. Its accent mark is part of the spelling, and its plural is explicaciones. Example: La explicación incluye un ejemplo. — “The explanation includes an example.” necesita comes from necesitar, “to need.” It is the present indicative, third-person singular form, matching la explicación. Example: El informe necesita revisión. — “The report needs review.” más means “more.” It can indicate a greater amount or degree: más contexto means “more context.” Do not confuse it with mas, a less common formal conjunction meaning “but,” which is a different written form. contexto is a masculine singular noun meaning context. Its plural is contextos; for example, Los contextos cambian el sentido. — “Contexts change the meaning.” Together, Las cifras respaldan la idea says that the figures support the point, while pero introduces a contrast: la explicación necesita más contexto says that the explanation requires additional context. The whole utterance therefore means: “The figures support the point, but the explanation needs more context.”

7. Mencionaré las suposiciones en las que se basa cada proyección.

   I'll mention the assumptions behind each projection.

   Mencionaré

   I will mention

   suposiciones

   assumptions

   en las que

   on which

   se basa

   is based

   cada

   each

   proyección

   projection

   More detail

   Mencionaré means “I will mention” here. It is the first-person singular future of mencionar: mencionaré = “I will mention,” while menciono = “I mention / I am mentioning.” The written accent belongs to the future form. Example: Mencionaré el problema. — “I will mention the problem.” suposiciones means “assumptions.” It is the feminine plural noun; its singular base form is suposición (“assumption”). The plural ending marks more than one assumption. Example: Revisamos las suposiciones. — “We review the assumptions.” en las que means “on which” in this sentence. en introduces the relation, and las agrees in feminine plural with the antecedent suposiciones; que does not change for gender or number here. Together, this relative phrase connects the assumptions with what is based on them. Example: las condiciones en las que trabaja — “the conditions in which he or she works.” se basa means “is based.” It comes from the pronominal verb basarse en, “to be based on,” and is the third-person singular present form. The singular form agrees with cada proyección, not with plural suposiciones: cada proyección se basa en ... — “each projection is based on ...” Example: El informe se basa en datos. — “The report is based on data.” cada means “each.” It distributes the statement over individual members and is used with a singular noun: cada proyección, “each projection.” Unlike a plural expression such as todas las proyecciones (“all the projections”), it presents the projections one by one. proyección means “projection.” It is a feminine singular noun; the plural is proyecciones. In this sentence it is the subject of se basa, so the singular verb form is appropriate. Example: Cada proyección cambia. — “Each projection changes.” The structure is Mencionaré [las suposiciones [en las que se basa cada proyección]]: “I will mention [the assumptions [on which each projection is based].” The relative clause en las que se basa cada proyección specifies the assumptions, while Mencionaré states what the speaker will do. Together, the utterance means: “I’ll mention the assumptions behind each projection.”

8. Eso ayudará a quienes no estuvieron en la conversación anterior.

   That will help listeners who missed the earlier discussion.

   Eso

   That

   ayudará

   will help

   quienes

   those who

   no estuvieron

   were not there

   conversación

   discussion

   anterior

   earlier

   More detail

   Eso is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that.” It points to some already identified situation, statement, or action; the supplied translation confirms the intended demonstrative reference without specifying a more concrete referent. ayudará is the future form of ayudar (“to help”) for a third-person singular subject: ayudaré, ayudarás, ayudará. Here, Eso ayudará means “That will help.” Example: La guía ayudará a los estudiantes. — “The guide will help the students.” quienes is a relative pronoun used for people, meaning “those who” or “the people who.” It introduces the group receiving the help: ayudará a quienes... — “will help those who...” Unlike a form referring to one specific person, quienes presents the people as a group. no estuvieron combines the negation no with estuvieron, the third-person plural preterite form of estar (“to be” or “to be present”). The preterite presents their non-presence as a completed situation: estuvieron = “they were present,” while no estuvieron = “they were not present.” In this sentence, the fixed translation expresses that naturally as “missed.” Example: Quienes no estuvieron recibirán un resumen. — “Those who were not there will receive a summary.” conversación is a feminine noun meaning “conversation” or “discussion.” Its plural is conversaciones. In en la conversación, the article la marks this noun as feminine singular; en means “in.” anterior is an adjective meaning “earlier” or “previous.” It agrees here with the feminine singular noun conversación: la conversación anterior. The same adjective has the form anterior with plural nouns as well: las conversaciones anteriores. Together, a quienes no estuvieron en la conversación anterior means “to those who were not present at the earlier discussion.” Here, a is the Spanish personal a, which marks the animate direct object of ayudar; it does not by itself make the people an indirect object. Eso ayudará says that the previously identified “that” will help them. The complete utterance therefore means: “That will help listeners who missed the earlier discussion.”

9. Una nota breve antes de las proyecciones debería ser suficiente.

   A short note before the projections should cover it.

   nota

   note

   breve

   short; brief

   antes de

   before

   proyecciones

   projections

   debería

   should

   ser suficiente

   be enough

   More detail

   nota means “note” here. It is a feminine noun: una nota and, in the plural, unas notas. Example: Escribí una nota breve. — “I wrote a short note.” breve describes the note as short or brief. In the singular, breve has the same form with masculine and feminine nouns; its plural is breves: un mensaje breve, unas notas breves. The adjective agrees in number, even though it does not show a gender change here. antes de is the reusable pattern for “before” a noun or event: antes de la reunión — “before the meeting.” It introduces las proyecciones, which are placed later in time. proyecciones is the plural of the feminine noun proyección, “projection.” The singular is la proyección; the plural form uses -es: las proyecciones. In this sentence, the fixed translation supports the meaning “the projections,” without specifying more about what they are. debería is a form of deber meaning “should” here. It is the conditional form for a third-person singular subject, matching una nota: Una nota ... debería .... The conditional presents the result as expected or suitable rather than stating it as a direct command. Example: Una explicación breve debería bastar. — “A brief explanation should be enough.” ser suficiente means “be enough” or “be sufficient.” ser is the infinitive after debería, and suficiente describes the subject una nota. Suficiente has the same singular form with masculine and feminine nouns; its plural is suficientes. Example: Dos líneas son suficientes. — “Two lines are enough.” Together, Una nota breve means “a short note,” antes de las proyecciones places that note before the projections, and debería ser suficiente says that it should be enough. The complete meaning is: “A short note before the projections should cover it.”