Why a payment card was blocked | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a banking support desk, one adult asks why a payment card was blocked and how identity can be verified without reviewing every purchase..

EN → ES / Level: B2

About This Lesson

Use Why a payment card was blocked to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Mi tarjeta fue rechazada, pero la cuenta debería seguir activa.

mee tahr-HEH-tah fweh reh-chah-SAH-dah, PEH-roh lah KWEHN-tah deh-beh-RREE-ah seh-GEER ahk-TEE-bah My card was declined, but the account should still be active.
B

Es posible que se haya bloqueado después de que el sistema detectara una actividad inusual.

ehs poh-SEE-bleh keh seh AH-yah bloh-keh-AH-doh dehs-PWEHS deh keh el sees-TEH-mah deh-tehk-TAH-rah oo-nah ahk-tee-bee-DAHD ee-noh-SWAL It may have been blocked after the system flagged unusual activity.
A

Estuve viajando hace poco, así que eso pudo haber provocado el bloqueo.

ehs-TOO-beh byah-HAHN-doh AH-seh POH-koh, ah-SEE keh EH-soh POO-doh ah-BEHR proh-boh-KAH-doh el bloh-KEH-oh I was traveling recently, so that might have triggered it.
B

Tiene sentido, pero aún necesitamos verificar su identidad.

tee-EH-neh sehn-TEE-doh, PEH-roh ah-OON neh-seh-see-TAH-mohs beh-ree-fee-KAHR soo ee-den-tee-DAHD That would make sense, but we still need to verify your identity.
A

¿Podemos comprobarlo sin revisar cada compra?

poh-DEH-mohs kohm-proh-BAHR-loh seen reh-bee-SAHR KAH-dah KOHM-prah Can we check that without going through every purchase?
B

Solo necesitamos confirmar su identidad y tener una idea general de su actividad reciente.

SOH-loh neh-seh-see-TAH-mohs kohn-feer-MAHR soo ee-den-tee-DAHD ee teh-NEHR OO-nah ee-DEH-ah heh-neh-RAHL deh soo ahk-tee-bee-DAHD reh-see-EHN-teh We only need identity confirmation and a general sense of recent activity.
A

Eso parece más razonable que enumerar cada transacción.

EH-soh pah-REH-seh mahs rah-soh-NAH-bleh keh eh-noo-meh-RAHR KAH-dah trahn-sahk-see-OHN That sounds more reasonable than listing every transaction.
B

Una vez que verifiquemos su identidad, normalmente podemos revisar el bloqueo de inmediato.

OO-nah behs keh beh-ree-fee-KEH-mohs soo ee-den-tee-DAHD, nohr-MAHL-mehn-teh poh-DEH-mohs reh-bee-SAHR el bloh-KEH-oh deh ee-meh-DYAH-toh Once your identity is verified, we can usually review the block right away.

Word by Word

Mi In 'Mi tarjeta', 'Mi' means 'my' and identifies the card as belonging to the speaker. It comes directly before the noun in this possessive pattern. A new example is 'Mi cuenta está activa.'
tarjeta In 'Mi tarjeta', 'tarjeta' means 'card', specifically the payment card being discussed. It is used as the noun after the possessive 'Mi'. A useful pattern is 'mi tarjeta + verb', as in the dialogue.
fue In 'fue rechazada', 'fue' is the form of 'ser' used to express that the card was declined. It comes before 'rechazada' in this passive-style expression. This pattern can describe an action done to an object.
rechazada In 'fue rechazada', 'rechazada' means 'declined' or 'rejected' and describes what happened to the card. It follows 'fue' in the expression for a card being declined. A new example is 'La solicitud fue rechazada.'
pero In 'fue rechazada, pero la cuenta debería seguir activa', 'pero' means 'but' and introduces a contrast. It connects two statements that do not have the expected relationship: the card was declined, while the account should remain active. Use 'pero' to contrast two clauses.
la In 'la cuenta', 'la' marks the specific account being discussed. It comes before the noun. A new example is 'la tarjeta está activa.'
cuenta In 'la cuenta debería seguir activa', 'cuenta' means 'account', here the bank account linked to the card. It is the noun described as remaining active. A useful pattern is 'la cuenta está + status'.
debería In 'debería seguir activa', 'debería' expresses an expectation or what ought to be the case: the account should remain active. It is followed here by the infinitive 'seguir'. The reusable pattern is 'debería + infinitive'.
seguir In 'seguir activa', 'seguir' means 'continue to remain'. Together with 'activa', it says that the account should remain active. It is used after 'debería' in the pattern 'debería seguir + description'.
activa In 'la cuenta debería seguir activa', 'activa' describes the account as active. Its form matches the noun 'cuenta' in this expression. A new example is 'La tarjeta sigue activa.'
Es In 'Es posible que', 'Es' means 'is' and begins an expression of possibility. Together, 'Es posible que' introduces something that may have happened. A useful pattern is 'Es posible que + clause'.
posible In 'Es posible que se haya bloqueado', 'posible' means 'possible' and presents the blocking as a possibility rather than a certainty. It is followed by 'que' and a clause. Use 'Es posible que' when giving a cautious explanation.
que In 'Es posible que se haya bloqueado', 'que' introduces the clause describing what may have happened. It connects 'Es posible' with the event. The reusable pattern is 'Es posible que + verb clause'.
se In 'se haya bloqueado', 'se' helps present the blocking without naming who blocked the card. It is part of the expression meaning that the card may have been blocked. This use is common when the actor is unknown or not important.
haya In 'se haya bloqueado', 'haya' is the auxiliary form used with 'bloqueado' to refer to a possible completed event. The whole expression means that it may have been blocked. It appears here after 'Es posible que'.
bloqueado In 'se haya bloqueado', 'bloqueado' means 'blocked' and describes the possible status-changing event affecting the card. It combines with 'haya' in this past construction. A new example is 'El acceso se ha bloqueado.'
después In 'después de que el sistema detectara', 'después' means 'after' and places one event later than another. Here it introduces the event that followed the system's detection. It is commonly used in the pattern 'después de que + clause'.
de In 'después de que', 'de' is part of the expression meaning 'after'. It links 'después' to the clause introduced by 'que'; here it does not mean 'of'. Keep the full pattern 'después de que + clause'.
el In 'el sistema', 'el' marks the specific system being discussed. It comes before the noun. A new example is 'el sistema bancario'.
sistema In 'el sistema detectara', 'sistema' means 'system', here the system that noticed the unusual activity. It is the subject of the detection event. A useful pattern is 'el sistema detecta + activity or problem'.
detectara In 'el sistema detectara una actividad inusual', 'detectara' means 'detected' and describes the system noticing unusual activity. It appears after 'después de que' to introduce the event that preceded the blocking. A new example is 'después de que el sistema detectara el error'.
una In 'una actividad inusual', 'una' introduces one unspecified activity. It comes before the noun and presents the activity as a particular instance rather than a general category. A new example is 'una compra reciente'.
actividad In 'una actividad inusual', 'actividad' means 'activity', here activity on the account that the system considered unusual. It is described by 'inusual'. A useful pattern is 'actividad + adjective', such as the expression in the dialogue.
inusual In 'una actividad inusual', 'inusual' means 'unusual' and indicates that the activity differed from what the system expected. It comes after the noun 'actividad'. A new example is 'un comportamiento inusual'.
Estuve In 'Estuve viajando', 'Estuve' means 'I was' and places the speaker in a past period of traveling. Together with 'viajando', it describes an activity in progress during that past period. This pattern is useful for explaining what you were doing.
viajando In 'Estuve viajando hace poco', 'viajando' means 'traveling'. It follows 'Estuve' to describe the activity the speaker was engaged in. A new example is 'Estuve trabajando toda la mañana.'
hace In 'hace poco', 'hace' means 'ago', not 'makes'. It combines with a time expression to place the event in the recent past. A new example is 'hace dos días'.
poco In 'hace poco', 'poco' refers to a short amount of time, so the expression means 'a short time ago' or 'recently'. It follows 'hace' in this time expression. A new example is 'Lo vi hace poco.'
así In 'así que eso pudo haber provocado', 'así' is part of 'así que', meaning 'so' or 'therefore'. The expression links the speaker's recent travel with a possible consequence. Use 'así que' to introduce a result or conclusion.
eso In 'así que eso pudo haber provocado el bloqueo', 'eso' means 'that' and points back to the recent travel mentioned by the speaker. It lets the speaker refer to the previously mentioned circumstance without repeating it. A new example is 'Eso explica el problema.'
pudo In 'pudo haber provocado', 'pudo' expresses a past possibility: the travel may have caused the block. It combines with 'haber' and 'provocado' in this construction. The reusable pattern is 'pudo haber + participle' for a possible past cause.
haber In 'pudo haber provocado', 'haber' is the auxiliary infinitive used to refer to a possible earlier event. Together with 'pudo' and 'provocado', it forms the idea that something may have caused the block. It comes before the participle 'provocado'.
provocado In 'haber provocado el bloqueo', 'provocado' means 'caused' or 'triggered'. It identifies the travel as a possible cause of 'el bloqueo'. A useful pattern is 'provocar + event or problem', as in 'provocado el bloqueo'.
bloqueo In 'haber provocado el bloqueo', 'bloqueo' means 'block', here the restriction placed on the card. It is the result that may have been caused by the recent travel. A useful pattern is 'revisar el bloqueo'.
Tiene In 'Tiene sentido', 'Tiene' means 'has', but together with 'sentido' the expression means 'makes sense'. Here it shows that the explanation about traveling is understandable. Use the complete expression 'Tiene sentido' to agree with an explanation.
sentido In 'Tiene sentido', 'sentido' means 'sense'. Together with 'Tiene', it forms the expression 'makes sense', rather than referring to a physical sense. A new example is 'Eso no tiene sentido.'
aún In 'pero aún necesitamos verificar', 'aún' means 'still' and shows that the need to verify the identity remains. It comes before 'necesitamos' in this sentence. Use 'aún' when a situation continues despite another fact.
necesitamos In 'necesitamos verificar su identidad', 'necesitamos' means 'we need'. It introduces the actions required from the support staff. The reusable pattern is 'necesitamos + infinitive', such as 'necesitamos verificar'.
verificar In 'verificar su identidad', 'verificar' means 'verify' or 'check'. It follows 'necesitamos' and takes 'su identidad' as what must be verified. This pattern is useful in banking and support situations.
su In 'su identidad', 'su' means 'your' in the support agent's address to the customer. It comes directly before 'identidad'. A new example is 'su cuenta'.
identidad In 'verificar su identidad', 'identidad' means 'identity', the information the support desk needs to confirm. It is the object of 'verificar'. A useful pattern is 'confirmar o verificar la identidad'.
Podemos In 'Podemos comprobarlo', 'Podemos' means 'can we' because it begins a question about whether the speakers can perform the check. It is followed by the infinitive 'comprobarlo'. The reusable pattern is '¿Podemos + infinitive...?'.
comprobarlo In 'Podemos comprobarlo', 'comprobarlo' means 'check it' or 'check that'. The attached 'lo' refers to the matter being discussed, namely the identity-related issue. After 'Podemos', the verb appears in the infinitive form.
sin In 'sin revisar cada compra', 'sin' means 'without'. It introduces an action that will not be performed. The reusable pattern is 'sin + infinitive', as in 'sin revisar'.
revisar In 'sin revisar cada compra', 'revisar' means 'review' or 'check'. It follows 'sin' and describes the action the customer hopes to avoid. A useful pattern is 'revisar + object', such as 'revisar cada compra'.
cada In 'cada compra', 'cada' means 'each' or 'every' and refers to the purchases one by one. It comes directly before the singular noun 'compra'. A new example is 'cada transacción'.
compra In 'cada compra', 'compra' means 'purchase'. It is the item that might otherwise be reviewed individually. A useful pattern is 'revisar una compra' or 'revisar cada compra'.
Solo In 'Solo necesitamos confirmar', 'Solo' means 'only' and limits what the support staff needs to do. It introduces the two required actions: confirming identity and getting a general sense of activity. It commonly comes before the verb or the limited information.
confirmar In 'confirmar su identidad', 'confirmar' means 'confirm'. It is one of the infinitives governed by 'necesitamos'. The reusable pattern is 'confirmar + information or identity'.
y In 'confirmar su identidad y tener una idea general', 'y' means 'and' and joins two required actions. Both actions follow 'necesitamos'. Use 'y' to connect parallel words or infinitive phrases.
tener In 'tener una idea general de su actividad reciente', 'tener' means 'have' and contributes to the idea of having a general understanding. It is coordinated with 'confirmar' after 'necesitamos'. A useful pattern is 'tener una idea general de + topic'.
idea In 'tener una idea general de su actividad reciente', 'idea' means 'idea' or 'general sense', meaning an overall understanding rather than a detailed list. It is used with 'tener' and followed by 'general'. The reusable expression is 'tener una idea general de + topic'.
general In 'una idea general de su actividad reciente', 'general' means 'general' or 'overall'. It shows that only a broad understanding is needed, not every individual purchase. It comes after 'idea' in the noun phrase.
reciente In 'su actividad reciente', 'reciente' means 'recent' and describes activity from the near past. It comes after the noun 'actividad'. A new example is 'una compra reciente'.
parece In 'Eso parece más razonable', 'parece' means 'seems' or 'appears'. It presents the speaker's assessment rather than an absolute statement. A useful pattern is 'parece + adjective', as in 'parece razonable'.
más In 'más razonable que enumerar', 'más' means 'more' and forms a comparison. It shows that the proposed check seems more reasonable than listing every transaction. The reusable pattern is 'más + adjective + que'.
razonable In 'parece más razonable', 'razonable' means 'reasonable'. It evaluates the limited identity check as sensible in comparison with listing every transaction. A new example is 'una solución razonable'.
enumerar In 'que enumerar cada transacción', 'enumerar' means 'list' or 'enumerate'. It names the detailed action that seems less reasonable. It follows 'que' in the comparison 'más razonable que + infinitive'.
transacción In 'enumerar cada transacción', 'transacción' means 'transaction', such as an individual account payment. It is the object of 'enumerar'. A useful pattern is 'revisar o enumerar una transacción'.
vez In 'Una vez que verifiquemos', 'vez' contributes the idea of a time or point at which something happens. Together, 'Una vez que' means 'once' and introduces the condition for the next action. Use the full pattern 'Una vez que + clause'.
verifiquemos In 'Una vez que verifiquemos su identidad', 'verifiquemos' means 'we verify'. It introduces the condition that must be completed before the block can be reviewed. The reusable pattern is 'Una vez que + subject + verb'.
normalmente In 'normalmente podemos revisar', 'normalmente' means 'usually' or 'normally'. It indicates that reviewing the block right away is the usual outcome after identity verification. It commonly appears before the verb it modifies.
inmediato In 'de inmediato', 'inmediato' contributes the meaning of 'immediate'. Together with 'de', the expression means 'right away' or 'immediately'. A new example is 'Responderemos de inmediato.'

Grammar Points

sin + infinitivo

sin revisar cada compra

seen reh-bee-SAHR KAH-dah KOHM-prah

without reviewing every purchase

Después de sin se usa el infinitivo para expresar una acción que no se realiza.

comprobarlo

necesitamos comprobarlo

neh-seh-see-TAH-mohs kohm-proh-BAHR-loh

we need to check it

El pronombre de objeto lo se une al infinitivo comprobar para referirse a algo ya mencionado.

Spanish Vocabulary

activa adj
ahk-TEE-bah active

La cuenta debería seguir activa.

actividad noun
ahk-tee-bee-DAHD activity

Una actividad inusual.

bloqueado verb
bloh-keh-AH-doh blocked

Es posible que se haya bloqueado.

cuenta noun
KWEHN-tah account

La cuenta debería seguir activa.

detectar verb
deh-tehk-TAHR to detect; to flag detectara

Después de que el sistema detectara una actividad inusual.

hace poco phrase
AH-seh POH-koh recently

Estuve viajando hace poco.

inusual adj
ee-noh-SWAL unusual

Una actividad inusual.

rechazada adj
reh-chah-SAH-dah declined

Mi tarjeta fue rechazada.

seguir verb
seh-GEER to remain; to continue

La cuenta debería seguir activa.

sistema noun
sees-TEH-mah system

El sistema detectara una actividad inusual.

tarjeta noun
tahr-HEH-tah card

Mi tarjeta fue rechazada.

viajando verb
byah-HAHN-doh traveling

Estuve viajando hace poco.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Can we check that without going through every purchase?

Show Answer¿Podemos comprobarlo sin revisar cada compra?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to detect; to flag

Show Answerdetectara

blocked

Show Answerbloqueado

activity

Show Answeractividad

account

Show Answercuenta