Explaining a Device Fault and Requesting a Replacement | Learn Spanish in English

About This Lesson

Use Explaining a Device Fault and Requesting a Replacement to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

Compré este dispositivo hace poco, pero la pantalla parpadea a veces.

kom-PRAY ES-teh dees-poh-see-TEE-boh AH-seh POH-koh, PEH-roh lah pahn-TAH-yah pahr-pah-DEH-ah ah BEH-sehs. I bought this device recently, but the screen flickers sometimes.

Las fallas intermitentes pueden ser difíciles de reproducir, así que lo probaremos aquí.

lahs FAH-yahs een-tehr-mee-TEN-tehs PWEH-den sehr dee-FEE-see-lehs deh reh-proh-doo-SEER, ah-SEE keh loh proh-bah-REH-mohs ah-KEE. Intermittent faults can be hard to reproduce, so we will test it here.

Grabé un video corto en el que se ve lo que ocurre durante el uso normal.

grah-BAY oon BEE-deh-oh KOR-toh en el keh seh BAY loh keh oh-KOOR-reh doo-RAHN-teh el OO-soh nor-MAHL. I recorded a short video of it happening during normal use.

El video será útil si la falla no aparece durante la prueba.

el BEE-deh-oh seh-RAH oo-TEEL see lah FAH-yah noh ah-pah-REH-seh doo-RAHN-teh lah PROO-eh-bah. The video will help if the fault does not show up during the test.

Preferiría un reemplazo en lugar de una reparación.

preh-feh-ree-AH oon reh-em-PLAH-soh en loo-GAHR deh oo-nah reh-pah-rah-see-OHN. I would prefer a replacement instead of a repair.

Podemos registrar esa preferencia, pero la inspección determinará el siguiente paso.

poh-DEH-mohs reh-hees-TRAHR EH-sah preh-feh-REN-see-ah, PEH-roh lah een-spehk-see-OHN deh-tehr-mee-nah-RAH el see-GYEN-teh PAH-soh. We can record that preference, but the inspection decides the next step.

Por favor, anote que el problema comenzó justo después de la instalación.

pohr fah-BOR, ah-NOH-teh keh el proh-BLEH-mah koh-men-SOH HOO-stoh dehs-PWEHS deh lah een-stah-lah-see-OHN. Please note that the problem started right after setup.

Lo añadiré al registro de servicio.

loh ah-nyee-dee-REH al reh-HEES-troh deh sehr-BEE-see-oh. I will add that to the service record.

Word by Word

Compré “Compré” means “I bought” in “Compré este dispositivo”. It is the speaker’s statement about a completed purchase, and you can reuse “Compré” before the thing you bought, such as “Compré este dispositivo” in a shop conversation.

este “Este” means “this” and points to the device being shown or discussed in “este dispositivo”. It is used directly before a masculine singular noun here; a reusable pattern is “este” plus a specific item.

dispositivo “Dispositivo” means “device” in “este dispositivo”. It names the electronic item whose screen has a fault, and you can reuse it after a determiner such as “este dispositivo” when identifying equipment.

hace “Hace” helps express how long ago something happened in “hace poco”, meaning “recently” or “a short time ago”. The reusable pattern is “hace” plus a period of time, as in “hace poco” when giving the timing of a purchase.

poco “Poco” means “a little” or “a short time” in the time expression “hace poco”. Together, “hace poco” places the purchase in the recent past, and this expression is useful when explaining when an event happened.

pero “Pero” means “but” and introduces a contrast between buying the device recently and reporting a screen problem. Use “pero” to connect two statements when the second one limits or contrasts with the first.

la “La” is the feminine singular article in “la pantalla”, identifying the screen as a specific part of the device. It is placed before this feminine singular noun, and the pattern “la” plus a known item is useful when describing a particular component.

pantalla “Pantalla” means “screen” in “la pantalla”. It identifies the part that flickers, and you can reuse it when reporting a device problem by placing it after a determiner, as in “la pantalla”.

parpadea “Parpadea” means “flickers” in “la pantalla parpadea”. It describes the screen repeatedly showing an unstable visual effect, and you can reuse it after the subject when reporting what a screen does.

a “A” contributes to the time expression “a veces”, which means “sometimes” in this dialogue. It should be learned as part of “a veces” rather than translated separately here, and the expression is useful when describing an intermittent problem.

veces “Veces” means “times” inside the expression “a veces”, meaning “sometimes”. The complete expression describes how often the screen flickers, and it can be reused after a statement to indicate occasional frequency.

Las “Las” is the feminine plural article in “Las fallas intermitentes”, referring to multiple faults as a known category. It comes before the feminine plural noun and its modifier, so “las” plus a plural noun is a useful pattern for discussing several specific problems.

fallas “Fallas” means “faults” in “Las fallas intermitentes”. It refers to technical problems that may occur intermittently, and you can reuse it after an article or other determiner when discussing more than one device fault.

intermitentes “Intermitentes” means “intermittent” in “fallas intermitentes”, describing faults that do not occur continuously. It follows the noun here and is useful for describing a problem that appears only from time to time.

pueden “Pueden” means “can” in “pueden ser difíciles de reproducir”, expressing possibility or difficulty. It is followed here by “ser”, and a reusable pattern is “pueden ser” plus a description of a situation.

ser “Ser” means “be” in “pueden ser difíciles de reproducir”. It links the faults with the description of their difficulty, and it commonly follows “pueden” in a pattern such as “pueden ser” plus an adjective.

difíciles “Difíciles” means “difficult” in “difíciles de reproducir”. It describes the faults as hard for the staff to recreate, and the reusable pattern is “difícil” or “difíciles de” followed by an infinitive when describing an action that is hard to carry out.

de “De” links the adjective with the infinitive in “difíciles de reproducir”. The whole expression means “difficult to reproduce”, and this “adjective + de + infinitive” pattern is useful for describing the difficulty of an action.

reproducir “Reproducir” means “reproduce” or “recreate” in “difíciles de reproducir”, referring to making the same fault happen again. It follows “de” after the adjective, and you can reuse it when a technician tries to recreate a reported problem.

así “Así” contributes the meaning “so” in “así que lo probaremos aquí”. Together with “que”, it introduces the result of the previous statement. The expression “así que” is useful for connecting a reason with the action that follows.

que “Que” completes the connector “así que” in “así que lo probaremos aquí”, meaning “so”. In this dialogue it introduces the consequence of the faults being hard to reproduce, and “así que” can be reused before a resulting statement.

lo “Lo” refers to the device or the reported problem as the object of testing in “lo probaremos aquí”; the same object-pronoun form appears sentence-initially as “Lo” in “Lo añadiré al registro de servicio”. It is placed before the verb, and you can reuse “lo” before an action when referring to a previously identified masculine or unspecified object.

probaremos “Probaremos” means “we will test” in “lo probaremos aquí”. It presents the staff’s planned test of the device, and you can reuse it with an object before the verb, as in “lo probaremos” when announcing a test.

aquí “Aquí” means “here” in “lo probaremos aquí”, referring to the service counter or testing location. It is placed after the action in this sentence and is useful when specifying where an inspection or test will take place.

Grabé “Grabé” means “I recorded” in “Grabé un video corto”. It tells the staff that the customer made a recording, and you can reuse it before the recorded item, such as “Grabé un video” when providing evidence of a problem.

un “Un” is the masculine singular indefinite article in “un video corto”, introducing one video that has not yet been identified to the listener. It comes before the masculine singular noun, and “un” plus an item is useful when mentioning one example or object.

video “Video” means “video” in “un video corto”. It identifies the recording offered as evidence of the fault, and you can reuse it after an article or determiner when referring to a recording.

corto “Corto” means “short” in “un video corto”, describing the video’s limited length. It follows the noun here and can be reused after a masculine singular noun to give a simple description of that item.

en “En” means “in” in “en el que se ve lo que ocurre”, introducing the context or content associated with the video. Here it is followed by “el que”, and you can reuse “en” to connect an item with a place, situation, or description.

el “El” is the masculine singular article in “el que” and “el uso normal”; it also appears capitalized as “El” at the beginning of “El video”. It identifies a masculine singular noun or expression, and the pattern “el” plus the noun is useful when referring to a specific item or context.

se “Se” is part of “se ve” in “en el que se ve lo que ocurre”, presenting what can be seen in the video without naming a separate viewer. Learn it with “se ve” as the expression for something being visible, and reuse that expression when describing what a recording shows.

ve “Ve” is part of “se ve”, which means that something “is seen” or “appears” in the video. The useful pattern is “se ve” followed by what is visible, as in “se ve lo que ocurre” when explaining the content of a recording.

ocurre “Ocurre” means “happens” in “lo que ocurre”, referring to the fault taking place during normal use. It follows “lo que” in this expression, and you can reuse “lo que ocurre” when describing an event shown or observed.

durante “Durante” means “during” in “durante el uso normal”, locating the event within a period of use. It is followed by a noun phrase, and the pattern “durante” plus an activity or period is useful when specifying when a problem occurs.

uso “Uso” means “use” in “el uso normal”, referring to ordinary operation of the device. It follows the article “el” here, and you can reuse “uso” in expressions that describe how or when a device is operated.

normal “Normal” means “normal” in “el uso normal”, describing ordinary use rather than a special test. It follows the noun here and is useful for specifying the usual conditions under which a device is expected to work.

será “Será” means “will be” in “El video será útil”. It presents the video’s expected usefulness if the fault is not visible during testing, and you can reuse it before an adjective or description when stating what something will be.

útil “Útil” means “useful” in “El video será útil”. It describes the recording as helpful evidence, and you can reuse it after “será” or another form of “ser” to evaluate whether an item helps with a task.

si “Si” means “if” in “si la falla no aparece durante la prueba”, introducing the condition under which the video will help. It is placed before a clause and is useful for explaining what will happen when a particular condition occurs.

falla “Falla” means “fault” in “la falla no aparece”. It refers to the specific problem being checked during the test, and you can reuse it after an article when discussing one technical defect.

no “No” makes “no aparece” negative, stating that the fault does not show up during the test. It is placed before the verb, and the reusable pattern is “no” plus the verb when denying that an event occurs.

aparece “Aparece” means “appears” or “shows up” in “la falla no aparece”. It describes whether the fault becomes observable during the test, and you can reuse it after the subject when reporting that a problem becomes visible.

prueba “Prueba” means “test” in “durante la prueba”, referring to the inspection activity carried out at the counter. It follows the article “la” in the dialogue, and you can reuse it when naming a test or checking procedure.

Preferiría “Preferiría” means “I would prefer” in “Preferiría un reemplazo”. It expresses the customer’s preferred resolution politely rather than stating a demand, and you can reuse it before the preferred option, as in “Preferiría un reemplazo”.

reemplazo “Reemplazo” means “replacement” in “un reemplazo”. It names the customer’s preferred solution for the faulty device, and you can reuse it after an indefinite article when requesting or discussing a replacement.

lugar “Lugar” means “place” inside “en lugar de”, which means “instead of” in this dialogue. The meaning comes from the complete expression, so keep “en lugar de” before the alternative option when comparing a replacement with a repair.

una “Una” is the feminine singular indefinite article in “una reparación”, introducing one possible repair. It comes before the feminine singular noun, and “una” plus an option is a useful pattern when referring to one possible service or solution.

reparación “Reparación” means “repair” in “en lugar de una reparación”. It names the alternative the customer does not prefer, and you can reuse it after an article when discussing repair as a service or resolution.

Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “Podemos registrar esa preferencia”. It states what the service staff is able to do, and you can reuse it before an infinitive to offer or describe an available action.

registrar “Registrar” means “record” or “register” in “registrar esa preferencia”. It describes entering the customer’s choice into the service process, and the reusable pattern is “registrar” followed by the information being recorded.

esa “Esa” means “that” in “esa preferencia”, pointing to the preference the customer has just expressed. It appears before the feminine singular noun, and you can reuse “esa” plus a known item when referring back to something already mentioned.

preferencia “Preferencia” means “preference” in “esa preferencia”, referring to the customer’s choice of a replacement. It is the information the staff can record, and you can reuse it when stating or documenting a preferred option.

inspección “Inspección” means “inspection” in “la inspección determinará”. It refers to the examination that will guide the decision, and you can reuse it after an article when naming an official check of a product.

determinará “Determinará” means “will determine” in “la inspección determinará el siguiente paso”. It presents the inspection as deciding what happens next, and you can reuse it before the result or decision that an action will establish.

siguiente “Siguiente” means “next” in “el siguiente paso”, identifying the step that comes after the inspection. It appears before the noun here, and the pattern “el siguiente” plus a noun is useful when discussing the next stage of a process.

paso “Paso” means “step” in “el siguiente paso”, referring to the next action in the service process. It follows “el siguiente”, and you can reuse it when explaining stages or decisions in a procedure.

Por favor “Por favor” means “please” in “Por favor, anote”, making the request polite. “Por” and “favor” form one fixed polite expression here; use it before a request, especially when asking service staff to record important information.

anote “Anote” means “note” or “write down” in the polite request “Por favor, anote que el problema comenzó”. It asks the service representative to record a fact, and you can reuse it before “que” plus the information that should be noted.

problema “Problema” means “problem” in “el problema comenzó”. It names the device issue whose starting point the customer wants recorded, and you can reuse it after an article when referring to a particular problem already under discussion.

comenzó “Comenzó” means “started” or “began” in “el problema comenzó”. It identifies when the problem first appeared in relation to the installation, and you can reuse it after the subject when stating when an event began.

justo “Justo” means “right” or “exactly” in “justo después de la instalación”, emphasizing that the problem began immediately afterward. The expression “justo después de” is useful when giving a precise sequence between two events.

después “Después” means “after” in “justo después de la instalación”. It places the problem after the installation in time, and the reusable pattern is “después de” followed by an event or activity.

instalación “Instalación” means “installation” or “setup” in “después de la instalación”. It names the setup event after which the problem began, and you can reuse it after an article when referring to the setup of a device or system.

añadiré “Añadiré” means “I will add” in “Lo añadiré al registro de servicio”. It states that the representative will put the customer’s information into the service record, and you can reuse it before the information being added or with an object pronoun such as “Lo”.

al “Al” means “to the” in “al registro de servicio”, connecting the action of adding something with its destination. It is used before the destination noun here, and the pattern “añadir” plus an item plus “al” and a record or list is useful when documenting information.

registro “Registro” means “record” in “el registro de servicio”, referring to the service documentation for the case. It is modified by “de servicio” here, and you can reuse it when naming a record where information is stored.

servicio “Servicio” means “service” in “el registro de servicio”, specifying that the record belongs to the service process. It follows “de” to identify the type of record, and the pattern “registro de servicio” is useful at a repair or support counter.

Grammar Points

preferiría + sustantivo

Preferiría un reemplazo en lugar de una reparación.

preh-feh-ree-AH oon reh-em-PLAH-soh en loo-GAHR deh oo-nah reh-pah-rah-see-OHN.

I would prefer a replacement instead of a repair.

The conditional form preferiría expresses a polite or hypothetical preference.

futuro simple: probaremos

Probaremos el dispositivo en el siguiente paso.

proh-bah-REH-mohs el dees-poh-see-TEE-boh en el see-GYEN-teh PAH-soh.

We will test the device in the next step.

The -remos ending marks the first-person plural future: “we will test.”

Spanish Vocabulary

a veces adv

ah BEH-sehs sometimes

La pantalla parpadea a veces.

así que conj

ah-SEE keh so; therefore

Así que lo probaremos aquí.

comprar verb

kohm-PRAR to buy compré

Compré este dispositivo hace poco.

difícil adj

dee-FEE-seel difficult difíciles

pueden ser difíciles de reproducir

dispositivo noun

dees-poh-see-TEE-boh device

este dispositivo

falla noun

FAH-yah fault

Las fallas intermitentes pueden ser difíciles de reproducir.

hace poco phrase

AH-seh POH-koh recently

Compré este dispositivo hace poco.

intermitente adj

een-tehr-mee-TEN-teh intermittent intermitentes

Las fallas intermitentes

pantalla noun

pahn-TAH-yah screen

la pantalla parpadea

parpadear verb

pahr-pah-deh-AR to flicker parpadea

la pantalla parpadea a veces

probar verb

proh-BAR to test probaremos

lo probaremos aquí

reproducir verb

reh-proh-doo-SEER to reproduce; to replicate

difíciles de reproducir

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I will add that to the service record.

Show Answer

Lo añadiré al registro de servicio.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to buy

Show Answer

compré

fault

Show Answer

falla

screen

Show Answer

pantalla

difficult

Show Answer

difíciles