About This Lesson
Use Clarifying Repair Responsibility to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
No estoy seguro de si esta reparación es responsabilidad mía.
noh ehs-TOY seh-GOO-roh deh see EHS-tah reh-pah-rah-SYOHN ehs rehs-pon-sah-bee-lee-DAHD MEE-ah I am unsure whether this repair is my responsibility.
B
Depende de si el daño se produjo por el uso normal.
deh-PEHN-deh deh see ehl DAH-nyoh seh proh-DOO-hoh por ehl OO-soh nor-MAHL It depends on whether the damage came from normal use.
A
La pieza se fue aflojando poco a poco, sin aplicar ninguna fuerza inusual.
lah PYEH-sah seh fweh ah-floh-HAHN-doh POH-koh ah POH-koh, seen ah-plee-KAHR neen-GOO-nah FWEHR-sah ee-noo-AHL The fixture loosened gradually, without any unusual force.
B
Entonces podría considerarse mantenimiento rutinario.
ehn-TOHN-sehs poh-DREE-ah kon-see-deh-RAR-seh mahn-teh-nee-MYEHN-toh roo-tee-NAH-ryoh Then it may fall under routine maintenance.
A
Preferiría que la evaluación quedara documentada.
preh-feh-ree-REE-ah keh lah eh-vah-loo-ah-SYOHN keh-DAH-rah doh-koo-mehn-TAH-dah I would prefer the assessment to be documented.
B
Tiene sentido, ya que la responsabilidad debería determinarse según la causa.
TYEH-neh sehn-TEE-doh yah keh lah rehs-pon-sah-bee-lee-DAHD deh-beh-REE-ah deh-tehr-mee-NAHR-seh seh-GOON lah KOW-sah That makes sense, since responsibility should be based on the cause.
A
Puedo enviar fotos junto con la solicitud de mantenimiento.
PWEH-doh ehn-bee-AHR FOH-tohs HOON-toh kohn lah soh-lee-see-TOOD deh mahn-teh-nee-MYEHN-toh I can send photos with the maintenance request.
B
Por favor, adjúntalas y describe cómo se fue desarrollando el problema.
por fah-BOR, ah-HOON-tah-lahs ee dehs-KREE-beh KOH-moh seh fweh deh-sah-rroh-YAHN-doh ehl proh-BLEH-mah Please attach them and describe how the problem developed.Word by Word
No
In “No estoy seguro”, “No” negates the statement and makes it mean that the speaker is not sure. It commonly comes directly before the verb or expression being negated.
estoy
In “No estoy seguro”, “estoy” expresses “I am” as part of the speaker’s current state of being sure or unsure. The form “estoy” is used with “seguro” in “estoy seguro” and “no estoy seguro”.
seguro
In “No estoy seguro”, “seguro” means sure or certain about the matter being discussed. The reusable pattern is “estar seguro de” followed by a fact or question, as in “estoy seguro de si”.
de
In “seguro de si”, “de” introduces the matter about which the speaker is or is not sure. The expression “estar seguro de” is followed here by “si” and the clause “esta reparación es responsabilidad mía”.
si
In “de si esta reparación es responsabilidad mía”, “si” introduces an indirect yes-or-no question and means “whether”. It is useful when asking or stating uncertainty about two possible answers without forming a direct question.
esta
In “esta reparación”, “esta” points to the particular repair being discussed. It comes directly before the noun it identifies, as in “esta reparación”.
reparación
In “esta reparación”, “reparación” means the repair or corrective work under discussion. It can be used with a possessive or responsibility phrase, as in “esta reparación es responsabilidad mía”.
es
In “esta reparación es responsabilidad mía”, “es” links the repair with the responsibility assigned to it. The form “es” is used to state what something is or how it is classified.
responsabilidad
In “es responsabilidad mía”, “responsabilidad” means responsibility or the duty to deal with the repair. The pattern “ser responsabilidad de alguien” identifies who is responsible for something.
mía
In “responsabilidad mía”, “mía” means “mine” and identifies the responsibility as belonging to the speaker. It follows the noun in this expression, as in “responsabilidad mía”.
Depende
In “Depende de si”, “Depende” means that the answer or result depends on a condition. The common pattern is “depende de” followed by a noun or by “si” and a clause.
el
In “el daño”, “el” identifies “daño” as a specific masculine noun phrase. It is placed directly before the noun, as in “el daño”.
daño
In “el daño se produjo por el uso normal”, “daño” means the damage being assessed. It can be described with a cause introduced by “por”, as in “daño ... por el uso normal”.
se
In “el daño se produjo”, “se” forms part of the expression “se produjo”, presenting the damage as an event that occurred or was caused. Its meaning here belongs with the verb construction rather than standing alone.
produjo
In “el daño se produjo por el uso normal”, “produjo” states that the damage occurred or was produced. Together with “se”, the form “se produjo” is used to describe the occurrence of a problem or result.
por
In “se produjo por el uso normal”, “por” introduces the cause or source of the damage. A reusable pattern is “se produjo por” followed by the event or condition that caused something.
uso
In “el uso normal”, “uso” means use, specifically the use that is considered normal in this discussion. It commonly appears with an adjective before or after it, as in “uso normal”.
normal
In “el uso normal”, “normal” describes use that is ordinary or expected rather than unusual. It is placed after the noun in “uso normal”.
La
In “La pieza”, “La” identifies “pieza” as a specific noun phrase. It is the form used before this feminine noun, as in “La pieza”.
pieza
In “La pieza se fue aflojando”, “pieza” means the fixture or component that gradually became loose. It can be described with a change using “se fue aflojando”.
fue
In “se fue aflojando”, “fue” contributes the idea of a change continuing over time. The construction “se fue aflojando” describes something gradually becoming loose, rather than a single sudden action.
aflojando
In “se fue aflojando”, “aflojando” means becoming loose or loosening. With “se fue”, it describes a gradual development, and the pattern can be used to describe a condition that changes little by little.
poco a poco
“poco a poco” means gradually or little by little in “se fue aflojando poco a poco”. The two occurrences of “poco” express small steps, while “a” links them into the repeated pattern “poco a poco”.
sin
In “sin aplicar ninguna fuerza inusual”, “sin” means without and introduces an action that did not occur. It is followed here by the infinitive “aplicar” and its object phrase.
aplicar
In “sin aplicar ninguna fuerza inusual”, “aplicar” means to apply or exert force. After “sin”, the infinitive is used to describe an action that did not take place.
ninguna
In “ninguna fuerza inusual”, “ninguna” means any in the negative context created by “sin”, giving the meaning “without any”. It comes directly before the noun it limits, as in “ninguna fuerza”.
fuerza
In “ninguna fuerza inusual”, “fuerza” means force or physical pressure. The phrase “aplicar fuerza” is a reusable pattern for describing the exertion of force.
inusual
In “fuerza inusual”, “inusual” means unusual or not ordinary and describes the kind of force that was not applied. It follows the noun in “fuerza inusual”.
Entonces
At the beginning of “Entonces podría considerarse mantenimiento rutinario”, “Entonces” means then or in that case and connects the previous information with a conclusion. It is useful for introducing a result or assessment based on what was just said.
podría
In “podría considerarse mantenimiento rutinario”, “podría” expresses a possible or tentative assessment: it could be considered routine maintenance. It is useful when giving a conclusion without presenting it as completely certain.
considerarse
In “podría considerarse mantenimiento rutinario”, “considerarse” means be considered or be classified as. The complete construction “podría considerarse mantenimiento rutinario” presents a possible classification, with “mantenimiento rutinario” as the classification.
mantenimiento
In “mantenimiento rutinario”, “mantenimiento” means maintenance or regular upkeep. It is used here as the category under which the repair might be classified.
rutinario
In “mantenimiento rutinario”, “rutinario” means routine or regularly expected and describes the maintenance category. It follows “mantenimiento” in the exact phrase “mantenimiento rutinario”.
Preferiría
In “Preferiría que la evaluación quedara documentada”, “Preferiría” expresses the speaker’s preference in a polite, non-forceful way. A reusable pattern is “preferiría que” followed by the outcome the speaker wants.
que
In “Preferiría que la evaluación quedara documentada”, “que” introduces the subordinate clause describing the preferred outcome. The complete pattern “preferiría que” connects a personal preference with a desired action or result.
evaluación
In “la evaluación quedara documentada”, “evaluación” means the assessment of the repair and its cause. It is the subject of the preferred outcome expressed by “Preferiría que”.
quedara
In “la evaluación quedara documentada”, “quedara” expresses the idea that the assessment would remain or end up documented. Together with “documentada”, it describes the desired resulting state rather than the act of documenting itself.
documentada
In “la evaluación quedara documentada”, “documentada” means recorded in written or other preserved form. The phrase “quedara documentada” describes an assessment being left with a documented record.
Tiene
In “Tiene sentido”, “Tiene” is part of the expression meaning “makes sense”, showing that the previous suggestion is reasonable. The meaning comes from the whole expression “Tiene sentido”, not from “Tiene” alone.
sentido
In “Tiene sentido”, “sentido” contributes to the expression meaning that something is reasonable or understandable. The reusable expression is “Tiene sentido” when agreeing that an explanation or proposal is logical.
ya
In “ya que la responsabilidad debería determinarse según la causa”, “ya” is part of the conjunction “ya que”, which means since or because. Here it introduces the reason for agreeing with the request for documentation, not the meaning “already”.
debería
In “la responsabilidad debería determinarse según la causa”, “debería” expresses what ought to happen or what would be appropriate. It is useful for stating a principle or expected standard in a measured way.
determinarse
In “la responsabilidad debería determinarse según la causa”, “determinarse” means be determined or assigned. The form presents responsibility as something decided according to a stated basis, namely “según la causa”.
según
In “según la causa”, “según” means according to or based on. It introduces the information used as the basis for determining responsibility.
la causa
In “según la causa”, “la causa” means the cause of the damage. The article “la” identifies the specific cause, and together the phrase “según la causa” means based on the cause.
Puedo
In “Puedo enviar fotos”, “Puedo” expresses that the speaker is able or willing to send the photos. A reusable pattern is “puedo” followed by an infinitive, as in “Puedo enviar”.
enviar
In “Puedo enviar fotos”, “enviar” means to send. It follows “Puedo” as the action the speaker can carry out, and it can be followed by the item being sent.
fotos
In “enviar fotos”, “fotos” means photos or photographs. It functions as the item being sent and can follow “enviar” directly.
junto
In “junto con la solicitud”, “junto” contributes the meaning together or alongside. With “con”, the complete phrase “junto con la solicitud” says that the photos are sent together with the request.
con
In “junto con la solicitud”, “con” means with and links the photos to the request accompanying them. The reusable pattern “junto con” introduces something included alongside another item.
la solicitud
In “junto con la solicitud de mantenimiento”, “la solicitud” means the request being submitted. The article “la” identifies the request, and the phrase can be extended with its purpose, as in “la solicitud de mantenimiento”.
favor
In “Por favor, adjúntalas”, “favor” completes the polite request expression “Por favor”, meaning please. The whole expression is commonly placed before a request or instruction.
adjúntalas
In “Por favor, adjúntalas”, “adjúntalas” means attach them, referring to the photos. The form combines the instruction to attach with the object “las”, and it is used when directing someone to include items with a request.
y
In “adjúntalas y describe”, “y” means and and joins two instructions. It connects the request to attach the photos with the request to describe the problem.
describe
In “adjúntalas y describe cómo se fue desarrollando el problema”, “describe” directs the listener to give an account of the problem’s development. It is followed here by “cómo” and the clause explaining what should be described.
cómo
In “describe cómo se fue desarrollando el problema”, “cómo” means how and introduces the manner or development being described. It is used in an indirect question or description after “describe”.
desarrollando
In “cómo se fue desarrollando el problema”, “desarrollando” means developing or unfolding over time. Together with “se fue”, it describes the gradual way the problem emerged or changed.
el problema
In “cómo se fue desarrollando el problema”, “el problema” means the specific problem being reported. The article “el” identifies it, and the phrase is the subject of “se fue desarrollando”.
Grammar Points
se fue + gerundio
La pieza se fue aflojando poco a poco.
lah PYEH-sah seh fweh ah-floh-HAHN-doh POH-koh ah POH-kohThe fixture gradually loosened.
This structure expresses a gradual change. Spanish uses se with the verb, while poco a poco emphasizes the progression.
preferiría que + subjuntivo
Preferiría que quedara documentada.
preh-feh-ree-REE-ah keh keh-DAH-rah doh-koo-mehn-TAH-dahI would prefer it to be documented.
Preferiría expresses a polite or hypothetical preference, followed by que and the subjunctive form quedara.
Spanish Vocabulary
aflojarse
verb
ah-floh-HAHR-seh
to loosen
se fue aflojando
aplicar
verb
ah-plee-KAHR
to apply
daño
noun
DAH-nyoh
damage
depender
verb
deh-pehn-DEHR
to depend
depende
fuerza
noun
FWEHR-sah
force
inusual
adj
ee-noo-AHL
unusual
pieza
noun
PYEH-sah
fixture; piece
poco a poco
adv
POH-koh ah POH-koh
gradually; little by little
producirse
verb
proh-doo-SEER-seh
to occur; to be caused
se produjo
reparación
noun
reh-pah-rah-SYOHN
repair
responsabilidad
noun
rehs-pon-sah-bee-lee-DAHD
responsibility
uso
noun
OO-soh
use
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Then it may fall under routine maintenance.
Show Answer
Entonces podría considerarse mantenimiento rutinario.I would prefer the assessment to be documented.
Show Answer
Preferiría que la evaluación quedara documentada.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
repair
Show Answer
reparacióndamage
Show Answer
dañofixture; piece
Show Answer
piezato depend