Spanish · Intermediate (B1) · Chapter 6 of 12
Solving problems
Resolver problemas
Take something broken back to a shop in Spanish: explain the problem, understand the solutions and use si + present and cuando + subjunctive.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Explain that something is broken or doesn't work
- Understand solutions with si + present: si quiere, le dejo…
- Talk about the future with cuando + subjunctive: cuando esté lista
- Ask for a repair, an exchange or your money back
Listen
Álvaro Sanz takes a coffee machine back to an electrical shop in Burgos. Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Raquel
Buenos días. ¿En qué le puedo ayudar?
Good morning. How can I help you?
Álvaro
Buenos días. Compré esta cafetera aquí hace un mes y ya no funciona.
Good morning. I bought this coffee machine here a month ago and it doesn't work any more.
Raquel
Vaya, lo siento. ¿Qué le pasa exactamente?
Oh dear, I'm sorry. What exactly is wrong with it?
Álvaro
Se enciende, pero no sale el café. Creo que está rota. ¿Me la pueden cambiar por otra?
It turns on, but no coffee comes out. I think it's broken. Can you change it for another one?
Raquel
Déjeme ver el tique, por favor… Lo siento, después de quince días no la podemos cambiar.
Let me see the receipt, please… I'm sorry, after fifteen days we can't exchange it.
Álvaro
¿Y entonces? No quiero comprar otra.
So what now? I don't want to buy another one.
Raquel
No se preocupe. Tiene tres años de garantía, así que se la reparamos gratis.
Don't worry. It has a three-year guarantee, so we'll repair it for you free of charge.
Álvaro
¿Y cuánto tarda la reparación?
And how long does the repair take?
Raquel
Unas dos semanas. Y si no la pueden reparar, le devolvemos el dinero.
About two weeks. And if they can't repair it, we'll give you your money back.
Álvaro
¿Dos semanas? Es mucho tiempo sin café.
Two weeks? That's a long time without coffee.
Raquel
Bueno, si quiere, le dejo una cafetera mientras tanto. Cuando esté lista la suya, le llamamos.
Well, if you like, I'll lend you a coffee machine in the meantime. When yours is ready, we'll call you.
Álvaro
Perfecto. Muchas gracias. Es usted muy amable.
Perfect. Thank you very much. That's very kind of you.
Understand
Si + present: real conditions
To say what will happen if something is true, use + the present. The other half of the sentence can be in the present, the future or the imperative: (If they can't repair it, we'll give you your money back). (If you like, I'll lend you a coffee machine).
After in these sentences, never use the future or the present subjunctive: , not .
- Si tiene el tique, se la cambiamos.If you have the receipt, we'll exchange it for you.
- Si llueve, no iremos a la playa.If it rains, we won't go to the beach.
- Si tienes tiempo, llámame.If you have time, call me.
Cuando + subjunctive: talking about the future
After , Spanish uses the subjunctive when the action is still in the future: (When it's ready, we'll call you). English uses the present here, so this is easy to get wrong.
For habits and facts, takes the normal present. For the past, use a past tense.
| Use | Example |
|---|---|
| future: + subjunctive | (When it's ready, we'll call you.) |
| future: + subjunctive | (When you arrive, call me.) |
| habit: + present | (When I get home, I make coffee.) |
| past: + preterite | (When I turned it on, it didn't work.) |
Explaining a problem
To describe what's wrong, say (it doesn't work), (it doesn't work any more) or / (it's broken). means “it has broken”.
In a shop you'll often hear two pronouns together: (Can you change it for me?), (we'll repair it for you). and become before , , and .
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| It doesn't work. | |
| It doesn't work any more. | |
| / | It's broken. |
| It has broken. | |
| It won't turn on. | |
| Can you exchange it for me? | |
| Can I have my money back? |
More in the grammar: Object pronouns: lo, la, le, les · The conditional and if-clauses: haría, si tuviera · The present subjunctive: que sea, que tenga
New words
- ¿En qué le puedo ayudar?How can I help you? (polite) · informal:
- la cafeteracoffee machine; coffee pot · feminine
- ya nonot any more, no longer · : it doesn't work any more
- encenderseto turn on, to come on · e → ie: ; : to turn something on
- exactamenteexactly
- Déjeme ver.Let me see. · imperative of + ; :
- la garantíaguarantee, warranty · feminine; : a three-year guarantee
- repararto repair, to fix
- gratisfree (of charge) · never changes: ,
- tardarto take (time) · : How long does it take?
- la reparaciónrepair · feminine
- devolverto give back, to return (something) · o → ue: ; : to give a refund
- dejar algo a alguiento lend someone something (in Spain) · : I'll lend you a coffee machine; also means to leave, to let
- mientras tantoin the meantime, meanwhile
Practise
1.Complete: “Cuando … lista, le llamamos.”
2.Complete with the present of : “If they can't repair it, we'll give you your money back.”
If they can't repair it, we'll give you your money back.
3.Complete with the subjunctive of (): “When you arrive, call me.”
When you arrive, call me.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.If you like, I'll lend you a coffee machine.
5.Match the Spanish with the English.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Which sentence is correct?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Ya no funciona.
It doesn't work any more.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.