Easy Learning Spanish Conversation

When travelling around in an unfamiliar place, you’re quite likely to have to ask for directions or advice. Use perdone (excuse me) or perdone, por favor (excuse me, please) to attract someone’s attention before asking them a question.

How do I get to…?

Am I going…?

Where is…?

To ask which bus, which platform, which line, and so on, you use ¿Qué…? followed by a noun.

Which…?

You may need to find out what time something is due to happen at or what time your bus, train or flight is scheduled to go. To do this, you can use ¿A qué hora…? (What time…?).

What time…?

On your travels, you may also need to find out if something is available in a particular area. Just use the same Spanish word, ¿Hay…? to ask Is there…? and Are there…?.

Is there…?

Don’t forget that there are two verbs which both mean to be in Spanish – ser and estar. For information on when to use them, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Is it…?

To ask how much something is, use ¿Cuánto cuesta…? or ¿Cuánto vale…? (How much is…?) with a singular noun and ¿Cuánto cuestan…? or ¿Cuánto valen…? (How much are…?) with a plural noun.

How much is…?

How long…?

When travelling, you’re very likely to want to ask about how often buses, trains and so on run. To do this you can use ¿Cada cuánto tiempo…? (How often…?) with a verb in the present tense.

How often…?

To find out if something’s available, whether you’re asking an assistant about car hire, timetables, or seating, you’ll need to use the question ¿Tienen…? (Do you have…?). It’s from the verb tener. For more information on tener, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Do you have…?

ASKING FOR THINGS (#ulink_456ce98a-08c4-5352-99a1-78dc4b43a7af)

Just as in English we can ask for something by saying a…, please, in Spanish you can say un…, por favor or una…, por favor, depending whether the thing you’re asking for is masculine or feminine. Alternatively, another very natural way to ask for things is using ¿Me da…? (Can I have…?).

Can I have…?

To say what you’d like or what you want, you can use either quiero or quisiera (I’d like). They come from the verb querer. For more information on querer, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I’d like…

You can also use ¿Puede…? and ¿Podría…? (Can you…? and Could you…?) when asking whether someone can do something for you. They are both from the verb poder. For more information on poder, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Can you…?

Can you take me…?

ASKING FOR PERMISSION (#ulink_ab177e73-ee4e-5436-92d9-a9a4170f1488)

Use ¿Puedo…? or ¿Se puede…? (Can I…?) to ask whether you can do something. These come from the verb poder (to be able). For more information on poder, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Can I…?

To ask someone if they mind if you do something, you can use ¿Le importa que…? (Do you mind if…?) followed by a verb in the present subjunctive. For more information on the subjunctive, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

Do you mind if…?

SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO (#ulink_b9684466-11b1-537d-897e-819895128e62)

To say what you have to do, you can use tengo que (I have to) followed by an infinitive. tengo comes from the verb tener (to have). For more information on tener, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I have to…

Another way to say what has to be done is to use the expression hay que (you have to or we have to).

You have to…

If you want to say what you should do, you can use debería followed by an infinitive. debería comes from the verb deber. For more information on deber, see here (#litres_trial_promo).

I should…

LISTEN OUT FOR (#ulink_97a37f68-8175-5e66-b99a-cb905e475381)

Here are some key phrases you are likely to be given when you are travelling around.

Lifestyle Tips (#ulink_0b6129e6-114d-5e5e-9def-a35c8d33b4cc)

• Spaniards are expected to carry identity cards at all times, so they take it for granted that anyone might need to prove their identity. Be prepared to present your passport when checking into a campsite or going to a hotel. You may be asked: ¿Su carnet? (Your ID card, please) or ¿Su pasaporte? (Your passport, please). As you’ll need to carry your passport with you, don’t forget to keep it in a safe place.

• If you’re in charge of a car, be ready to produce your driving licence if asked for it by the police. If you’ve left it behind, you may well be fined. The police officer might ask you: ¿Me deja ver su carnet de conducir? (Can I see your driving licence?).

• When planning your journey, remember that in Spain autopistas (motorways) are often toll motorways. Every so often you will come to a peaje (toll barrier) where you will be required either to take a ticket or to hand over some money. When paying, you’ll need to choose a lane marked manual if you haven’t got the exact change or you aren’t paying by card. Otherwise, you can go into an automático lane. Nowadays, there are also Telepeaje (teletoll) lanes identified by a sign showing a white T on a blue background. These are for cars fitted with a chip allowing journeys to be tracked and paid for automatically.

• Queues tend to be informal in Spanish-speaking countries. So if you’re at the bus stop or trying to get to an information desk and don’t know who’s last in line, just ask ¿Quién es el último? (Who’s last in the queue?).

• If there’s no timetable at the bus stop, you can ask people waiting if they’ve seen your bus go past. Just ask ¿Ha pasado el número 33? (Has the number 33 been yet?).

Home from home (#ulink_469994de-e60b-5fdd-8c0a-2cce49e2d8ad)

¡Que descanses! – Sleep well! (#ulink_7b103422-2fe6-57c9-96d8-79f4e6d81180)

If you’re going to stay in a Spanish-speaking country, the phrases in this unit will help you find the sort of accommodation you want (hotel, hostel, self-catering, or a flat to rent) and ensure everything remains to your satisfaction when you’re there. We’ll also give you a few tips on what the receptionist or your landlord or landlady may say to you.