Do you mind if?
¿Le importa que ponga mi maleta en el portaequipajes?Do you mind if I put my suitcase on the rack?¿Le importa que me siente aquí?Do you mind if I sit here?SAYING WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO
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.
I have to
Tengo que coger otro vuelo para ir a Bilbao.I have to get a connecting flight to get to Bilbao.Tengo que comprar un chaleco reflectante.I have to buy a high-visibility vest.Tengo que coger el tren de las 8.30.I have to catch the 8.30 train.Tenemos que hacer una reserva.We have to make a reservation.¿Tenemos que cambiar de tren?Do we have to change trains?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
Hay que enseñar el carnet de conducir.You have to show your driving licence.Hay que imprimir el billete electrónico.You have to print out your e-ticket.Hay que devolver el coche antes de las tres.We have to get the car back before three.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.
I should
Debería comprar mi billete por Internet.I should buy my ticket online.Deberíamos echar más gasolina.We should get some more petrol.Deberíamos ir a recoger el equipaje.We ought to go and pick up the luggage.LISTEN OUT FOR
Here are some key phrases you are likely to be given when you are travelling around.
El tren de Cáceres sale de la vía tres.The train for Cáceres is leaving from platform three.¿Puedo ver su billete?Can I see your ticket?¿Le importa que me siente aquí?Do you mind if I sit here?Es mejor que coja un taxi.Youd be better getting a taxi.Cuando llegue a la plaza pregunte allí.Ask again when you get to the square.Siga recto hasta el semáforo.Go straight on till you get to the traffic lights.Coja la primera calle a la derecha.Take the first turning on the right.Gire a la izquierda.Turn left.Está muy cerca.Its very near.Está enfrente del museo.Its opposite the museum.Se puede ir andando.Its within walking distance.Está a tres paradas de aquí.Its three stops from here.Lifestyle Tips
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 youll need to carry your passport with you, dont forget to keep it in a safe place.
If youre in charge of a car, be ready to produce your driving licence if asked for it by the police. If youve 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, youll need to choose a lane marked manual if you havent got the exact change or you arent 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 youre at the bus stop or trying to get to an information desk and dont know whos last in line, just ask ¿Quién es el último? (Whos last in the queue?).
If theres no timetable at the bus stop, you can ask people waiting if theyve seen your bus go past. Just ask ¿Ha pasado el número 33? (Has the number 33 been yet?).
Home from home
¡Que descanses! Sleep well!
If youre 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 youre there. Well also give you a few tips on what the receptionist or your landlord or landlady may say to you.
SAYING WHAT YOU WANT
When looking for somewhere to stay, for instance in the local tourist office, youll want to specify the type of accommodation youre looking for. The way to say this is busco (Im looking for), from the verb buscar.
Im looking for
Busco un hotel que no sea demasiado caro.Im looking for a hotel which isnt too expensive.Busco un hotel de tres estrellas.Im looking for a three-star hotel.Estamos buscando un camping.Were looking for a campsite.Estamos buscando una casa que sirva para una familia de seis miembros.Were looking for a villa suitable for a family of six.I need
Necesito un hotel que esté cerca del palacio de congresos.I need a hotel thats near the conference centre.Necesito algún sitio desde el que se pueda ir andando a las tiendas.I need somewhere thats within walking distance of the shops.Necesito un piso para un mes.I need a flat for a month.Necesita un hotel donde hablen inglés.She needs a hotel where they speak English.To say what kind of room youd like, how long you want to stay and so forth, you can use quiero or quisiera (Id like). They are both from the verb querer. For more information on querer, see here.
Id like
Quiero reservar una habitación doble para dos noches.Id like to book a double room for two nights.Quiero cambiar de habitación.Id like to change rooms.Quiero que me devuelvan el dinero.I want a refund.Queremos quedarnos una noche más.Wed like to stay another night.Queremos alquilar un piso en el centro de la ciudad.Wed like to rent a flat in the centre of town.Quisiera una habitación con balcón.Id like a room with a balcony.¿LO SABÍAS?
As in the first example above, when saying how long youll need your room for, you use para.
ASKING FOR INFORMATION
Before choosing your accommodation, youll want to find out some basic information by asking Is it near?, Is it expensive? and so forth. Dont forget that Spanish has two verbs for to be: ser and estar. You use ser to talk about how things are permanently and estar to talk about temporary states and where things are located. For more information on these two verbs, see here.
Is it?
¿Es muy caro?Is it very expensive?¿Es un hotel moderno?Is it a modern hotel?¿Está lejos el camping?Is the campsite far?¿Está incluido el desayuno en el precio?Is breakfast included in the price?¿Está lista ya nuestra habitación?Is our room ready yet?The way to ask what something is like in Spanish is to use ¿Cómo? (How?) and the verb ser.
Whats it like?
¿Cómo es el hotel?Whats the hotel like?¿Cómo es la zona?What is the area like?¿Cómo son las habitaciones?What are the rooms like?You can use ¿Cuánto cuesta? (How much is?) to ask the price of something.
How much is?
¿Cuánto cuesta una habitación doble por noche?How much is a double room per night?¿Cuánto cuesta con pensión completa?How much is full board?¿Cuánto cuesta alquilar una casa de dos habitaciones durante dos semanas?How much would it cost to rent a two-bedroom house for two weeks?¿Cuánto costaría quedarse una noche más?How much would it be to stay an extra night?When deciding where to stay, youll need to find out what facilities are on offer. Remember that asking Is there? and Are there? in Spanish couldnt be easier. The word ¿Hay? covers them both.
Is there?
¿Hay acceso a Internet en las habitaciones?Is there internet access in the rooms?¿Hay calefacción central en el apartamento?Is there central heating in the apartment?¿Hay algún sitio para comer por aquí cerca?Is there anywhere near here where we can get something to eat?¿Hay aseos para minusválidos?Are there any disabled toilets?Once youre in your accommodation one of the first things youll need to do is find out where things are. Remember that when you use ¿Dónde? (Where?), estar is the verb you generally use with it.