A2 · Unit 18 · 39 words, 3 texts with translation
Run errands at the post office and the bank
Send a package, fill out forms, deposit and withdraw money, and say how things are done with -mente adverbs.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
Articles: un, el, or no article
You already know the forms of the articles: el, la, los, las and un, una, unos, unas (A1, units 1 and 5). Now the main question is which one to choose. The good news: here Spanish works a lot like English. un, una is like "a", and el, la is like "the".
Ask yourself: does the listener know exactly which thing you mean?
| Article | When | Example |
|---|---|---|
| un, una | you mention something for the first time; "one of many", "some" | Quiero enviar un paquete. — I want to send a package (you haven't seen it yet). |
| el, la | it was already mentioned, or there's only one; "that one" | ¿Cuánto pesa el paquete? — How much does the package weigh (the one we're talking about)? |
- Hay un cajero en la esquina. El cajero está roto. — There's an ATM on the corner. The ATM is broken.
- Busco un banco. — I'm looking for a bank (any bank). Voy al banco — I'm going to the bank (my bank, you know which one).
No article — three common cases. Here Spanish and English are different:
- A job after
ser: Mi padre es funcionario. Soy estudiante. English says "a": "My father is a civil servant", "I'm a student". - When all that matters is whether you have the thing or not (most often after
tener): ¿Tienes coche? No tengo cuenta en este banco. English again needs "a": "Do you have a car?" - An unknown amount, "some": Necesito sellos. ¿Tienes dinero? English uses "some" or nothing.
And the other way around: for things in general Spanish uses el, la, where English has no article: el papeleo — paperwork (in general), el café — coffee (any coffee).
Common mistakes. Leaving out the article completely (✗ quiero enviar paquete) and adding an extra one before a job (✗ soy un médico), because English says "I'm a doctor". Remember: one thing you can count almost always needs un, el or a word like mi or este.
-mente adverbs: quickly, calmly, exactly
Many English adverbs end in -ly: quickly, calmly, exactly. Their Spanish partners usually end in -mente. They answer the question "how?" and never change for gender or number. You already know one: normalmente (normally).
How to make one: take the feminine form of the adjective and add -mente.
| Adjective | Feminine | Adverb |
|---|---|---|
| rápido | rápida | rápidamente — quickly |
| tranquilo | tranquila | tranquilamente — calmly |
| perfecto | perfecta | perfectamente — perfectly |
| solo | sola | solamente — only |
| fácil | fácil | fácilmente — easily |
Adjectives that end in -e or in a consonant have the same form for both genders, so -mente goes straight on: simple → simplemente, probable → probablemente. The written accent stays where it was: rápido → rápidamente.
- El empleado trabaja rápidamente. — The clerk works quickly.
- Entiendo perfectamente. — I understand perfectly.
- ¿Qué necesita exactamente? — What exactly do you need? (formal)
- Probablemente el banco está cerrado. — The bank is probably closed.
The adverb usually goes right after the verb; probablemente, simplemente and solamente often start the sentence.
Common mistake: making a -mente word out of everything. "Well", "badly" and "slowly" are separate words: bien, mal, despacio. And in conversation people often say just rápido instead of rápidamente, like English "fast": Habla muy rápido — he talks very fast.
Words in this unit
el paquete — package, parcel, pack
Quiero enviar este paquete a Madrid. — I want to send this package to Madrid.
el sello — stamp
Necesito un sello para esta carta. — I need a stamp for this letter.
el buzón — mailbox
El buzón está en la calle, al lado del banco. — The mailbox is on the street, next to the bank.
la postal — postcard
Te envío una postal desde Valencia. — I'm sending you a postcard from Valencia.
el envío — shipping, sending, shipment
El envío cuesta cinco euros. — Shipping costs five euros.
código postal — zip code, postal code
¿Cuál es tu código postal? — What's your zip code?
el/la remitente — sender
Escribe tu nombre en el remitente. — Write your name in the sender box.
el destinatario — recipient, addressee
Escribe aquí el nombre del destinatario. — Write the recipient's name here.
el formulario — form
Tienes que rellenar este formulario. — You have to fill out this form.
rellenar — to fill out (a form), to fill, to refill
Relleno el formulario en la mesa. — I fill out the form at the table.
la firma — signature
Falta tu firma aquí. — Your signature is missing here.
el documento — document
Necesito un documento con foto. — I need a document with a photo.
la copia — copy
Necesito una copia de mi pasaporte. — I need a copy of my passport.
pesar — to weigh
Pesamos el paquete aquí. — We weigh the package here.
el peso — weight
El peso del paquete es de tres kilos. — The weight of the package is three kilos.
urgente — urgent
Es una carta urgente. — It's an urgent letter.
el certificado — certificate, certified (mail)
Necesito un certificado del banco. — I need a certificate from the bank.
el cajero — ATM, cashier, teller
Saco dinero del cajero. — I take money out of the ATM.
ingresar — to deposit (money)
Quiero ingresar cien euros en mi cuenta. — I want to deposit a hundred euros into my account.
la transferencia — transfer, bank transfer
Hago una transferencia a mi cuenta. — I make a transfer to my account.
el saldo — balance (in an account)
No tengo saldo en la cuenta. — I have a zero balance in my account.
la comisión — fee, commission
El banco cobra una comisión. — The bank charges a fee.
la sucursal — branch (of a bank)
La sucursal está en la plaza. — The branch is on the square.
el empleado — employee, clerk
El empleado me da un papel. — The clerk gives me a piece of paper.
el funcionario — civil servant
El funcionario no está en su mesa. — The civil servant isn't at his desk.
el trámite — procedure, formality, paperwork
Hoy tengo un trámite en el banco. — Today I have some paperwork to do at the bank.
el papeleo — paperwork, red tape
Odio el papeleo. — I hate paperwork.
el recibo — receipt, bill
Guardo el recibo del paquete. — I keep the receipt for the package.
la clave — PIN, code
Escribo mi clave en el cajero. — I type in my PIN at the ATM.
la contraseña — password
Mi contraseña es muy larga. — My password is very long.
los ahorros — savings
Tengo mis ahorros en el banco. — I have my savings in the bank.
el punto — point, period (dot), item
El punto de entrega está cerca. — The pickup point is nearby.
simplemente — simply, just
Simplemente quiero un sello. — I just want a stamp.
solamente — only, just
Solamente necesito una copia. — I only need one copy.
perfectamente — perfectly
Entiendo perfectamente. — I understand perfectly.
exactamente — exactly
¿Qué necesitas exactamente? — What exactly do you need?
probablemente — probably
Probablemente el banco está cerrado. — The bank is probably closed.
rápidamente — quickly, fast
El empleado trabaja rápidamente. — The clerk works quickly.
tranquilamente — calmly, without hurrying
Puedes esperar tranquilamente. — You can wait calmly.
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