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Illustration for “The contract, clause by clause”

Spanish dialogue with translation · B2 · 18 lines

El contrato, cláusula por cláusula The contract, clause by clause

Comic · 18 panels

Panel 1 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “Here's the contract, Ana. If that's all right with you, I'll sum up the clauses one by one (formal).”
  1. Begoña

    Aquí tiene el contrato, Ana. Si le parece bien, le resumo las cláusulas una por una.

    Here's the contract, Ana. If that's all right with you, I'll sum up the clauses one by one (formal).

Panel 2 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “Yes, please. There are words I've never seen: "lessor", "lessee"…”
  1. Ana

    Sí, por favor. Hay palabras que no he visto nunca: «arrendador», «arrendatario»…

    Yes, please. There are words I've never seen: "lessor", "lessee"…

Panel 3 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “They're contract words. The lessor is the owner, Mr. Navarro, and the lessee is the person he's renting the apartment to: you (formal).”
  1. Begoña

    Son palabras de contrato. El arrendador es el dueño, el señor Navarro, y el arrendatario es la persona a la que alquila el piso: usted.

    They're contract words. The lessor is the owner, Mr. Navarro, and the lessee is the person he's renting the apartment to: you (formal).

Panel 4 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “Got it. And how long does the contract last?”
  1. Ana

    Entendido. ¿Y cuánto tiempo dura el contrato?

    Got it. And how long does the contract last?

Panel 5 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “The first clause states the duration: one year, with annual extensions up to a maximum of five years. It comes into force on the day we hand you the keys, at the end…
  1. Begoña

    La primera cláusula indica la duración: un año, con prórrogas anuales hasta un máximo de cinco años. Entra en vigor el día en que le entregamos las llaves, a finales de enero.

    The first clause states the duration: one year, with annual extensions up to a maximum of five years. It comes into force on the day we hand you the keys, at the end of January (formal).

Panel 6 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “And the rent? Can it go up?”
  1. Ana

    ¿Y la renta? ¿Puede subir?

    And the rent? Can it go up?

Panel 7 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “The current rent is 750 euros a month, and it's adjusted once a year. Each monthly payment is made in advance, within the first five days of the month.”
  1. Begoña

    La renta actual es de 750 euros al mes y se actualiza una vez al año. Cada mensualidad se paga por adelantado, en los cinco primeros días del mes.

    The current rent is 750 euros a month, and it's adjusted once a year. Each monthly payment is made in advance, within the first five days of the month.

Panel 8 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “Are utilities included?”
  1. Ana

    ¿Los suministros están incluidos?

    Are utilities included?

Panel 9 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “No: water, electricity and gas are up to you. The residents' association fee, on the other hand, is paid by Mr. Navarro (formal).”
  1. Begoña

    No: el agua, la luz y el gas le corresponden a usted. La cuota de la comunidad de vecinos, en cambio, la paga el señor Navarro.

    No: water, electricity and gas are up to you. The residents' association fee, on the other hand, is paid by Mr. Navarro (formal).

Panel 10 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “And what if something breaks?”
  1. Ana

    ¿Y si se rompe algo?

    And what if something breaks?

Panel 11 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “The owner takes care of major breakdowns, and you take care of the small ones. That's what the inventory is for: the list in which the furniture and any damage…
  1. Begoña

    De las averías grandes se hace cargo el dueño; de las pequeñas, usted. Para eso está el inventario: la lista en la que constan los muebles y los desperfectos que ya hay.

    The owner takes care of major breakdowns, and you take care of the small ones. That's what the inventory is for: the list in which the furniture and any damage that's already there are recorded (formal).

Panel 12 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “And what if one day I need to leave early?”
  1. Ana

    ¿Y si un día necesito irme antes?

    And what if one day I need to leave early?

Panel 13 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “After the first six months, you can terminate the contract. But clause six requires you to give a minimum of thirty days' notice (to a woman, formal).”
  1. Begoña

    Después de los seis primeros meses puede rescindir el contrato. Pero la cláusula seis la obliga a dar un preaviso mínimo de treinta días.

    After the first six months, you can terminate the contract. But clause six requires you to give a minimum of thirty days' notice (to a woman, formal).

Panel 14 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “And the deposit? When do they give it back to me?”
  1. Ana

    ¿Y la fianza? ¿Cuándo me la devuelven?

    And the deposit? When do they give it back to me?

Panel 15 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “It's two months: one as a deposit and one as a guarantee. You commit to returning the apartment with the furniture you receive it with; if you don't break any…
  1. Begoña

    Son dos meses: uno de fianza y otro de garantía. Usted se compromete a devolver el piso con los muebles con los que lo recibe; si no incumple ninguna obligación, al final del contrato el dueño le devuelve las dos cosas.

    It's two months: one as a deposit and one as a guarantee. You commit to returning the apartment with the furniture you receive it with; if you don't break any obligations, at the end of the contract the owner gives you both back (formal).

Panel 16 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “One last thing: my cat. Is there any clause that talks about animals?”
  1. Ana

    Una última cosa: mi gato. ¿Hay alguna cláusula que hable de animales?

    One last thing: my cat. Is there any clause that talks about animals?

Panel 17 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “Yes, section eight: Mr. Navarro accepts the cat. It's one of the reasons why I showed you this apartment (formal).”
  1. Begoña

    Sí, el apartado ocho: el señor Navarro acepta al gato. Es una de las razones por las que le enseñé este piso.

    Yes, section eight: Mr. Navarro accepts the cat. It's one of the reasons why I showed you this apartment (formal).

Panel 18 of 18 for “The contract, clause by clause”: “Thank goodness! Can I take a copy? I want to check it with a friend before signing.”
  1. Ana

    ¡Menos mal! ¿Puedo llevarme una copia? Quiero consultarla con una amiga antes de firmar.

    Thank goodness! Can I take a copy? I want to check it with a friend before signing.

Grammar for this text

Que with a preposition. La persona a la que alquila el piso — "the person he's renting the apartment to"; la lista en la que constan los muebles — "the list in which the furniture is recorded"; los muebles con los que lo recibe — "the furniture you receive it with"; las razones por las que… — "the reasons why…". With día there's no article: el día en que le entregamos las llaves.

The contract in plain words. Begoña doesn't read the contract aloud; she sums it up: se paga, se actualiza — "is paid", "is adjusted" (impersonal se, B1). Le corresponden a usted — "they're up to you"; se hace cargo el dueño — "the owner takes care of it". Cláusula and apartado are two words for the same thing: a section of the contract.

¿Hay alguna cláusula que hable de animales? — subjunctive: Ana doesn't know if there is such a clause (unit 3).

La obliga a dar un preaviso — "requires you to give notice": here la means "you", the formal you for a woman.

Words and grammar of the unit: Go through a rental contract clause by clause.

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