Spanish Proficiency Exercises
Role-play: Talking to a friend about a possible purchase of a car.


Simplified and native speakers:

• Simplified example
• Álvaro S.
• Luz M.
• Paula O.
• Fernando R.
• Jorge G.

.m4v (iPod) downloads
Click red links to download .m4v files for use in iPod:

• Simplified example
• Álvaro S.
• Luz M.
• Paula O.
• Fernando R.
• Jorge G.

Subscribe to iTunes podcast: sup11
Subscribe to podcast: sup11


Key vocabulary for this task


Example phrases for this task


Grammar points for this task

Simplified Example
"Quiero adquirir un automóvil..."
Álvaro S.
Chile, Santiago
"Bueno estoy buscando un auto..."
Luz M.
Perú, Lima
"OK, Rosa, te cuento que me voy a comprar un carro..."
Paula O.
Chile, Santiago
"¿Aló, Fran? Hola, sí vengo de allá..."
Fernando R.
Argentina, Buenos Aires
"Recientemente volví a los Estados Unidos proveniente de Brasil..."
Jorge G.
México, Xalapa, Veracruz
"Ok. Hace seis meses compré una camioneta grande..."
accidente (m)   accident
aceite (m)   oil
chocar   to crash
chorrear de calor   to sweat excessively
del año (adj)   made this year,
a brand new car
financiamiento (m)   financing
inyección de gasolina (f)   fuel injection
kilometraje (m)   the number of kilometers driven by a car
licencia de manejar / conducir (f)   driver's license
llanta (f), rueda (f), neumático (m)   tire
marca (f)   brand
multa (f)   fine, traffic ticket
nuevito (m)   brand new
parabrisas (f)   windshield
préstamo (m)   loan
puerta (f)   door
timón (m) / volante (m)   steering wheel
título de propietario (m)   title of ownership
tránsito (m)   traffic
Quiero un automóvil nuevo, eficiente y económico. I want a new, efficient and economic automobile.
Me gusta que vengan equipado con vidrios eléctricos y aire acondicionado. I like that they come equiped with electronic windows and air conditioning.
De preferencia, quiero un automóvil con transmisión automática porque es más sencillo conducirlos. I'd rather have a car with automatic transmission because it's easier to drive them.
Quiero un auto de cuatro puertas para que toda mi familia viaje cómodamente. I want a car with four doors so that my entire family can travel comfortably.
Me gustan los automóviles de colores oscuros como el negro, azul marino o rojo. I like dark colored cars like black, navy blue or red.
Quiero un auto deportivo como los que usa James Bond. I want a sports car like the ones that James Bond uses.
Creo que ningún automóvil hecho en Estados Unidos es bueno. I don't think that any of the cars that are made in the USA are any good.
Los mejores carros son los alemanes o los japoneses. The best cars are German or Japonese.
Un carro chico es mejor porque gasta menos gasolina. A small car is better because it uses less gas.
Siempre es bueno revisar el aceite y el agua de un vehículo antes de hacer un viaje largo. It's always good to check the car's oil and liquid levels before taking a long trip.
Expressing Doubt and Subjective Opinions

The subjunctive mood has many uses in Spanish. Two of those uses appear frequently in this level's native speakers' videos: to express doubt and to make a subjective judgement.

1. Subjunctive: expressing doubt.

a. The subjunctive mood is generally used when the speaker wishes to describe something about which he or she has no knowledge or certainty. For example:

No creo que el carro tenga ventanas eléctricas. I don't think that the car has electric windows.
  Es posible que el precio incluya servicio de un año. It's possible that the price includes one year's service.

b. On the other hand, when you use expressions of certainty (e.g. Es verdad, es seguro, es cierto etc.) you will use the indicative mood.

No hay duda que el carro tiene cuatro puertas. There is no doubt that the car has four doors.
  Es verdad que ese carro tiene mejor rendimiento de gasolina. It is true that car gets better gas mileage.

2. Subjunctive: making a judgement and expressing emotion.

The subjunctive mood is used in a subordinate clause following the expression of an emotion or judgement.

Qué lastima que tu carro se haya descompuesto. It's a shame that your car has broken down.
  Es bueno que el coche tenga aire acondicionado. It's good that the car has air conditioning.
  Me enoja que nuestro carro use tanta gasolina. It angers me that our car uses so much gas.