If you’ve been following the last two posts – the one about going to the dentist and the one about shopping for vegetables – then this new lesson is for you. I’m sending it with lots of cariño (love!) to everyone who’s learning Spanish for real-life situations. Especially to my dentist-friend who’s already started learning words like zanahoria and muela – now it’s time to level up and go “At the Market”!
This post will teach you useful words, phrases, and grammar you need to buy food, ask prices, and understand Spanish-speaking vendors without panicking.
Quiero una manzana. → I want an apple. (una manzana = an apple)
Quiero un plátano. → I want a banana. (un plátano = a banana)
Quiero unas naranjas. → I want some oranges. (unas naranjas = some oranges)
2. Polite requests using usted form
Used with vendors to sound polite and respectful. Structure: Póngame + quantity + noun Examples: Póngame medio kilo de uvas, por favor. → I’d like half a kilo of grapes, please. (uvas = grapes) Póngame una bolsa de patatas. → I’d like a bag of potatoes. (una bolsa de patatas = a bag of potatoes)2. Dar + objeto directo
To give + direct object
This structure is used to politely ask for something. “Me da…” literally means “Can you give me…”
Examples:
Me da medio kilo de tomates, por favor. → Can I have half a kilo of tomatoes, please? (medio kilo de tomates = half a kilo of tomatoes)
¿Me da una bolsa? → Can I have a bag? (una bolsa = a bag)
3. Tener + sustantivo
To have + noun
Used to ask if the seller has something.
Examples:
¿Tiene plátanos maduros? → Do you have ripe bananas? (plátanos maduros = ripe bananas)
¿Tiene cebollas? → Do you have onions? (cebollas = onions)
4. Hay + sustantivo
There is / there are + noun
Used to ask if something is available at the market.
Examples:
¿Hay lechuga fresca hoy? → Is there fresh lettuce today? (lechuga fresca = fresh lettuce)
¿Hay tomates? → Are there tomatoes? (tomates = tomatoes)
5. SingularSummary Table/plural and gender agreement
In Spanish, articles and adjectives must agree with the noun in gender (masculine/feminine) and number(singular/plural).
1. I want one banana. 2. How much is the apple? – ¿Cuánto cuesta la manzana? 3. Do you have ripe tomatoes? – ¿Tiene tomates maduros? 4. I’ll take a kilo of oranges. – Quiero un kilo de naranjas. 5. That’s all, thank you. – Eso es todo, gracias. 6. Do you have onions? – ¿Tiene cebollas?
5.
Vendedor: ¡Hola! ¿Qué desea? Tú: Quiero un kilo de manzanas, por favor. Vendedor: ¿Algo más? Tú: No, eso es todo. Vendedor: Aquí tiene. Son 3 euros. Tú: Gracias. Vendedor: ¡Que tenga buen día! Tú: Igualmente, gracias.
Me encanta crear recursos para que aprendas español de forma divertida y efectiva. Si SpanishUnicorn te ha ayudado o te ha gustado el contenido, puedes invitarme un café virtual y ayudarme a seguir creando más materiales, ejercicios y juegos para ti. ¡Cada aporte hace la diferencia! ¡Gracias por tu apoyo!
