Tableware
Vajilla
- Describe what tableware you need.
- Setting up the table to receive guests.
- Prepositions of place: "En, sobre, entre,..."
Learn how to describe and place tableware items in Spanish using common prepositions of place. This lesson covers essential vocabulary like utensils and table items, dialogues for practical use, and verb conjugations in the present tense. Gain useful phrases to talk about setting the table and organizing kitchen objects with natural, learner-friendly explanations.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (15) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Classify the words into two groups according to their use on the table.
Utensilios de mesa
Elementos para la mesa
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
La copa
The glass
2
El cuchillo
The knife
3
La sartén
The frying pan
4
La cuchara
The spoon
5
El plato
The plate
Ejercicio 5: Conversation exercise
Instrucción:
- Ask to pass any item you need. (Ask to pass any item you need.)
- Name all tableware and the usage. (Name all tableware and the usage.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
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El cuenco con azúcar está en la mesa. The bowl with sugar is on the table. |
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La cuchara está en el cuenco. The spoon is in the bowl. |
|
¿Puedes poner el mantel en la mesa? Can you put the tablecloth on the table? |
|
El vaso está lleno de zumo de naranja. The glass is filled with orange juice. |
|
El plato está lleno de cruasanes. The plate is filled with croissants. |
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¿Me puedes pasar un vaso de agua? Can you pass me a glass of water? |
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¿Quieres una taza de café o una taza de té? Do you want a cup of coffee or a cup of tea? |
|
El tenedor, el cuchillo y la cuchara están junto al plato. The fork, knife, and spoon are next to the plate. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Primero, yo ____ el mantel sobre la mesa para preparar la vajilla.
(First, I ____ the tablecloth on the table to prepare the dishes.)2. Después, yo ____ las servilletas para que estén listas para los invitados.
(Then, I ____ the napkins so that they are ready for the guests.)3. Mientras ____ los platos, yo limpio el bol y los vasos.
(While I ____ the dishes, I clean the bowl and the glasses.)4. Finalmente, yo ____ la sartén después de comer con los invitados.
(Finally, I ____ the pan after eating with the guests.)Exercise 8: Setting the table for a dinner with friends
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Fregar - Wash
Presente
- yo friego
- tú friegas
- él/ella/Ud. friega
- nosotros/nosotras fregamos
- vosotros/vosotras fregáis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. friegan
Cortar - Cut
Presente
- yo corto
- tú cortas
- él/ella/Ud. corta
- nosotros/nosotras cortamos
- vosotros/vosotras cortáis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. cortan
Colocar - Place
Presente
- yo coloco
- tú colocas
- él/ella/Ud. coloca
- nosotros/nosotras colocamos
- vosotros/vosotras colocáis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. colocan
Poner - Put
Presente
- yo pongo
- tú pones
- él/ella/Ud. pone
- nosotros/nosotras ponemos
- vosotros/vosotras ponéis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. ponen
Preparar - Prepare
Presente
- yo preparo
- tú preparas
- él/ella/Ud. prepara
- nosotros/nosotras preparamos
- vosotros/vosotras preparáis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. preparan
Exercise 9: Preposiciones de lugar: "En, sobre, entre,..."
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Prepositions of place: "En, sobre, entre,..."
Show translation Show answersal lado del, a la derecha de las, sobre, delante de los, al lado de la, entre, cerca de la
Grammar Share Copied!
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A1.33.2 Gramática
Preposiciones de lugar: "En, sobre, entre,..."
Prepositions of place: "En, sobre, entre,..."
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Fregar to scrub Share Copied!
Presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) friego | I scrub |
| (tú) friegas | You scrub |
| (él/ella) friega | he/she scrubs |
| (nosotros/nosotras) fregamos | we scrub |
| (vosotros/vosotras) fregáis | You scrub |
| (ellos/ellas) friegan | they scrub |
Cortar to cut Share Copied!
Presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) corto | I cut |
| (tú) cortas | You cut |
| (él/ella) corta | he cuts/she cuts |
| (nosotros/nosotras) cortamos | we cut |
| (vosotros/vosotras) cortáis | You cut |
| (ellos/ellas) cortan | they cut |
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Welcome to the Tableware Lesson
In this A1 level lesson, you will learn how to describe and place common tableware items in Spanish, focusing on prepositions of place like en (in/on), sobre (on/above), and entre (between). This practical topic helps you prepare the table for guests and talk about your kitchen setup.
Key Vocabulary
- Utensils: el cuchillo (knife), el tenedor (fork), la cuchara (spoon), la copa (wine glass), la servilleta (napkin)
- Table Items: el mantel (tablecloth), el plato (plate), el vaso (glass)
Using Prepositions of Place
You will practice sentences like "Pon el plato encima del mantel para empezar a poner la mesa." (Put the plate on the tablecloth to start setting the table), and "El bol está entre los platos y las cucharas." (The bowl is between the plates and the spoons). These examples help you understand spatial relationships between objects.
Dialogue Practice
Through realistic dialogues, you will learn how to ask and explain where to put items. For example, "¿Dónde pongo los platos?" (Where do I put the plates?) and "Los vasos están al lado de los platos, sobre la mesa." (The glasses are next to the plates, on the table.) These situational phrases improve your conversational skills.
Verb Conjugations in Context
This lesson also includes exercises on present tense verbs relevant to table preparation. Verbs like poner (to put), cortar (to cut), and fregar (to wash) are practiced with multiple-choice and story-fill activities to reinforce grammar and vocabulary.
Notes on Spanish Table Setting Instructions
In Spanish, prepositions of place are essential to describe object positions accurately. Unlike English, where prepositions like "on" can be more flexible, Spanish prepositions often specify very exact spatial relationships. For instance, al lado de means "next to," and it's important to note word order: the object being described is followed by the preposition and then the reference object (El cuchillo está al lado del tenedor en la mesa.). Useful phrases include encima de (on top of), debajo de (under), and entre (between), which help you create precise descriptions in daily conversations about where things are placed.
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