At the clothing shop
En la tienda de ropa
- Describe everyday clothing.
- Ask for availability in a clothing shop.
- Ask for your size.
- The modal verbs: "Deber, poder, querer,..."
In this lesson, learn essential Spanish vocabulary for shopping at a clothing store, including words like "el abrigo" (coat) and "la camiseta" (t-shirt), while practicing modal verbs such as "poder" (can), "querer" (want), and "deber" (must) to express needs and requests.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (18) 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 categories related to clothing, according to whether they are winter garments or lighter garments.
Ropa de invierno
Ropa ligera
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Los zapatos
The shoes
2
Devolver
To return
3
El cinturón
The belt
4
Las botas
The boots
5
El abrigo
The coat
Ejercicio 5: Conversation exercise
Instrucción:
- Say who is wearing what. (Say who is wearing what. )
- What other clothing items do you know? (What other clothing items do you know?)
- Describe the clothes of the person next to you. (Describe the clothes of the person next to you.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Él lleva guantes. He is wearing gloves. |
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Ella lleva un cinturón. She is wearing a belt. |
|
Como otra prenda de vestir conozco "vestido". As another clothing item I know "dress". |
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Petra lleva pantalones y un jersey. Petra is wearing trousers and a jumper. |
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Ella lleva botas. She is wearing boots. |
|
Mi madre lleva gafas. My mother is wearing glasses. |
|
¿Qué llevas puesto hoy? What are you wearing today? |
| ... |
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. ¿___ ayudarme a encontrar un abrigo adecuado para el invierno?
(Can ___ help me find a suitable coat for the winter?)2. Hoy ___ un jersey gris y unos pantalones negros.
(Today ___ a gray sweater and black pants.)3. ___ probarte la camiseta antes de comprarla para ver si te queda bien.
(___ try on the shirt before buying it to see if it fits you well.)4. Él ___ la camisa porque está arrugada.
(He ___ the shirt because it is wrinkled.)Exercise 8: At the clothing store
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Ir - Go
Presente
- yo voy
- tú vas
- él/ella/Ud. va
- nosotros/as vamos
- vosotros/as vais
- ellos/ellas/Uds. van
Hacer - Do/Make
Presente
- yo hago
- tú haces
- él/ella/Ud. hace
- nosotros/as hacemos
- vosotros/as hacéis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. hacen
Poder - Can
Presente
- yo puedo
- tú puedes
- él/ella/Ud. puede
- nosotros/as podemos
- vosotros/as podéis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. pueden
Querer - Want
Presente
- yo quiero
- tú quieres
- él/ella/Ud. quiere
- nosotros/as queremos
- vosotros/as queréis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. quieren
Mostrar - Show
Presente
- yo muestro
- tú muestras
- él/ella/Ud. muestra
- nosotros/as mostramos
- vosotros/as mostráis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. muestran
Probarse - Try on
Presente
- yo me pruebo
- tú te pruebas
- él/ella/Ud. se prueba
- nosotros/as nos probamos
- vosotros/as os probáis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. se prueban
Exercise 9: Los verbos modales: "Deber, poder, querer,..."
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: The modal verbs: "Deber, poder, querer,..."
Show translation Show answersquieres, saben, podéis, suele, debes, debe, suelo, puedes
Grammar Share Copied!
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A1.21.3 Gramática
Los verbos modales: "Deber, poder, querer,..."
The modal verbs: "Deber, poder, querer,..."
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Llevar to carry Share Copied!
Presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) llevo | I carry |
| (tú) llevas | You carry |
| (él/ella) lleva | He/she carries |
| (nosotros/nosotras) llevamos | we carry |
| (vosotros/vosotras) lleváis | You carry |
| (ellos/ellas) llevan | they carry |
Planchar to iron Share Copied!
Presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) plancho | I iron |
| (tú) planchas | You iron |
| (él/ella) plancha | he/she irons |
| (nosotros/nosotras) planchamos | we iron |
| (vosotros/vosotras) plancháis | You iron |
| (ellos/ellas) planchan | they iron |
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At the Clothing Shop: Lesson Overview
This beginner-level lesson focuses on essential Spanish vocabulary and expressions used when shopping for clothes. It introduces key clothing items, especially distinguishing between winter garments and lighter outfits. The lesson also covers modal verbs deber, poder, and querer, which are fundamental for expressing obligations, abilities, and desires in everyday conversations.
Key Vocabulary: Clothing Items
Students learn practical words for winter clothes such as el abrigo (coat), el gorro (hat), las botas (boots), los guantes (gloves), and el jersey (sweater). Lighter clothing includes la camiseta (t-shirt), los pantalones (pants), and la falda (skirt). This classification helps learners identify and describe clothing appropriate for different seasons and situations.
Using Modal Verbs: Expressing Needs and Requests
Modal verbs are introduced with practical examples related to shopping:
- Deber – expressing obligation: "Debo planchar la camisa antes de la reunión." (I must iron the shirt before the meeting.)
- Poder – expressing ability or permission: "¿Puedes devolver este abrigo si no me queda bien?" (Can you return this coat if it doesn't fit me?)
- Querer – expressing desires: "Quiero probarme el vestido que está en el escaparate." (I want to try on the dress in the window.)
Practical Dialogues and Phrases
The lesson includes real-life dialogues for shopping scenarios, such as asking for a shirt and your size, trying on pants, and inquiring about jacket availability and size exchange. These dialogues help learners practice polite and useful phrases for communication in a clothing store setting.
Additional Practice and Highlights
Students are encouraged to reorder phrases, complete sentences, and classify vocabulary by category. There is also a short story that narrates a shopping experience, reinforcing verb conjugations in the present tense for common verbs like ir, hacer, poder, and querer.
Differences between English and Spanish in Shopping Contexts
One notable difference is the use of polite modal verbs in Spanish to make requests or offers sound courteous, often using puede(s) (can you/can I) instead of the direct imperative. For example, "¿Puedes probarte este vestido azul?" translates literally as "Can you try on this blue dress?" but functions as a polite request. Also, Spanish frequently uses reflexive verbs when talking about trying on clothes (probarse). Expressions like "Me pruebo la camiseta" (I try on the t-shirt) include the reflexive pronoun for the subject.
Useful phrases include:
- ¿Tiene esta camisa en mi talla? – Do you have this shirt in my size?
- Quiero devolver las botas. – I want to return the boots.
- Debo llevar un cinturón negro con estos pantalones. – I should wear a black belt with these pants.
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