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A2.31: Bucket list

Lista de deseos

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Explore how to express wishes and give advice in Spanish using phrases like "Me gustaría" (I would like), "Querría" (I would want), and "Deberías" (You should), all in the simple conditional tense.

Listening & reading materials

Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.

Spanish A2.31.1 What would you do if you had a year off work?

A2.31.1 Lectura

¿Qué harías si tuvieras un año libre de trabajo?

What would you do if you had a year off work?

Spanish A2.31.2 The Camino de Santiago: A dream come true

A2.31.2 Cultura

El Camino de Santiago: un sueño hecho realidad

The Camino de Santiago: A dream come true

Vocabulary (16)

Pensar (to think) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Pensar

Show

To think Show

Planificar (to plan) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Planificar

Show

To plan Show

Realizar (to accomplish) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Realizar

Show

To accomplish Show

Hacerse (to become) - Verb conjugation and exercises

Hacerse

Show

To become Show

El plan: The plan (Spanish)

El plan

Show

The plan Show

El futuro: The future (Spanish)

El futuro

Show

The future Show

Posible: Possible (Spanish)

Posible

Show

Possible Show

Imposible: Impossible (Spanish)

Imposible

Show

Impossible Show

El comienzo: The beginning (Spanish)

El comienzo

Show

The beginning Show

El final: The end (Spanish)

El final

Show

The end Show

Soñar con: To dream of (Spanish)

Soñar con

Show

To dream of Show

Querer ser: To want to be (Spanish)

Querer ser

Show

To want to be Show

Viajar por el mundo: To travel the world (Spanish)

Viajar por el mundo

Show

To travel the world Show

Vivir en otro país: To live in another country (Spanish)

Vivir en otro país

Show

To live in another country Show

Tener una aventura: to have an adventure (Spanish)

Tener una aventura

Show

To have an adventure Show

Lo desconocido: The unknown (Spanish)

Lo desconocido

Show

The unknown Show

Exercises

These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.

Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence

Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.

1

Imposible

Impossible

2

Viajar por el mundo

To travel the world

3

El futuro

The future

4

Planificar

To plan

5

Realizar

To accomplish

Ejercicio 2: Conversation exercise

Instrucción:

  1. What did you want to be when you were a child? (What did you want to be when you were a child?)
  2. What plans do you have for the future? Would you like to change your job anytime soon? (What plans do you have for the future? Would you like to change your job anytime soon?)
  3. How will you accomplish them? (How will you accomplish them?)

Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes

A2.31: Bucket list

Example phrases:

Cuando era pequeño quería ser bombero.

When I was little I wanted to become a firefighter.

Cuando era niño, soñaba con ser médico.

As a child I dreamed of becoming a doctor.

Quiero tener más responsabilidades en mi trabajo en el futuro.

I want to have more responsibility in my job in the future.

Quiero ser el jefe de mi empresa en unos años.

I want to be the boss of my company in a few years.

Me gustaría cambiar de profesión pronto porque no estoy contento con mi trabajo actual.

I would like to change my profession soon because I am not happy with my current job.

Volveré a la universidad para convertirme en profesor.

I will go to university again to become a teacher.

...

Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards

Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.

1

En la cafetería hablando de sueños

2

En el trabajo: planes para el futuro

3

En casa: sueños y consejos

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Me gustaría ______ un viaje a comienzos del verano para conocer más paisajes de España.

(I would like to ______ a trip at the beginning of summer to see more landscapes of Spain.)

2. Querría ______ todos mis planes antes de que termine el año para aprovechar el tiempo.

(I would want to ______ all my plans before the end of the year to make the most of the time.)

3. Deberías ______ con un futuro posible y tener una aventura que cambie tu vida.

(You should ______ of a possible future and have an adventure that changes your life.)

4. En tu lugar, ______ más tiempo a planificar las listas de cosas que hacer durante el viaje.

(In your place, I would ______ more time to planning the to-do lists during the trip.)

Exercise 5: Wishlist for the next year

Instruction:

Elena (Estar - Condicional simple) muy contenta si (Poder - Condicional simple) viajar por el mundo el próximo verano. Ella (Querer - Condicional simple) visitar paisajes desconocidos y aprender de otras culturas. En tu lugar, yo (Deber - Condicional simple) planificar este viaje con mucho cuidado. Mi amigo Carlos, que también (Desear - Condicional simple) vivir en otro país, me dijo que primero hay que pensar en el plan y luego actuar. Ellos (Dedicarse - Condicional simple) a organizar todos los detalles para que la aventura sea posible y segura.

Elena would be very happy if she could travel around the world next summer. She would like to visit unknown landscapes and learn about other cultures. In your place, I should plan this trip very carefully. My friend Carlos, who would also wish to live in another country, told me that first you have to think about the plan and then act. They would dedicate themselves to organizing all the details so that the adventure is possible and safe.

Verb Tables

Estar - To be

Condicional simple

  • yo estaría
  • tú estarías
  • él/ella/usted estaría
  • nosotros/nosotras estaríamos
  • vosotros/vosotras estaríais
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes estarían

Poder - To be able to

Condicional simple

  • yo podría
  • tú podrías
  • él/ella/usted podría
  • nosotros/nosotras podríamos
  • vosotros/vosotras podríais
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes podrían

Querer - To want

Condicional simple

  • yo querría
  • tú querrías
  • él/ella/usted querría
  • nosotros/nosotras querríamos
  • vosotros/vosotras querríais
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes querrían

Deber - To should

Condicional simple

  • yo debería
  • tú deberías
  • él/ella/usted debería
  • nosotros/nosotras deberíamos
  • vosotros/vosotras deberíais
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes deberían

Desear - To wish

Condicional simple

  • yo desearía
  • tú desearías
  • él/ella/usted desearía
  • nosotros/nosotras desearíamos
  • vosotros/vosotras desearíais
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes desearían

Dedicarse - To dedicate oneself

Condicional simple

  • yo me dedicaría
  • tú te dedicarías
  • él/ella/usted se dedicaría
  • nosotros/nosotras nos dedicaríamos
  • vosotros/vosotras os dedicaríais
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes se dedicarían

Exercise 6: Expresar deseos, cortesía y sugerencias: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Grammar: Expressing wishes, politeness and suggestions: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"

Show translation Show answers

Querría, gustaría, Me gustaría, deberías, Deberías

1. Deseos hipotéticos:
... hacerme escritor algún día.
(I would like to become a writer someday.)
2. Deseo:
... realizar mis sueños antes del final del verano.",
(I would like to achieve my dreams before the end of summer.)
3. Deseo:
... comenzar una nueva etapa en mi vida.
(I would like to start a new chapter in my life.)
4. Consejo:
... evitar lo imposible y enfocarte en lo que puedes lograr.
(You should avoid the impossible and focus on what you can achieve.)
5. Deseo:
A mi pareja le ... formar una familia pronto.
(My partner would like to start a family soon.)
6. Consejo:
Tú ... pensar en tu familia.
(You should think about your family.)
7. Consejo:
... pensar en tu futuro con más optimismo.
(You should think about your future with more optimism.)
8. Deseo:
... comenzar una nueva etapa en mi vida.
(I would like to start a new chapter in my life.)

Exercise 7: Dar consejos con el condicional simple

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Grammar: Giving advice with the condicional simple

Show translation Show answers

Deberías, En tu lugar, Podrías, Si fuera tú, Yo recomendaría, Mi consejo es

1. Consejo + infinitivo:
... planificar el comienzo de tu carrera.
(You should plan the start of your career.)
2. Consejo en condicional + infinitivo:
... pensar más en el futuro antes de decidir.
(You could think more about the future before deciding.)
3. Consejo en condicional + infinitivo:
... pensar bien antes de tener un hijo.
(I would recommend thinking carefully before having a child.)
4. Consejo + infinitivo:
... pensar bien antes de actuar.
(You should think carefully before acting.)
5. Consejo + condicional:
... , investigaría un poco más sobre ese plan.
(If I were you, I would investigate that plan a bit more.)
6. Consejo + condicional:
... empezaría a ahorrar desde ya.
(If I were you, I would start saving right away.)
7. Consejo + condicional:
... hablaría con la familia sobre el futuro.
(If I were you, I would talk to the family about the future.)
8. Consejo + infinitivo:
... hablar con tu pareja.
(My advice is to talk with your partner.)

Grammar

It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!

A2.31.3 Gramática

Expresar deseos, cortesía y sugerencias: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"

Expressing wishes, politeness and suggestions: "Me gustaría", "Debería", "Querría"

A2.31.4 Gramática

Dar consejos con el condicional simple

Giving advice with the condicional simple

Verb conjugation tables for this lesson

Estar to be

Condicional simple

Spanish English
(yo) estaría I would be
(tú) estarías You would be
(él/ella) estaría he/she would be
(nosotros/nosotras) estaríamos we would be
(vosotros/vosotras) estaríais you would be
(ellos/ellas) estarían they would be

Exercises and examples phrases

Desear to desire

Condicional simple

Spanish English
(yo) desearía I would desire
(tú) desearías You would desire
(él/ella) desearía he/she would desire
(nosotros/nosotras) desearíamos We would desire
(vosotros/vosotras) desearíais You would desire
(ellos/ellas) desearían they would desire

Exercises and examples phrases

Dedicarse a to engage in

Condicional simple

Spanish English
(yo) me dedicaría I would engage in
(tú) te dedicarías You would engage in
(él/ella) se dedicaría he/she would engage in
(nosotros/nosotras) nos dedicaríamos we would engage in
(vosotros/vosotras) os dedicaríais You would engage in
(ellos/ellas) se dedicarían they would engage in

Exercises and examples phrases

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Lesson Overview: Expressing Wishes, Politeness, and Suggestions in Spanish

This A2-level lesson focuses on how to talk about personal dreams, plans, and polite suggestions using common polite expressions and the simple conditional tense (condicional simple) in Spanish. You will learn to express desires, give advice, and make polite recommendations through useful phrases and dialogues.

Key Language Points

  • Expressions of wishes and politeness: "Me gustaría" (I would like), "Debería" (should), and "Querría" (I would want) are essential for politely stating desires or giving advice.
  • Use of the simple conditional tense: This tense helps to softly suggest actions or express hypothetical situations, as in "En tu lugar, empezaría a ahorrar dinero" (If I were you, I would start saving money).
  • Giving advice: Phrases such as "Deberías tomar un curso" (You should take a course) and "Yo recomendaría" (I would recommend) make your speech polite and constructive.

Practical Examples and Situations

The lesson features dialogues set in everyday contexts such as a cafeteria chat about future dreams, workplace conversations about personal goals, and talks at home describing future plans. Examples include:

  • "Me gustaría viajar a Japón el próximo verano." (I would like to travel to Japan next summer.)
  • "Deberías organizar tu tiempo para poder hacerlo todo." (You should organize your time to manage everything.)
  • "En tu lugar, visitaría ese país primero para conocerlo bien." (If I were you, I would visit that country first to get to know it well.)

Vocabulary and Expressions

Some useful verbs repeatedly appear in the conditional tense, including:

  • Estar: yo estaría (I would be)
  • Poder: yo podría (I could)
  • Querer: yo querría (I would want)
  • Deber: yo debería (I should)
  • Desear: yo desearía (I would desire)
  • Dedicarse: yo me dedicaría (I would dedicate myself)

Useful Notes on English vs. Spanish

Unlike English, where modal verbs like "would" or "should" often stand alone before infinitives, Spanish uses the conditional tense conjugated with the verb along with polite phrases. For instance, "I would like" translates to "Me gustaría," which literally means "It would please me." This structure makes the request or desire softer and more polite in Spanish. Also, "Deberías" (you should) is used directly with the infinitive verb to give advice.

Examples of English-Spanish equivalents:

  • "I would like to..." — Me gustaría...
  • "You should..." — Deberías...
  • "I would want to..." — Querría...

Learning these polite and conditional forms will greatly improve your ability to express wishes and suggestions naturally in Spanish, making communication smoother and more respectful.

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