From post office to email
De la oficina de correos al correo electrónico
- Send and receive messages.
- Email and internet.
- El presente de subjuntivo: Regular verbs
Learn practical Spanish phrases for the post office and email communication while mastering the present subjunctive with verbs like mandar (to send), recibir (to receive), and enviar (to send). Practice expressing wishes and requests to navigate both traditional and digital correspondence effectively.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (16) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
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
La despedida
The Farewell
2
El email
The email
3
Adjuntar un archivo
Attach a file
4
Enviar un correo electrónico
To send an email
5
Ir a correos
To go to the post office
Ejercicio 2: Conversation exercise
Instrucción:
- Do you still send letters or only emails? (Do you still send letters or only emails?)
- What is necessary when you want to send a letter? Use the subjunctive. (What is necessary when you want to send a letter? Use the subjunctive. )
- How many emails do you usually receive in a day? (How many emails do you usually receive in a day?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Ahora solo envío correos electrónicos. Es más rápido y fácil. I only send emails now. It’s faster and easier. |
|
A veces envío cartas para ocasiones especiales. Como cumpleaños o días festivos. Sometimes I send letters for special things. Like birthdays or holidays. |
|
Es importante que firmes la carta. It is important that you sign the letter. |
|
Es necesario que envíes la carta llevándola a la oficina de correos, por ejemplo. It is necessary that you send the letter by taking it to the post office for example. |
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Normalmente recibo 10 o 15 correos electrónicos. La mayoría son de trabajo. I usually get 10 or 15 emails. Most are for work. |
|
Recibo 5 correos electrónicos al día. Algunos son de amigos, otros de periódicos. I receive 5 emails a day. Some are from friends, some from newspapers. |
| ... |
Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 4: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Es importante que _____ el correo electrónico con el archivo adjunto.
(It is important that _____ the email with the attached file.)2. Quiero que _____ todas las cartas antes del mediodía.
(I want you to _____ all the letters before noon.)3. Espero que _____ un buen usuario del correo electrónico en la empresa.
(I hope you _____ a good user of email in the company.)4. Es necesario que _____ la respuesta antes del viernes para conseguir el trabajo.
(It is necessary that _____ the answer before Friday to get the job.)Exercise 5: From the post office to email
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Ser - Ser
Subjuntivo presente
- yo sea
- tú seas
- él/ella/Ud. sea
- nosotros/nosotras seamos
- vosotros/vosotras seáis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. sean
Enviar - Enviar
Subjuntivo presente
- yo envíe
- tú envíes
- él/ella/Ud. envíe
- nosotros/nosotras enviemos
- vosotros/vosotras enviéis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. envíen
Recibir - Recibir
Subjuntivo presente
- yo reciba
- tú recibas
- él/ella/Ud. reciba
- nosotros/nosotras recibamos
- vosotros/vosotras recibáis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. reciban
Mandar - Mandar
Subjuntivo presente
- yo mande
- tú mandes
- él/ella/Ud. mande
- nosotros/nosotras mandemos
- vosotros/vosotras mandéis
- ellos/ellas/Uds. manden
Exercise 6: El presente de subjuntivo: Los verbos regulares
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: El presente de subjuntivo: Regular verbs
Show translation Show answersrecibamos, recibas, envíe, sea
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A2.36.3 Gramática
El presente de subjuntivo: Los verbos regulares
El presente de subjuntivo: Regular verbs
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Ser to be Share Copied!
Subjuntivo presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) sea | I be |
| (tú) seas | you be |
| (él/ella) sea | he/she to be |
| (nosotros/nosotras) seamos | we are |
| (vosotros/vosotras) seáis | you are |
| (ellos/ellas) sean | they be |
Enviar to send Share Copied!
Subjuntivo presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) envíe | I send |
| (tú) envíes | you send |
| (él/ella) envíe | he/she sends |
| (nosotros/nosotras) enviemos | we send |
| (vosotros/vosotras) enviéis | You send |
| (ellos/ellas) envíen | they send |
Recibir to receive Share Copied!
Subjuntivo presente
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| (yo) reciba | I receive |
| (tú) recibas | you receive |
| (él/ella) reciba | he/she receives |
| (nosotros/nosotras) recibamos | we receive |
| (vosotros/vosotras) recibáis | you receive |
| (ellos/ellas) reciban | they receive |
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Lesson Overview: From Post Office to Email
This lesson introduces you to practical communication in Spanish using the present subjunctive tense with regular verbs. You will learn how to express requests, hopes, doubts, and desires typically related to postal and email correspondence.
Key Topics Covered
- Vocabulary and situations: Learn expressions and vocabulary for dealing with Spain's postal service, Correos, and modern messaging methods like WhatsApp and email.
- Grammatical focus: The present subjunctive of regular verbs is used extensively to express polite requests and convey wishes or doubts.
- Real-world dialogues: Practice dialogues based on common scenarios such as sending letters, writing formal emails, and handling problems with email services.
Important Expressions and Words
Some useful Spanish terms you will encounter include:
- mandar (to send)
- recibir (to receive)
- enviar (to send)
- cartero (postman)
- correo electrónico (email)
- adjunto (attached)
These verbs are used in their present subjunctive forms to make requests or express hopes, for example: Espero que el cartero no tenga mucho trabajo. (I hope the postman doesn't have much work.)
Understanding the Present Subjunctive
The present subjunctive in Spanish is commonly used after expressions that convey wishes, hopes, suggestions, doubts, or demands. It is formed differently from the indicative and is crucial for polite requests and formal communication.
Example verbs conjugated in present subjunctive:
- Ser (to be): yo sea, tú seas, él/ella sea, nosotros seamos, vosotros seáis, ellos sean
- Enviar (to send): yo envíe, tú envíes, él/ella envíe, nosotros enviemos, vosotros enviéis, ellos envíen
Useful Differences Between English and Spanish
While English uses the subjunctive mood less frequently, Spanish relies on it especially in formal or polite requests and expressions of doubt or emotion.
For example:
- English: "I hope the email arrives on time." (no special verb form)
- Spanish: "Espero que llegue el correo a tiempo." (uses subjunctive)
Practice phrases to remember:
- Quiero que mandes la carta. – I want you to send the letter.
- Es importante que revises el adjunto. – It is important that you check the attachment.
- Ojalá que todo salga bien. – Hopefully, everything goes well.
By mastering these expressions and the present subjunctive, you will confidently navigate conversations about sending mail and emails in Spanish.
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