Food, shopping and errands

What holds these lists together

The same situation every time: somebody is selling or serving, and you have to follow what they say. That is a different task from speaking. The assistant’s phrases are fixed, quick and come without warning — ¿Va a pagar con tarjeta?, ¿Necesita bolsa? — so they are listed in full, to be recognised rather than built. The other direction holds a surprise for an English speaker: at a bar in Spain ponme un café is an ordinary, friendly order, and a string of «could I possibly» sounds stiff rather than polite. The way there, the weather on the way, the counters at the bank and the post office and the online shop belong here as well.

For example: el desayuno (breakfast), la ciudad (the city, the town), el tiempo (the weather), la panadería (the baker's), el animal (the animal), el menú del día (the set lunch of the day)

Spread across the levels

The category runs across the levels — it is an area, not a difficulty. If you practise it, you can also choose a level at the top of the practice page and then get only the part that sits there.