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A2🇦🇷 Argentina3 min read

Unas compras con cambio de planes

An Errand Run with a Change of Plans

1 · Spanish Story

La historia

El sábado a la mañana, Lucía salió de su casa con su celular. También llevaba una tarjeta. Tenía que pagar una boleta y comprar frutas. Después iba a buscar un paquete en la librería del barrio. Su mamá le dijo: "El nombre está en el paquete".

Primero fue al kiosco de la esquina. Había poca gente y pudo pagar rápido. Después tomó el colectivo hasta la verdulería. Allí buscó la lista en su mochila. No la encontró. Entonces recordó la lista sobre la mesa de la cocina. "Recuerdo algunas cosas", pensó.

Compró bananas, tomates y pan. Después entró en la librería. Otra persona esperaba un paquete parecido al suyo. Lucía se acercó al mostrador y preguntó: "¿Este sobre es para mí?" La empleada miró el nombre y sonrió. "No, el tuyo está atrás. Necesito el número del pedido", le explicó.

Lucía sintió un poco de vergüenza, pero también se rió. Salió para llamar a su mamá. Entonces recibió un mensaje con una foto de la lista. Tenía el número del pedido. Su mamá también escribió: "Podés pasar después por la panadería". Lucía respondió: "Ya compré pan. Vuelvo en un rato".

Lucía volvió a la librería y mostró el número. Esta vez recibió su paquete y miró bien el nombre. Salió con todo en la mochila. En casa, su mamá dijo: "¡Qué bueno! Llegaste temprano". Lucía contestó: "No fue tan difícil. Solo necesitaba la lista".

2 · Key Phrases

Language to keep

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01

salió de su casa con su celular

she left her house with her cell phone

Describes leaving home with an item you are carrying.

Marina salió de su casa con su celular para comprar comida.

Marina left her house with her cell phone to buy food.

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02

tomó el colectivo

she took the bus

Describes a completed journey by bus.

Usage: In tomó el colectivo, colectivo is the usual Argentine word for a public bus.

Martín tomó el colectivo para ir al trabajo.

Martín took the bus to go to work.

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03

No la encontró

She did not find it

Reports an unsuccessful search. La refers to the list.

Ana buscó su tarjeta en el bolso. No la encontró.

Ana looked for her card in her bag. She did not find it.

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04

¿Este sobre es para mí?

Is this envelope for me?

A practical question to check who should receive an envelope.

¿Este sobre es para mí? Estoy esperando una carta.

Is this envelope for me? I am waiting for a letter.

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05

le explicó

she explained to her

Introduces an explanation given to another person.

La profesora le explicó el ejercicio a Pablo.

The teacher explained the exercise to Pablo.

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3 · English Translation

The full story in English

On Saturday morning, Lucía left her house with her cell phone. She was also carrying a card. She had to pay a bill and buy fruit. Then she was going to collect a package at the neighborhood bookstore. Her mother told her: "The name is on the package".

First she went to the corner kiosk. There were few people and she was able to pay quickly. Then she took the bus to the greengrocer's. There she looked for the list in her backpack. She did not find it. Then she remembered the list on the kitchen table. "I remember some things", she thought.

She bought bananas, tomatoes and bread. Then she entered the bookstore. Another person was waiting for a package similar to hers. Lucía went up to the counter and asked: "Is this envelope for me?" The employee looked at the name and smiled. "No, yours is in the back. I need the order number", she explained to her.

Lucía felt a little embarrassed, but she also laughed. She went outside to call her mother. Then she received a message with a photo of the list. It had the order number. Her mother also wrote: "You can stop by the bakery later". Lucía replied: "I already bought bread. I'll be back in a while".

Lucía returned to the bookstore and showed the number. This time she received her package and looked carefully at the name. She left with everything in her backpack. At home, her mother said: "How nice! You arrived early". Lucía answered: "It was not so hard. I just needed the list".