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A2🇻🇪 Venezuela3 min read

Una sorpresa para la familia

A surprise for the family

1 · Spanish Story

La historia

Daniel llegó a casa temprano. Su mamá estaba en la cocina. Su papá leía en la sala. Daniel quería hacer una cena especial para todos. También quería comprar un jugo y unas flores.

Él abrió la nevera y vio pocos ingredientes. Pensó en ir al mercado, pero llovía mucho. Entonces llamó a su hermana. Ella dijo: "Yo compro el pan y el queso". Daniel agradeció y esperó en la sala.

Daniel tomó su celular y escribió a su mamá. Le dijo que no entrara a la cocina. Su mamá se preocupó un poco, porque no entendía el mensaje. Ella pensó que algo malo pasaba. Daniel vio su cara y habló con calma.

Más tarde, su hermana llegó con las bolsas. Daniel preparó la mesa de una vez. Su papá ayudó a cortar la fruta y puso los vasos. Después, Daniel buscó servilletas y sirvió el jugo. Todos trabajaron juntos y rieron.

Cuando todo estuvo listo, Daniel llamó a su mamá. Ella vio la cena y sonrió. "Qué fino", dijo ella. La familia comió tranquila y habló de su día. Su mamá entendió la sorpresa y abrazó a Daniel. Todos quedaron contentos.

2 · Key Phrases

Language to keep

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01

cena especial

special dinner

A meal prepared for a special reason.

Preparé una cena especial para mi cumpleaños.

I prepared a special dinner for my birthday.

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02

llamó a su hermana

called his sister

Uses the preterite for a completed action.

Llamó a su hermana antes de salir.

He called his sister before leaving.

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03

Le dijo que no entrara

He told her not to go in

A common structure for giving an instruction.

Le dijo que no entrara sin permiso.

He told her not to go in without permission.

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04

de una vez

right away

Common in Venezuela for doing something immediately.

Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. This phrase is common in Venezuela and sounds natural in everyday speech.

Vamos a salir de una vez.

Let's leave right away.

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05

Qué fino

How nice

An informal Venezuelan reaction to something pleasant.

Usage: Conversational; common in relaxed speech. This phrase is common in Venezuela and sounds informal.

¡Qué fino verte otra vez!

How nice to see you again!

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3 · English Translation

The full story in English

Daniel arrived home early. His mother was in the kitchen. His father was reading in the living room. Daniel wanted to make a special dinner for everyone. He also wanted to buy juice and some flowers.

He opened the fridge and saw few ingredients. He thought about going to the market, but it was raining a lot. Then he called his sister. She said, "I will buy the bread and the cheese." Daniel thanked her and waited in the living room.

Daniel took his cellphone and wrote to his mother. He told her not to go into the kitchen. His mother worried a little, because she did not understand the message. She thought that something bad was happening. Daniel saw her face and spoke calmly.

Later, his sister arrived with the bags. Daniel set the table right away. His father helped cut the fruit and put out the glasses. After that, Daniel looked for napkins and served the juice. Everyone worked together and laughed.

When everything was ready, Daniel called his mother. She saw the dinner and smiled. "How nice," she said. The family ate calmly and talked about their day. His mother understood the surprise and hugged Daniel. Everyone was happy.