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Lesson 139 of 238

New here? This is lesson 139 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.

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I missed a dose in Spanish

A few days later, Justin returns to Esther's pharmacy counter. He has a prescription, but one dose got away from him.

This lesson helps you explain what happened, ask what to do next, and check how long to take the medicine.

You'll also ask whether it can make you sleepy and request a clear explanation of the instructions.

By the end of this lesson

Ask about a prescription, a missed dose, side effects, and medicine instructions.

  • Vengo a recoger una recetaI'm here to pick up a prescription
  • Se me pasó una dosisI missed a dose
  • ¿Qué hago si se me pasa una dosis?What if I miss a dose?
  • ¿Esto me puede dar sueño?Can this make me sleepy?
  • ¿Por cuánto tiempo debo tomarlo?How long should I take it?
  • ¿Me puedes explicar las instrucciones?Can you explain the instructions?

Scene — the pharmacy counter

A few days later, Justin is back at Esther's pharmacy counter. His prescription is ready, but he missed one dose.

He wants to know what to do, how long to take the medicine, and whether it can make him sleepy.

Justin returns to Esther's pharmacy counter with a ready prescription after missing one dose.

Learn — prescriptions and missed doses

These six lines help you handle a real pharmacy visit without guessing what the label means.

Learn them as useful chunks, then listen for how Justin combines them in one short conversation.

  1. Justin presents his prescription at the pharmacy counter while asking to collect it.

    Vengo a recoger una receta

    I'm here to pick up a prescription

    When to use it: Say this when you arrive at a pharmacy to collect medicine prescribed for you.

    Vengo means I come or I'm coming; learn the whole line as one useful piece.

    Say it: BENG-oh ah reh-koh-HER oo-nah reh-SEH-tah.

  2. Justin points worriedly to an open, empty space in a simple pill organizer to indicate that he missed a dose.

    Se me pasó una dosis

    I missed a dose

    When to use it: Use this to explain that you failed to take one scheduled dose.

    Se me pasó presents the missed dose as something that slipped past you.

    Say it: seh meh pah-SOH oo-nah DOH-sees.

  3. Justin raises one hand in a questioning gesture as he asks what to do if he misses another dose.

    ¿Qué hago si se me pasa una dosis?

    What if I miss a dose?

    When to use it: Ask this when you need instructions for missing a dose now or another time.

    ¿Qué hago? means what do I do, while si introduces the possible situation.

    Say it: keh AH-goh see seh meh PAH-sah oo-nah DOH-sees.

  4. Justin touches his cheek and makes a sleepy expression while asking whether the medicine can make him drowsy.

    ¿Esto me puede dar sueño?

    Can this make me sleepy?

    When to use it: Ask this before taking medicine when you need to know about possible sleepiness.

    Dar sueño literally gives sleep; me shows that the effect happens to you.

    Say it: EHS-toh meh PWEH-deh dahr SWEH-nyoh.

  5. Justin gestures toward a blank calendar page while asking how long he should take the medicine.

    ¿Por cuánto tiempo debo tomarlo?

    How long should I take it?

    When to use it: Ask this to find out the duration of a medicine treatment.

    Debo means I should or must; tomarlo means to take it.

    Say it: por KWAHN-toh TYEM-poh DEH-boh toh-MAR-loh.

  6. Justin holds the prescription instructions out to Esther and asks her to explain them.

    ¿Me puedes explicar las instrucciones?

    Can you explain the instructions?

    When to use it: Use this when you need someone to explain medicine directions more clearly.

    Me puedes explicar politely asks whether the person can explain something to you.

    Say it: meh PWEH-dess ehk-splee-KAR lahs een-strook-SYOH-ness.

Story — a question about medicine

Watch Justin pick up his prescription and explain the missed dose. Esther answers each question clearly at the counter.

The highlighted lines are new today. Turn on Show English if you want extra support.

  1. A few days later, Justin returns to Esther's pharmacy counter in the morning.
  2. JustinBuenos días, Esther.Good morning, Esther.
  3. EstherHola, Justin. ¿En qué te ayudo?Hi, Justin. How can I help you?
  4. JustinGracias. Vengo a recoger una receta.Thank you. I'm here to pick up a prescription.
  5. EstherAquí está. ¿Todo bien?Here it is. Everything okay?
  6. JustinSe me pasó una dosis.I missed a dose.
  7. Justin¿Qué hago si se me pasa una dosis?What if I miss a dose?
  8. EstherTómala cuando te acuerdes, pero no tomes dos juntas.Take it when you remember, but don't take two together.
  9. Justin¿Esto me puede dar sueño?Can this make me sleepy?
  10. EstherSí, a algunas personas les da sueño.Yes, it makes some people sleepy.
  11. Justin¿Por cuánto tiempo debo tomarlo?How long should I take it?
  12. EstherPor siete días. Guárdalo en un lugar fresco y seco.For seven days. Store it in a cool, dry place.
  13. Justin¿Me puedes explicar las instrucciones?Can you explain the instructions?
  14. EstherClaro: una cada ocho horas, con comida.Sure: one every eight hours, with food.

Practice — follow the instructions

You'll hear, match, choose, fill gaps, and build pharmacy questions.

Read the English carefully: each situation gives you enough information to choose one natural answer.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Vengo a recoger una recetaDrop the English here
    ¿Qué hago si se me pasa una dosis?Drop the English here
    ¿Me puedes explicar las instrucciones?Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    You arrive at the pharmacy to collect medicine your doctor prescribed.

  4. Fill the gap

    What if I miss a dose?

    ¿Qué hago si ____ me pasa una dosis?

  5. What do you say?

    You need to ask the pharmacist what to do if you miss a dose.

  6. What does it mean?

    Buenos días.

  7. What do you say?

    You want to know whether the medicine can cause sleepiness.

  8. What does it mean?

    Gracias

  9. What do you say?

    The pharmacist gave you medicine, and you need to know the length of the treatment.

  10. Build the line

    Can you explain the instructions?

    ¿ ?

    Tap the words in order.

  11. Build the line

    I don't understand

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — ask the pharmacist

Now you're Justin at Esther's counter. Ask about the missed dose, possible sleepiness, and the treatment length.

Tap ▶ to hear each model line, then tap the microphone on your turns. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. EstherHola, Justin. ¿Qué necesitas?Hi, Justin. What do you need?
  2. Justin (you)Say that you're here to pick up a prescription.

    Vengo a recoger una receta

    I'm here to pick up a prescription

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Vengo a recoger una recetaI'm here to pick up a prescription
Se me pasó una dosisI missed a dose
¿Qué hago si se me pasa una dosis?What if I miss a dose?
¿Esto me puede dar sueño?Can this make me sleepy?
¿Por cuánto tiempo debo tomarlo?How long should I take it?
¿Me puedes explicar las instrucciones?Can you explain the instructions?
Next: lesson 140I'd like an appointment

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to review these pharmacy questions away from the lesson? Try the Yak Cards for this lesson.

Keep the cards nearby so you can practice asking about medicine clearly and calmly.

Open Yak Cards