Spanish course

Lesson 21 of 238

New here? This is lesson 21 of a free 238-lesson Spanish course.

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Not right now in Spanish

Amanda texts Justin from the street outside Café Laurel. She wants him now.

You'll say you can't right now, name a bit later, and say you lost track of time.

He is almost there. The walk is short. He still needs the words. Two minutes is the promise.

By the end of this lesson

Say you can't right now, and say when you can come.

  • Ahorita no puedoI can't right now
  • Al ratoLater
  • Más tardeLater on
  • Ahora mismoRight now
  • Ya casiAlmost
  • Todavía noNot yet
  • Se me hizo tardeI lost track of time
  • Llego en ___ minutosI'll be there in ___ minutes

Scene — on the street

It's afternoon on the street by Café Laurel. Amanda's text is open on Justin's phone.

She asks if he can come this minute. He is still a short walk away, and the clock already moved.

Justin on the street with Amanda's text open, still a short walk from the café.

Learn — now or later

Eight lines for now, later, and running late.

Tap play and say each line out loud before you move on.

  1. Ahorita no puedo: Justin refuses to come this minute.

    Ahorita no puedo

    I can't right now

    When to use it: Say this when someone wants you this minute.

    Ahorita here means not this minute.

    Say it: ah-oh-REE-tah noh PWEH-doh

  2. Al rato: Justin means a little later, not this minute.

    Al rato

    Later

    When to use it: Say this for a little later, not a long wait.

    Al rato is the everyday Mexican later.

    Say it: ahl RAH-toh

  3. Más tarde: Justin points much farther down the street.

    Más tarde

    Later on

    When to use it: Say this when later is enough, with no clock.

    Más has an accent because it means more.

    Say it: mahs TAR-deh

  4. Ahora mismo: the ask is this very moment.

    Ahora mismo

    Right now

    When to use it: Say this for this very moment.

    Mismo makes ahora mean this very moment.

    Say it: ah-OH-rah MEES-moh

  5. Ya casi: Justin is one step from the café door.

    Ya casi

    Almost

    When to use it: Say this when you are nearly there.

    Ya casi means it is almost time.

    Say it: yah KAH-see

  6. Todavía no: Justin has not started walking yet.

    Todavía no

    Not yet

    When to use it: Say this when it has not happened yet.

    Todavía no means not yet.

    Say it: toh-dah-BEE-ah noh

  7. Se me hizo tarde: Justin hurries, already late.

    Se me hizo tarde

    I lost track of time

    When to use it: Say this when you are late because time got away.

    This is the set line for losing track of time.

    Say it: seh meh EE-soh TAR-deh

  8. Llego en ___ minutos

    I'll be there in ___ minutes

    When to use it: Say this to name how many minutes until you arrive.

    The blank is the number of minutes.

    Say it: YEH-goh ehn mee-NOO-tohs

Story — Amanda's text

Read Amanda's text with Justin. He cannot come this minute.

Tap Play the scene, and turn on Show English if a line is new.

  1. Amanda's text asks if Justin can come now.
  2. JustinAhorita no puedo.I can't right now.
  3. Amanda¿Qué hora es?What time is it?
  4. JustinSon las diez. Se me hizo tarde.It's ten. I lost track of time.
  5. Amanda¿Ahora mismo?Right now?
  6. JustinTodavía no. Ya casi.Not yet. Almost.
  7. Amanda¿Más tarde?Later?
  8. JustinAl rato. Llego en dos minutos.In a bit. I'll be there in two minutes.

Practice — pick the time

Ten short exercises. You'll listen, sort now from later, and say when you can come.

Try again if you miss. The reason shows after the answer.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Al ratoDrop the English here
    Más tardeDrop the English here
    Ahora mismoDrop the English here
    Ya casiDrop the English here

    English

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

  3. What does it mean?

    Se me hizo tarde

  4. Fill the gap

    Not yet

    ____ no

  5. What do you say?

    You are two minutes away. Tell Amanda when you arrive.

  6. Sort them

    Now or almost

    Later

    Drag each line into its group, or tap a line and then a group.

  7. What do you say?

    You need the hour before you answer Amanda.

  8. Build the line

    I lost track of time

    Tap the words in order.

  9. What do you say?

    Ask Amanda to wait one moment.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — say you are late

You are Justin, on the street. Amanda wants you now.

Tap the microphone for your line. Tap ▶ to hear it first. The recording stays on your device.

  1. Justin (you)Say you can't right now.

    Ahorita no puedo

    I can't right now

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Ahorita no puedoI can't right now
Al ratoLater
Más tardeLater on
Ahora mismoRight now
Ya casiAlmost
Todavía noNot yet
Se me hizo tardeI lost track of time
Llego en ___ minutosI'll be there in ___ minutes
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Now, later, and running late come up every time a text asks where you are.

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