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Lesson 8 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 8 of 238

Yes, I can in Spanish

Justin is still at the table, and the questions keep coming from Yako and Michael: can you, is it, is there?

By the end, you'll answer all three kinds of question with a short yes or no.

That's six little answers you'll use all the time. And Yako is about to find an empty sugar bowl.

By the end of this lesson

Answer yes or no to can, is, and is there.

  • Sí, puedoYes, I can
  • No, no puedoNo, I can't
  • Sí, lo esYes, it is
  • No, no lo esNo, it isn't
  • Sí, hayYes, there is
  • No, no hayNo, there isn't

Scene — two sugar bowls

Same table at Café Laurel, one minute later. Yako's coffee needs sugar, and Michael is on his way over with a very full tray.

There are two sugar bowls on the table, and only one of them has any sugar in it.

Michael asks the next questions at the Café Laurel table, with a full sugar bowl and an empty bowl between them.

Learn — can, is, there is

Six short answers teach one tidy pattern: say sí or no first, then repeat the little word that follows.

You'll cover can, is, and is there in one go.

  1. Sí, puedo: Justin slides the sugar bowl across the table to Yako and nods.

    Sí, puedo

    Yes, I can

    When to use it: Say this when you can do the thing asked.

    Puedo means I can.

    Say it: PWEH-doh

  2. No, no puedo: Justin cannot lift the heavy tray and shakes his head.

    No, no puedo

    No, I can't

    When to use it: Say this when you can't do the thing asked.

    The first no answers the question. The second goes before puedo.

  3. Sí, lo es: Justin points at the dark coffee cup and nods that it is coffee.

    Sí, lo es

    Yes, it is

    When to use it: Say this to agree that something is what someone asked about.

    Lo es means it is.

    Say it: loh EHS

  4. No, no lo es: Justin points at a pale teacup and shakes his head, it isn't coffee.

    No, no lo es

    No, it isn't

    When to use it: Say this when something isn't that thing.

    The first no answers. The second goes before lo es.

  5. Sí, hay: Justin nods at a bowl that is full of sugar.

    Sí, hay

    Yes, there is

    When to use it: Say this when there is some of it.

    Hay means there is or there are.

    Say it: It sounds like the English word eye.

  6. No, no hay: Yako looks into an empty bowl and shows there is none.

    No, no hay

    No, there isn't

    When to use it: Say this when there isn't any of it.

    Hay never changes, for one thing or for many.

Story — one empty bowl

Watch how Justin answers each question with its own short yes or no. The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

Yako gets some bad news at the end. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Yako's coffee needs sugar, but the bowl is on Justin's side.
  2. Yako¿Puedes pasar el azúcar?Can you pass the sugar?
  3. JustinSí, puedo.Yes, I can.
  4. Michael arrives with a tray stacked high with cups.
  5. Michael¿Puedes con la bandeja?Can you take the tray?
  6. JustinNo, no puedo.No, I can't.
  7. Yako points at Justin's dark cup, then at a pale one.
  8. Yako¿Es café?Is it coffee?
  9. JustinSí, lo es.Yes, it is.
  10. Yako¿Es té?Is it tea?
  11. JustinNo, no lo es.No, it isn't.
  12. Michael¿Hay azúcar?Is there sugar?
  13. JustinSí, hay.Yes, there is.
  14. Yako checks the second bowl, the one on his side.
  15. YakoNo, no hay.No, there isn't.

Practice — yes or no

Eleven quick exercises are waiting for you here. You'll listen, pick, match, and build your yes-or-no answers.

They're short, so the whole round goes fast.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Sí, puedoDrop the English here
    No, no puedoDrop the English here
    Sí, lo esDrop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Yako asks you to pass the sugar. The bowl is right next to your hand.

  4. Find the mistake

  5. What do you say?

    Michael asks if there's sugar. The bowl is full.

  6. What does it mean?

    Hola.

  7. What do you say?

    Michael points at your cup and asks if it's tea. It's coffee.

  8. Which one doesn’t belong?

  9. What do you say?

    Michael asks if you want coffee. A plain yes is enough.

  10. Build the line

    No, there isn't

    ,

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — answer in order

Now you're Justin, and Yako and Michael ask the questions. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and answer.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. Yako¿Puedes pasar el azúcar?Can you pass the sugar?
  2. Justin (you)Say you can.

    Sí, puedo

    Yes, I can

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Sí, puedoYes, I can
No, no puedoNo, I can't
Sí, lo esYes, it is
No, no lo esNo, it isn't
Sí, hayYes, there is
No, no hayNo, there isn't
Next: lesson 9Please, thanks, and sorry

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these yes-or-no answers handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps your sí and no answers sharp.

Open Yak Cards