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Lesson 232 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 232 of 238

The catch in Spanish

Justin has a serious choice in front of him: take a job elsewhere or stay in El Laurel. Amanda helps him put the decision into words.

You’ll name what you gain, what you lose, the risk, and the catch without pretending the answer is settled.

By the end, you’ll be able to say which way you’re leaning while keeping the decision open.

By the end of this lesson

Explain what you gain and lose, name the risk and catch, state your leaning, and keep the decision open.

  • Lo que gano es ___What I gain is ___
  • Lo que pierdo es ___What I lose is ___
  • El riesgo es ___The risk is ___
  • Me inclino por ___I'm leaning toward ___
  • El detalle es ___The catch is ___
  • Todavía no firmo nadaI'm not signing anything yet

Scene — the real choice

Late afternoon in Amanda’s apartment above Café Laurel. Justin has told her about a possible job in another part of the city, but nothing has been signed.

A notebook lies open between them; Yako’s empty tin is locked safely away downstairs.

Justin and Amanda sit together in Amanda’s apartment above Café Laurel, thoughtfully discussing a possible job elsewhere while an open notebook rests between them.

Learn — weighing the decision

These six chunks let you weigh a real decision out loud instead of reducing it to a quick yes or no.

Notice how each one frames a different part of the balance.

  1. Justin points to promising possibilities beyond El Laurel while Amanda studies him attentively.

    Lo que gano es ___

    What I gain is ___

    When to use it: Use this to name the concrete benefit you would get from a choice.

    Gano can mean I gain or I earn; the surrounding context tells you which meaning is intended here.

    Say it: Gano sounds like GAH-noh.

  2. Amanda gestures gently toward the familiar apartment and café below, considering what Justin could lose.

    Lo que pierdo es ___

    What I lose is ___

    When to use it: Use this to state what you would give up by choosing one option.

    Pierdo is a direct, personal way to name a cost, whether it is time, stability, or closeness.

    Say it: Pierdo sounds like PYEHR-doh, with the stress on the first syllable.

  3. Justin weighs the uncertain consequences of the possible job while Amanda watches his cautious gesture.

    El riesgo es ___

    The risk is ___

    When to use it: Use this to identify a possible negative outcome that is not certain.

    Riesgo refers to a possibility, not a prediction; it keeps your assessment measured rather than dramatic.

    Say it: Riesgo sounds like RYEHS-goh.

  4. Justin leans toward the city view with a thoughtful half-raised hand, showing that he is leaning toward one option but remains undecided.

    Me inclino por ___

    I'm leaning toward ___

    When to use it: Use this when one option currently seems more attractive, without presenting it as final.

    This signals a current preference, so it leaves room for more information or a change of mind.

    Say it: Inclino has stress on the second syllable: een-KLEE-noh.

  5. Justin raises one cautionary finger as Amanda looks closely at the difficult hidden condition behind the choice.

    El detalle es ___

    The catch is ___

    When to use it: Use this to introduce a less obvious condition that complicates an attractive option.

    In Mexico, el detalle es often softens a concern: it points out the catch without making the whole idea sound impossible.

    Say it: Detalle sounds like deh-TAH-yeh, with a soft y sound.

  6. Justin keeps his pen lifted above the open blank notebook without making a mark, while Amanda accepts that he is not ready to commit.

    Todavía no firmo nada

    I'm not signing anything yet

    When to use it: Use this to make clear that you are still considering the decision and have made no commitment.

    Todavía no means not yet; firmo nada emphasizes that no agreement has been signed.

    Say it: Firmo sounds like FEER-moh, with a tapped Spanish r.

Story — nothing is signed

Amanda helps Justin examine the choice without pushing him toward a conclusion. Listen for each highlighted chunk as it fits one part of the balance.

The conversation stays open: Justin is leaning, but he has not signed anything.

  1. Amanda closes the window against the evening noise and turns the notebook toward Justin.
  2. AmandaEntonces, ¿qué ganarías con ese trabajo?So, what would you gain from that job?
  3. JustinLo que gano es un sueldo mejor y experiencia nueva.What I gain is a better salary and new experience.
  4. Amanda¿Y qué perderías si te fueras?And what would you lose if you left?
  5. JustinLo que pierdo es la vida diaria de El Laurel y verlos tan seguido.What I lose is daily life in El Laurel and seeing you all so often.
  6. AmandaEl riesgo es que el puesto no sea como lo imaginas.The risk is that the position isn't what you imagine.
  7. JustinSí, y el detalle es que tendría que mudarme antes de conocer bien al equipo.Yes, and the catch is that I would have to move before really getting to know the team.
  8. AmandaCon todo eso, ¿hacia dónde te estás inclinando?With all that, which way are you leaning?
  9. JustinMe inclino por aceptar la entrevista, no por mudarme todavía.I'm leaning toward accepting the interview, not moving yet.
  10. AmandaEso suena prudente. No te precipites.That sounds sensible. Don't rush it.
  11. JustinTodavía no firmo nada; primero quiero hacer preguntas difíciles.I'm not signing anything yet; first I want to ask difficult questions.
  12. Yako¿Y el café también entra en la balanza?And does coffee belong in the balance too?
  13. AmandaPara Yako, siempre entra el café.For Yako, coffee always belongs in it.
  14. JustinEse factor sí pesa bastante.That factor does weigh quite a lot.

Practice — balance both sides

Practice the lines as connected tools for careful discussion. You’ll identify meanings, complete chunks, and respond to a realistic conversation.

The final items ask you to hold several details in mind at once.

0 of 9 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Lo que gano es ___Drop the English here
    Lo que pierdo es ___Drop the English here
    ¿Qué opinas de ___?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 explain that the new job would bring better pay and useful experience.

  4. Fill the gap

    The catch is ___

    El ____ es ___

  5. Pick the reply

    Amanda says:

    ¿Hacia dónde te estás inclinando?

    Which way are you leaning?

    And you reply with:

  6. What does it mean?

    No te precipites

  7. What do you say?

    You want to make clear that no agreement has been signed and you are still considering the offer.

  8. True or false?

    This line presents a current preference, not a final commitment.

  9. Build the line

    I'm not signing anything yet

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — talk it through

Now take Justin’s part in a careful conversation with Amanda. Say each highlighted line as you weigh the offer, and don’t force a conclusion.

Tap ▶ to hear a model first if you need it. Tap the microphone to record; your recording stays on your device.

  1. AmandaCuéntame qué te ofrece el puesto.Tell me what the position offers you.
  2. Justin (you)Name what you gain from the position.

    Lo que gano es ___

    What I gain is ___

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Lo que gano es ___What I gain is ___
Lo que pierdo es ___What I lose is ___
El riesgo es ___The risk is ___
Me inclino por ___I'm leaning toward ___
El detalle es ___The catch is ___
Todavía no firmo nadaI'm not signing anything yet
Next: lesson 233I changed my mind

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these decision-making chunks handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick Yak Cards review helps you explain both sides before you choose.

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