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Lesson 158 of 238

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The short version in Spanish

Someone asks you a big question and you only have a minute. Spanish has tidy openers for that: the short answer, the simple version, put another way.

In this lesson you'll learn six of them, plus the one everybody needs: the problem is. Michael explains tipping at Café Laurel, and Justin tries to keep up.

By the end you'll shrink any long explanation down to one sentence.

By the end of this lesson

Give the short answer, the basic rule, or say it another way.

  • La respuesta corta es ___The short answer is ___
  • La versión simple es ___The simple version is ___
  • Dicho de otra forma, ___Put another way, ___
  • La regla básica es ___The basic rule is ___
  • En este caso, ___In this case, ___
  • El problema es que ___The problem is ___

Scene — one big question

Café Laurel, mid-afternoon. The lunch rush is over, so Michael finally sits down at Justin and Yako's table.

Justin has been here a month and still isn't sure how tipping works, so he asks the big question.

Michael finally sits down at Justin and Yako's table in a quiet café after the lunch rush.

Learn — the short answer

These six openers all follow the same shape: a short phrase, then your point.

Some end in es, some end in a comma. Listen for that difference and you'll pick them up fast.

  1. Michael holds up one finger and gives the short answer while Justin listens.

    La respuesta corta es ___

    The short answer is ___

    When to use it: Say this before giving the one-sentence version of a long answer.

    Respuesta is feminine, so it takes la, not el.

    Say it: The double rr in respuesta is a strong trill — the tongue taps several times quickly.

  2. Michael simplifies his explanation with a small cup gesture.

    La versión simple es ___

    The simple version is ___

    When to use it: Say this when someone asks for a version that's easier to remember.

    Versión keeps its accent so the stress stays on the last syllable: ver-SIÓN.

  3. Michael rephrases his point, waving a hand as if rearranging the words.

    Dicho de otra forma, ___

    Put another way, ___

    When to use it: Say this right before you rephrase something the listener didn't get.

    Dicho comes from decir; think of it as having said.

    Say it: DEE-choh deh OH-trah FOHR-mah.

  4. Michael lays down the basic rule with a firm, decisive hand on the table.

    La regla básica es ___

    The basic rule is ___

    When to use it: Say this when you give the one rule that covers most cases.

    Regla is feminine: la regla, las reglas.

  5. Michael points to the pastry plate as a concrete example of the case in question.

    En este caso, ___

    In this case, ___

    When to use it: Say this when your answer applies to this situation but not all of them.

    Caso here is masculine: en este caso.

    Say it: EHS-teh KAH-soh.

  6. Michael raises the remaining problem with a concerned half-smile.

    El problema es que ___

    The problem is ___

    When to use it: Say this to introduce the one thing that's going wrong.

    Problema is masculine despite ending in a, so el problema.

Story — how tipping works

Michael finally has a free minute, and Justin has been saving up his questions.

Watch how each opener works: the short answer, the simple version, the basic rule. Two old lines, Por ejemplo and Por eso, come back too.

  1. Michael sits down with a coffee of his own, a rare sight.
  2. JustinMichael, ¿cómo funciona la propina aquí?Michael, how does tipping work here?
  3. MichaelBuena pregunta. La regla básica es dejar el diez por ciento.Good question. The basic rule is to leave ten percent.
  4. Justin¿Y si el servicio fue malo?And if the service was bad?
  5. MichaelEn este caso, puedes dejar menos, pero casi nadie lo hace.In this case, you can leave less, but almost nobody does.
  6. YakoYo siempre dejo propina grande.I always leave a big tip.
  7. Michael¿Por qué, Yako?Why, Yako?
  8. YakoEl problema es que me cae bien todo el mundo aquí.The problem is I like everyone here.
  9. Michael laughs; Yako gestures at the whole café.
  10. JustinEs mucha información, Michael. ¿Tienes algo más corto?That's a lot of information, Michael. Do you have something shorter?
  11. MichaelClaro. La respuesta corta es dejar diez por ciento, siempre.Sure. The short answer is to leave ten percent, always.
  12. Justin¿Y para saludar a la gente? También se me complica.And for greeting people? That's complicated for me too.
  13. MichaelLa versión simple es decir buenas tardes y seguir.The simple version is to say good afternoon and move on.
  14. Justin¿Y cuando no entiendo algo? ¿Puedo... preguntar algo?And when I don't understand something? Can I... ask something?
  15. MichaelDicho de otra forma, preguntar nunca está de más.Put another way, asking is never too much.
  16. JustinPor ejemplo, ¿puedo preguntarte la propina otra vez?For example, can I ask you about the tip again?
  17. MichaelSí, y por eso te la repito con calma: diez por ciento.Yes, and that's why I'm repeating it calmly: ten percent.
  18. YakoLa regla básica es que Yako nunca paga.The basic rule is that Yako never pays.
  19. MichaelEsa regla no existe, Yako.That rule doesn't exist, Yako.
  20. YakoEl problema es que me lo dicen todos los días.The problem is they tell me that every day.

Practice — say it simply

Ten quick exercises: listen, match, fill, build, and put a chat in order.

Two old friends from earlier lessons, Por eso and Por ejemplo, show up here too. Give them a warm welcome.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    La respuesta corta es ___Drop the English here
    Dicho de otra forma, ___Drop the English here
    El problema es que ___Drop the English here

    English

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

  3. What do you say?

    Yako didn't understand your long explanation. You want to say the same thing in different words.

  4. Fill the gap

    The basic rule is ___

    La regla ____ es ___

  5. What did you hear?

  6. What did you hear?

  7. Put the chat in order

    1. JustinWhat comes first?
    2. Michael…
    3. Justin…

    Tap the line that comes next, or drag it into the chat.

  8. What does it mean?

    Por eso ___

  9. What do you say?

    You want to give one concrete example to illustrate what you just said.

  10. Pick the reply

    Michael says:

    ¿Me puedes explicar las propinas en una sola frase?

    Can you explain tipping to me in one sentence?

    And you reply with:

Say it — your turn to explain

Now you're Justin, and Michael wants to check that you really got it.

When it's your turn, tap the microphone and use the line you learned. Tap ▶ to hear the model first. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. MichaelA ver, Justin. ¿Cómo me explicas la propina en una frase?Let's see, Justin. How do you explain the tip to me in one sentence?
  2. Justin (you)Give him the short answer: leave ten percent.

    La respuesta corta es ___

    The short answer is ___

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
La respuesta corta es ___The short answer is ___
La versión simple es ___The simple version is ___
Dicho de otra forma, ___Put another way, ___
La regla básica es ___The basic rule is ___
En este caso, ___In this case, ___
El problema es que ___The problem is ___
Next: lesson 159By the way

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Keep practicing with Yak Cards

Want to keep these explanation openers handy? Grab the Yak Cards for this lesson and review them anywhere.

A quick round with the Yak Cards each day keeps la respuesta corta on the tip of your tongue.

Open Yak Cards