Por eso ___.
That's why ___ .
No estudié para el examen. Por eso suspendí.
I didn't study for the exam. That's why I failed.
Llueve desde ayer. Por eso la cancha está mojada.
It's been raining since yesterday. That's why the field is wet.
Spanish - Simple Explanations
Lesson 45 of 159
Goal: Say it clearly: results, reasons, and simple comparisons
Free Spanish lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.
Welcome to Lesson 45 — time to make your explanations clearer in Spanish. We'll practice short phrases you can use to explain results, give reasons, compare things, and restate ideas.
Level B1: In this lesson you'll learn and practice 12 everyday explanation phrases (Por eso, El problema es que, Es parecido a, etc.). We'll listen to the phrases, hear them in a short conversation, and then practice with quizzes and speaking prompts. This CEFR-aligned lesson helps you explain causes, contrasts, and simple summaries naturally.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
- Use common phrases to give a short answer or explain a result.
- Compare and contrast ideas using simple frames like Es parecido a / La diferencia es ___.
- Restate or simplify information with phrases such as Dicho de otra forma and La versión simple es ___.
- Level B1: Build confidence speaking brief explanations aloud.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
El problema es que ___.
The problem is that ___ .
Quiero ayudar. El problema es que no tengo tiempo.
I want to help. The problem is that I don't have time.
Me gusta la idea. El problema es que cuesta demasiado.
I like the idea. The problem is that it costs too much.
Es parecido a ___.
It's similar to ___ .
Este plato es parecido a la paella.
This dish is similar to paella.
El nuevo software es parecido a la versión anterior.
The new software is similar to the previous version.
La diferencia es ___.
The difference is ___ .
Ambos son libros buenos. La diferencia es el estilo.
Both are good books. The difference is the style.
La camisa parece igual, pero la diferencia es el tejido.
The shirt looks the same, but the difference is the fabric.
Hay dos razones: ___ y ___.
There are two reasons: ___ and ___ .
No puedo venir. Hay dos razones: trabajo y tráfico.
I can't come. There are two reasons: work and traffic.
Me mudé. Hay dos razones: el trabajo y la familia.
I moved. There are two reasons: job and family.
Dicho de otra forma, ___.
To put it another way, ___.
El proyecto es caro. Dicho de otra forma, necesitamos más presupuesto.
The project is expensive. In other words, we need more budget.
No entendí el informe. Dicho de otra forma, ¿puedes resumirlo?
I didn't understand the report. To put it another way, can you summarize it?
La forma más fácil de explicarlo es ___.
The easiest way to explain it is ___.
La forma más fácil de explicarlo es con un dibujo.
The easiest way to explain it is with a drawing.
Si estás cansado, la forma más fácil de explicarlo es descansar.
If you're tired, the easiest way to explain it is to rest.
Esto significa que ___.
This means that ___.
Llegó tarde otra vez. Esto significa que perdimos el tren.
He arrived late again. This means that we missed the train.
Aprobó el examen. Esto significa que está preparado.
He passed the exam. This means that he is prepared.
En este caso, ___.
In this case, ___.
En este caso, debemos esperar.
In this case, we should wait.
En este caso, la mejor opción es cancelar.
In this case, the best option is to cancel.
La respuesta corta es ___.
The short answer is ___.
¿Vendrás mañana? La respuesta corta es no.
Will you come tomorrow? The short answer is no.
¿Funciona? La respuesta corta es sí.
Does it work? The short answer is yes.
La regla básica es ___.
The basic rule is ___.
Para este juego, la regla básica es no tocar la pelota con la mano.
For this game, the basic rule is don't touch the ball with your hand.
En gramática, la regla básica es concordar sujeto y verbo.
In grammar, the basic rule is to match subject and verb.
La versión simple es ___.
The simple version is ___ .
La versión simple es que necesitas 8 horas de sueño.
The simple version is that you need 8 hours of sleep.
No quiero entrar en detalles. La versión simple es ahorrar más.
I don't want to go into details. The simple version is to save more.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Deciding about a meeting
What do Anna and David decide about the meeting?
Anna
¿Qué hacemos con la reunión de mañana?
What do we do about tomorrow's meeting?
David
La respuesta corta es que no hay presupuesto.
The short answer is that there is no budget.
Anna
¿Por eso la cancelamos?
Is that why we cancel it?
David
En este caso, sí. Hay dos razones: presupuesto y falta de tiempo.
In this case, yes. There are two reasons: budget and lack of time.
Anna
Dicho de otra forma, la posponemos.
In other words, we postpone it.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which phrase is best to give a very short, direct answer before details?
Which phrase introduces two concise reasons?
You want to say an unfamiliar idea is like something familiar. Which phrase do you use?
Which phrase would you use to restate or summarize an idea in different words?
I don't have money and I don't have time. That's why I can't help.
No tengo dinero y no tengo tiempo. ___ no puedo ayudar.
Why didn't you come? There are two reasons: traffic and work.
¿Por qué no viniste? ___ tráfico y trabajo.
How do I explain it? The easiest way to explain it is with a drawing.
¿Cómo lo explico? ___ con un dibujo.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
Say this phrase out loud:
Por eso ___.
That's why ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
El problema es que ___.
The problem is that ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Es parecido a ___.
It's similar to ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
La diferencia es ___.
The difference is ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Hay dos razones: ___ y ___.
There are two reasons: ___ and ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Dicho de otra forma, ___.
To put it another way, ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
La forma más fácil de explicarlo es ___.
The easiest way to explain it is ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Esto significa que ___.
This means that ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
En este caso, ___.
In this case, ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
La respuesta corta es ___.
The short answer is ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
La regla básica es ___.
The basic rule is ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
La versión simple es ___.
The simple version is ___.