Lesson 1 — Learn and Retrieve: Make a Polite Request Learn one item at a time. After each new item, use it immediately before moving forward.
New Pattern · 1 of 8
¿puede…? Meaning: can / could you…?
Use this polite request frame before a learned base action. In this module, keep puede inside this request function.
Pronounced: PWEH-deh
Pronunciation: The ue sounds like “weh.” Keep the final e clear.
Hear
Reference: No extra reference is needed for this item. Use only the meaning shown here.
Practice 1 of 44
Not completed Ask: “Can you speak?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-BLAR
Hint: Begin with the polite request frame, then add the learned action for “to speak.”
Pattern Reminder: Polite request: ¿Puede + learned action?
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede hablar?
English translation Can you speak?
New Expression · 2 of 8
por favor Meaning: please
Use this complete courtesy expression with a request. Keep it together as one expression.
Pronounced: pohr fah-VOR
Pronunciation: Stress the final syllable of favor.
Hear
Reference: No extra reference is needed for this item. Use only the meaning shown here.
Practice 2 of 44
Not completed Ask politely: “Can you speak, please?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-BLAR, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Keep the request together, then add the courtesy expression you just learned.
Pattern Reminder: Polite request + courtesy: ¿Puede + action?, por favor.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede hablar, por favor?
English translation Can you speak, please?
New Expression · 3 of 8
gracias Meaning: thank you / thanks
Use this complete courtesy response after someone helps or responds.
Pronounced: GRAH-syahs
Pronunciation: In Mexican Spanish, c before i sounds like s.
Hear
Reference: No extra reference is needed for this item. Use only the meaning shown here.
Practice 3 of 44
Not completed Say: “Thank you.”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: GRAH-syahs
Hint: Use the complete courtesy expression you just learned.
Pattern Reminder: Courtesy responses can stand alone when the situation is clear.
Verb Tense Options: No verb is needed in this response.
English translation Thank you.
New Word · 4 of 8
repetir Meaning: to repeat
Use repetir after the polite request frame when you need something said again.
Pronounced: reh-peh-TEER
Pronunciation: Stress the final syllable.
Hear
Reference: No extra reference is needed for this item. Use only the meaning shown here.
Practice 4 of 44
Not completed Ask: “Can you repeat?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER
Hint: Use the request frame, then the new action meaning “to repeat.”
Pattern Reminder: Polite request: ¿Puede + learned action?
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede repetir?
English translation Can you repeat?
Practice 5 of 44
Not completed Ask politely: “Can you repeat, please?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Use the complete request, then add the courtesy expression.
Pattern Reminder: Polite request + courtesy: ¿Puede + action?, por favor.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
English translation Can you repeat, please?
Practice 6 of 44
Not completed The person repeats for you. Respond with “Thank you.”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: GRAH-syahs
Hint: Use the short courtesy response you already learned.
Pattern Reminder: A short courtesy response may be enough after someone helps.
Verb Tense Options: No verb is needed in this response.
English translation Thank you.
New Word · 5 of 8
ayudar Meaning: to help
Use ayudar after the polite request frame when you need help. It may stand without an object when the situation is clear.
Pronounced: ah-yoo-DAR
Pronunciation: The y sounds like a consonant y. Stress DAR.
Hear
Reference: No extra reference is needed for this item. Use only the meaning shown here.
Practice 7 of 44
Not completed Ask: “Can you help?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR
Hint: Use the request frame, then the new action meaning “to help.”
Pattern Reminder: Polite request: ¿Puede + learned action?
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede ayudar?
English translation Can you help?
Practice 8 of 44
Not completed Ask politely: “Can you help, please?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Add the courtesy expression after the help request.
Pattern Reminder: Polite request + courtesy: ¿Puede + action?, por favor.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede ayudar, por favor?
English translation Can you help, please?
New Word · 6 of 8
esperar Meaning: to wait
Use esperar after the polite request frame when you need a brief wait.
Pronounced: ehs-peh-RAR
Pronunciation: Stress the final syllable.
Hear
Reference: No extra reference is needed for this item. Use only the meaning shown here.
Practice 9 of 44
Not completed Ask: “Can you wait?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ehs-peh-RAR
Hint: Use the request frame with the new action meaning “to wait.”
Pattern Reminder: Polite request: ¿Puede + learned action?
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede esperar?
English translation Can you wait?
Practice 10 of 44
Not completed Ask politely: “Can you wait, please?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ehs-peh-RAR, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Add the courtesy expression to the wait request.
Pattern Reminder: Polite request + courtesy: ¿Puede + action?, por favor.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede esperar, por favor?
English translation Can you wait, please?
New Word · 7 of 8
despacio Meaning: slowly
In this module, use despacio for speaking slowly. You will combine it with más next.
Pronounced: dehs-PAH-syoh
Pronunciation: In Mexican Spanish, c before i sounds like s.
Hear
Reference: No extra reference is needed for this item. Use only the meaning shown here.
Practice 11 of 44
Not completed Type the Spanish word for “slowly.”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: dehs-PAH-syoh
Hint: Recall the new word that describes a slower way of speaking.
Pattern Reminder: This word describes how an action is done.
Verb Tense Options: No verb form changes in this one-word practice.
English translation Slowly.
New Word · 8 of 8
más Meaning: more
Use más before despacio to build “more slowly.”
Pronounced: mahs
Pronunciation: The written accent marks this word meaning “more.”
Hear
Reference: No extra reference is needed for this item. Use only the meaning shown here.
Practice 12 of 44
Not completed Type the Spanish word for “more.”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: mahs
Hint: Recall the short word with the written accent.
Pattern Reminder: Use this word before despacio to mean “more slowly.”
Verb Tense Options: No verb is needed in this one-word practice.
Practice 13 of 44
Not completed Build the phrase “more slowly.”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: mahs dehs-PAH-syoh
Hint: Put the word for “more” before the word for “slowly.”
Pattern Reminder: Order: más + despacio.
Verb Tense Options: No verb is needed in this short phrase.
Spanish answer Más despacio.
English translation More slowly.
Practice 14 of 44
Not completed Ask: “Can you speak more slowly?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-BLAR mahs dehs-PAH-syoh
Hint: Start with the request frame and hablar, then add the two-word slower-speech phrase.
Pattern Reminder: Request + action + manner: ¿Puede + hablar + más despacio?
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede hablar más despacio?
English translation Can you speak more slowly?
Practice 15 of 44
Not completed Ask politely: “Can you speak more slowly, please?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-BLAR mahs dehs-PAH-syoh, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Build the slower-speech request first, then add the courtesy expression.
Pattern Reminder: Request + manner + courtesy: ¿Puede + action + más despacio?, por favor.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
English translation Can you speak more slowly, please?
Practice 16 of 44
Not completed You missed what was said. Ask for repetition politely.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Choose the action for repeating, not helping or waiting.
Pattern Reminder: Choose the request action that matches the situation.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
English translation Can you repeat, please?
Practice 17 of 44
Not completed You need assistance. Ask for help.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR
Hint: Choose the learned action meaning “to help.”
Pattern Reminder: Choose the request action that matches the situation.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede ayudar?
English translation Can you help?
Practice 18 of 44
Not completed You need a brief wait. Ask politely.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ehs-peh-RAR, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Choose the learned action meaning “to wait,” then add courtesy.
Pattern Reminder: Choose the request action that matches the situation.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede esperar, por favor?
English translation Can you wait, please?
Lesson 2 — Build and Connect: Match the Request to the Situation Now choose the request that fits the real problem. Support becomes lighter as the situations change.
Practice 19 of 44
Not completed Someone is speaking too quickly. Ask them to speak more slowly, please.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-BLAR mahs dehs-PAH-syoh, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Match the request to the problem: the speed of speaking.
Pattern Reminder: Use the learned request frame with the action and manner that fit the situation.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
English translation Can you speak more slowly, please?
Practice 20 of 44
Not completed You did not hear the answer. Ask the person to repeat.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER
Hint: Use the repeat action in the request frame.
Pattern Reminder: Use the learned request frame with the action that fits the situation.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede repetir?
English translation Can you repeat?
Practice 21 of 44
Not completed You need assistance. Ask politely for help.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Use the help action and add the courtesy expression.
Pattern Reminder: Use the learned request frame with the action that fits the situation.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede ayudar, por favor?
English translation Can you help, please?
Practice 22 of 44
Not completed You need the person to wait before continuing. Ask politely.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ehs-peh-RAR, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Use the wait action and add the courtesy expression.
Pattern Reminder: Use the learned request frame with the action that fits the situation.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede esperar, por favor?
English translation Can you wait, please?
Practice 23 of 44
Not completed Ask for repetition politely, then thank the person.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER, pohr fah-VOR. GRAH-syahs
Hint: Make the request first. Then add the short courtesy response.
Pattern Reminder: Request first; gratitude can follow as a separate short response.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede repetir, por favor? Gracias.
English translation Can you repeat, please? Thank you.
Practice 24 of 44
Not completed Ask for help politely, then thank the person.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR, pohr fah-VOR. GRAH-syahs
Hint: Make the help request first. Then add thanks.
Pattern Reminder: Request first; gratitude can follow as a separate short response.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede ayudar, por favor? Gracias.
English translation Can you help, please? Thank you.
Practice 25 of 44
Not completed Ask for slower speech politely, then thank the person.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-BLAR mahs dehs-PAH-syoh, pohr fah-VOR. GRAH-syahs
Hint: Build the slower-speech request, add courtesy, then thank the person.
Pattern Reminder: Build one clear request, then a separate courtesy response.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? Gracias.
English translation Can you speak more slowly, please? Thank you.
Practice 26 of 44
Not completed Ask the person to wait politely, then thank them.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ehs-peh-RAR, pohr fah-VOR. GRAH-syahs
Hint: Use esperar in the request, then add thanks.
Pattern Reminder: Build one clear request, then a separate courtesy response.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede esperar, por favor? Gracias.
English translation Can you wait, please? Thank you.
Practice 27 of 44
Not completed First ask the person to repeat. Then ask them to speak more slowly.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER. PWEH-deh ah-BLAR mahs dehs-PAH-syoh
Hint: Make two short requests. Each one begins with the same polite request frame.
Pattern Reminder: Repeat the same request frame with a different action or detail.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede repetir? ¿Puede hablar más despacio?
English translation Can you repeat? Can you speak more slowly?
Practice 28 of 44
Not completed First ask for help. Then ask the person to wait.
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR. PWEH-deh ehs-peh-RAR
Hint: Use two learned actions in two separate requests.
Pattern Reminder: Repeat the same request frame with a different action.
Verb Tense Options: For this request, use only the form shown in this lesson. Other verb forms come later.
Spanish answer ¿Puede ayudar? ¿Puede esperar?
English translation Can you help? Can you wait?
Lesson 3 — Compare Spanish and English: Polite Requests What You Will Learn
English usually says “you.” Spanish does not need it in this request frame. Spanish example ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
English translation Can you repeat, please?
Spanish English ¿Puede + repetir?Can/Could + you + repeat?¿Puede + ayudar?Can/Could + you + help?
In the polite request pattern used here, Spanish begins with puede and then the base action. English normally includes the word you . You do not need to add another Spanish word for “you” in this pattern.
Easy learning rule: For the requests in this module, think: ¿Puede + action?
Practice 29 of 44
Not completed Translate into English: “¿Puede repetir, por favor?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Give the natural English request, not a word-for-word grammar explanation.
Pattern Reminder: Spanish uses puede + the action in this polite request. English normally says can/could + you + action.
Verb Tense Options: This lesson keeps puede inside this one polite request function.
Spanish answer ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
English translation Can you repeat, please?
Practice 30 of 44
Not completed Translate into Spanish: “Can you help, please?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAR, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Spanish does not need an extra spoken word for “you” in this request pattern.
Pattern Reminder: Spanish: ¿Puede + action? English: Can/Could + you + action?
Verb Tense Options: This lesson keeps puede inside this one polite request function.
Spanish answer ¿Puede ayudar, por favor?
English translation Can you help, please?
Practice 31 of 44
Not completed Complete the Spanish request with the learned action for “to wait”: “¿Puede ___?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: ehs-peh-RAR
Hint: Use the infinitive meaning “to wait.”
Pattern Reminder: After puede, use the learned base action.
Verb Tense Options: This lesson keeps puede inside this one polite request function.
Spanish answer ¿Puede esperar?
English translation Can you wait?
Practice 32 of 44
Not completed Translate into Spanish: “Can you speak more slowly?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ah-BLAR mahs dehs-PAH-syoh
Hint: Use the learned request frame, hablar, and the two-word slower-speech phrase.
Pattern Reminder: Spanish: ¿Puede + action + detail? English: Can/Could + you + action + detail?
Verb Tense Options: This lesson keeps puede inside this one polite request function.
Spanish answer ¿Puede hablar más despacio?
English translation Can you speak more slowly?
Practice 33 of 44
Not completed Translate into English: “¿Puede esperar, por favor?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh ehs-peh-RAR, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Give the natural English request.
Pattern Reminder: Spanish uses puede + action; English normally includes “you.”
Verb Tense Options: This lesson keeps puede inside this one polite request function.
Spanish answer ¿Puede esperar, por favor?
English translation Can you wait, please?
Practice 34 of 44
Not completed Translate into Spanish: “Could you repeat, please?”
Your answer
Speak Check Listen Phonetic Hint Pattern Reminder Verb Tense Options Reveal
Pronunciation: PWEH-deh reh-peh-TEER, pohr fah-VOR
Hint: Use the same polite Spanish request frame learned in this module.
Pattern Reminder: English can use can or could. In this module, Spanish uses the same learned ¿Puede + action? request frame.
Verb Tense Options: This lesson keeps puede inside this one polite request function.
Spanish answer ¿Puede repetir, por favor?
English translation Could you repeat, please?