Accommodation problems (AQA GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Accommodation problems
When travelling, you might encounter various issues with your accommodation. This topic covers essential vocabulary and phrases needed to discuss and complain about accommodation problems in Spanish.
Essential vocabulary
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la cuenta | bill |
| la mesa | table |
| la cama | bed |
| la ventana | window |
| el piso | apartment, flat |
| la habitación | room |
| el jardín | garden |
| el patio | patio, yard |
| el baño | bathroom |
| limpio/a | clean |
| sucio/a | dirty |
| el camping | campsite |
| el ruido | noise |
| la vista | view |
| la falta | lack |
| el teléfono | phone |
| la silla | chair |
| la actividad | activity |
| la carta | menu, letter |
| el sitio | place, room |
| el plato | plate, dish |
| dormir | to sleep |
| arreglar | to repair, fix |
This vocabulary forms the foundation for describing accommodation problems. Focus on memorising the words most relevant to physical spaces and conditions: habitación, baño, ruido, limpio/sucio, as these appear frequently in complaints.
Grammar focus: Pronouns after prepositions
When you need to use a pronoun after a preposition (such as "for", "with", "without"), Spanish uses a special set of pronouns that differ from the usual subject pronouns.
Standard forms:
- mí (me)
- ti (you, informal)
- él (him)
- ella (her)
- usted (you, formal)
- nosotros/nosotras (us)
- vosotros/vosotras (you, plural)
- ellos (them, masculine)
- ellas (them, feminine)
- ustedes (you, formal plural)
Critical irregular forms to memorise:
- conmigo (with me) - NOT "con mí"
- contigo (with you) - NOT "con ti"
These are the most commonly used irregular forms and cannot be formed by simply adding the preposition to the regular pronoun.
Grammar in Action: Prepositional Pronouns
- Es para ti. (It's for you.)
- No voy a ir sin ella. (I won't go without her.)
- Quiere hablar con nosotros. (He/She wants to talk to us.)
- ¿Quieres venir conmigo? (Do you want to come with me?)
Notice how "conmigo" and "contigo" are used instead of "con mí" and "con ti".
Useful phrases for complaints
When expressing dissatisfaction with accommodation, these phrases are essential for effective communication:
Expressing dissatisfaction:
- No estamos contentos con el/la/los/las... (We are not happy with the...)
- Hay un problema con el/la/los/las... (There is a problem with the...)
- No es lo que pedimos cuando reservamos. (It's not what we asked for when we booked.)
Common complaints:
- La habitación está sucia. (The room is dirty.)
- Hay demasiado ruido. (There is too much noise.)
- No hay suficiente espacio. (There isn't enough space.)
- La vista no es buena. (The view isn't good.)
- El baño está roto. (The bathroom is broken.)
Requesting assistance:
- Quiero hablar con el jefe/la jefa. (I want to talk to the manager.)
- ¿Pueden arreglar esto? (Can you fix this?)
- Necesitamos otra habitación. (We need another room.)
The phrase "No estamos contentos con..." is particularly useful because it's polite but firm, and can be followed by any noun to express your specific complaint.
Pronunciation tips
Key Pronunciation Points:
- Remember that 'll' in "silla" sounds like 'y' in "yes"
- The 'ñ' in "baño" is pronounced like 'ny' in "canyon"
- 'J' in "jardín" has a harsh 'h' sound, like clearing your throat
- Stress falls on the syllable with the accent mark (habitación, teléfono)
Reading comprehension strategies
When reading complaints about accommodation, focus on identifying these key elements:
- Specific problems mentioned (ruido, espacio, vista)
- Emotional language indicating dissatisfaction
- Location references (patio, jardín, pueblo)
- Time expressions (durante el día, para los niños)
The key is understanding the main complaint rather than every single word. Don't get overwhelmed by unfamiliar vocabulary - focus on the core issue being described.
Translation practice
Translation Exercise: Spanish to English
- El piso que alquilamos en la costa era bonito.
- No había mucho espacio y los dormitorios eran muy pequeños.
Translation Exercise: English to Spanish
- The bathroom was dirty and there was no hot water.
- We want to speak to the manager about the noise problem.
Answer Key:
- The flat we rented on the coast was nice.
- There wasn't much space and the bedrooms were very small.
- El baño estaba sucio y no había agua caliente.
- Queremos hablar con el jefe/la jefa sobre el problema del ruido.
Key Points to Remember:
- Use special pronouns after prepositions: mí, ti, él, ella, etc.
- Learn the irregular forms: conmigo (with me) and contigo (with you)
- Master the key complaint phrase: "No estamos contentos con..." (We are not happy with...)
- "Quiero hablar con el jefe/la jefa" is essential for serious complaints
- Focus on the main problem when reading complaints - don't get lost in details