Raúl Asencio: What Happened to the Real Madrid Player?

Key vocabulary

• conducirv.

  to drive

  “No debes conducir después de beber alcohol.”— You shouldn't drive after drinking alcohol.

  Pattern conducir ebrio (drunk driving)

  Compare manejar (to drive, Latin American usage)

  conduje, conducía, conducirá

  💡 The root comes from Latin 'conducere', meaning 'to lead'.

• ebrioadj.

  drunk, intoxicated

  “El conductor estaba ebrio cuando la policía lo paró.”— The driver was drunk when the police stopped him.

  Pattern conducir ebrio (drunk driving)

  Compare borracho (drunk)

  ebria (feminine)

  💡 From Latin 'ebrius', more formal than borracho.

• condenarv.

  to convict, to sentence

  “El juez lo condenó a pagar una multa.”— The judge sentenced him to pay a fine.

  Pattern condenar a alguien a una multa (to sentence someone to a fine)

  Compare sentenciar (to sentence)

  condenó, condenado

  💡 Root 'condemnare', cognate with English 'condemn'.

• control de tráficom.

  traffic checkpoint

  “La policía puso un control de tráfico en la autovía.”— The police set up a traffic checkpoint on the highway.

  Pattern control de alcoholemia (breathalyzer test)

  Compare control policial (police check)

  controles de tráfico (plural)

  💡 control comes from French 'contrôle', tráfico from Italian 'traffico'.

• alcoholemiaf.

  breathalyzer test

  “Le hicieron la prueba de alcoholemia y dio positivo.”— They gave him a breathalyzer test and he tested positive.

  Pattern prueba de alcoholemia (breathalyzer test)

  Compare test de alcohol (alcohol test)

  alcoholemias (plural)

  💡 Composed of 'alcohol' and '-emia' (blood).

• multaf.

  fine

  “Recibió una multa de 200 euros por exceso de velocidad.”— He received a 200-euro fine for speeding.

  Pattern pagar una multa (to pay a fine)

  Compare sanción (penalty)

  multas (plural)

  💡 From Latin 'multa', meaning 'penalty'.

• permiso de conducirm.

  driver's license

  “Le quitaron el permiso de conducir por un año.”— They took away his driver's license for a year.

  Pattern quitar el permiso (to revoke a driver's license)

  Compare licencia de conducir (driver's license)

  permisos de conducir (plural)

  💡 permiso comes from Latin 'permissum', meaning 'permission'.

• juiciom.

  trial

  “El juicio se celebró ayer en el tribunal.”— The trial was held yesterday in court.

  Pattern juicio rápido (speedy trial)

  Compare proceso (legal proceedings)

  juicios (plural)

  💡 From Latin 'judicium', same root as 'juez' (judge).

• comparecerv.

  to appear in court

  “El acusado debe comparecer ante el tribunal mañana.”— The defendant must appear in court tomorrow.

  Pattern comparecer ante el juez (to appear before the judge)

  Compare presentarse (to appear)

  compareció, comparezco

  💡 From Latin 'comparere', meaning 'to appear'.

• perdonarv.

  to forgive

  “Ella decidió perdonarlo después de su disculpa.”— She decided to forgive him after his apology.

  Pattern perdonar a alguien (to forgive someone)

  Compare disculpar (to excuse)

  perdonó, perdonado

  💡 From Latin 'perdonare', composed of 'per-' (completely) and 'donare' (to give).

• indemnizaciónf.

  compensation

  “La empresa pagó una indemnización a los trabajadores.”— The company paid compensation to the workers.

  Pattern pagar una indemnización (to pay compensation)

  Compare compensación (compensation)

  indemnizaciones (plural)

  💡 From Latin 'indemnis', meaning 'without harm'.

Grammar spotlight

Sentence patterns to steal

• El futbolista del Real Madrid Raúl Asencio fue condenado por conducir ebrio en Gran Canaria.

  Real Madrid footballer Raúl Asencio was convicted of drunk driving in Gran Canaria.

  Subject + fue + past participle + por + causeYou can replace the subject and cause, e.g., 'El actor fue multado por fumar' (The actor was fined for smoking).

• Conducía un Porsche Macan GTS y dio positivo en la prueba de alcoholemia con 0,9 mg/l, más del triple del límite permitido.

  He was driving a Porsche Macan GTS and tested positive in the breathalyzer test with 0.9 mg/l, more than triple the legal limit.

  dar positivo en + test + con + amountYou can replace the type of test and the amount, e.g., 'dar positivo en el test de drogas' (to test positive in a drug test).

• El jugador recibió una multa de 14.400 euros y le quitaron el permiso de conducir durante ocho meses.

  The player received a fine of €14,400 and had his driver's license taken away for eight months.

  recibir una multa de + amount + y + le quitaron + objectYou can replace the fine amount and the object taken away, e.g., 'le quitaron el pasaporte' (they took away his passport).

• Si lo perdonan, el jugador podría quedar libre.

  If they forgive him, the player could go free.

  Si + present indicative + simple conditionalYou can replace the condition and the result, e.g., 'Si estudias, podrías aprobar' (If you study, you could pass).

• Él ya se disculpó en privado y pagó una indemnización.

  He has already apologized in private and paid compensation.

  disculparse + en privado + y + pagar una indemnizaciónYou can replace the manner of apology and the object of compensation, e.g., 'se disculpó en público' (he apologized in public).