Spanish B2
CEFR B2 · Upper intermediate
B2 is the subjunctive level: the present subjunctive after no creo que, after aunque for hypotheticals and after an unknown antecedent (busco un trabajo que me permita...), the pluperfect subjunctive with the conditional perfect for unreal past conditions (si hubiera sabido, habría...), and tense backshift in reported speech. The vocabulary turns abstract (la postura, el enfoque, llevar a cabo, sin lugar a dudas) so you can debate society, follow the news and describe a job search or a career in a formal register.
63 words · 3 units · 3 grammar points
Spanish B2, unit by unit
Reflexionar sobre la vida
Narrate formative experiences, express regrets, and report what others said using the pluperfect, conditional perfect, pluperfect subjunctive, and indirect speech.
- Experiencias que me marcaron - Unreal past conditions: si hubiera / habríaNarrate formative past experiences · Use the pluscuamperfecto for events prior to another past event
- Lo que habría hechoExpress regrets with the conditional perfect · Form unreal past conditionals: si + pluperfect subjunctive + conditional perfect
- Lo que me dijeronReport what others said using indirect speech · Apply tense backshift correctly (presente → imperfecto, futuro → condicional)
- When I arrived in Madrid, I had already learned some Spanish.
- Cuando llegué a Madrid, ya había aprendido algo de español.
- Before meeting him, she had lived in three different countries.
- Antes de conocerlo, ella había vivido en tres países diferentes.
- I realized that I had forgotten my keys at the office.
- Me di cuenta de que había olvidado las llaves en la oficina.
Closing conversation: a conversation about a decision that changed things for you, and what you would do differently
Sociedad y opinión
Debate abstract social topics in a formal register, using connectives of contrast and concession, opinion frames, and hedging strategies.
- Conectores de argumentación - Creo que vs. no creo que: indicative or subjunctiveUse connectives of contrast and concession · Choose between aunque + subjuntivo (hypothetical) and + indicativo (factual)
- Temas de debateDiscuss abstract social topics · Build vocabulary around society, technology, and the environment
- Defender una posturaIntroduce and defend an opinion in formal register · Use hedging expressions to soften claims
- Although it rains tomorrow, we will go to the concert.
- Aunque llueva mañana, iremos al concierto.
- However, the situation is more complex than it seems.
- Sin embargo, la situación es más compleja de lo que parece.
- In spite of the difficulties, the project moved forward.
- A pesar de las dificultades, el proyecto siguió adelante.
Closing conversation: a friendly argument about a social question where your tutor takes the other side
Mundo laboral y formación
Talk about job hunting, life inside a company and professional training: the subjunctive after an unknown antecedent, purpose clauses with para que, and the vocabulary of work and study.
- Buscar trabajo - Subjunctive after an unknown antecedentDescribe the job you are looking for and the requirements of a post · Use the subjunctive in relative clauses about an unknown or non-existent person or thing
- La vida en la empresaTalk about deadlines, working hours, promotions and layoffs · Describe how a workplace is organised and how it has changed
- Formarse para el futuroTalk about degrees, scholarships, internships and retraining · Express purpose with para + infinitive and para que + subjunctive
- I'm looking for a job that lets me work from home.
- Busco un trabajo que me permita trabajar desde casa.
- The company needs someone who speaks German.
- La empresa necesita a alguien que hable alemán.
- I sent my CV to three companies last week.
- Envié mi currículum a tres empresas la semana pasada.
Closing conversation: a job interview for a role you actually want, difficult questions included
B2 grammar points
Spanish B2 vocabulary
All 63 words, in frequency order.
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| el ámbito | the field, area, scope (m.) | En el ámbito laboral, la flexibilidad es esencial.In the workplace, flexibility is essential. |
| la postura | the stance, position (f.) | El partido cambió su postura sobre el impuesto.The party changed its stance on the tax. |
| el trasfondo | the background, underlying context (m.) | El trasfondo del conflicto es económico.The background of the conflict is economic. |
| la coyuntura | the situation, juncture, conjuncture (f.) | En la coyuntura actual, conviene ser prudente.In the current situation, it's wise to be cautious. |
| el matiz | the nuance, shade of meaning (m.) | Hay un matiz importante que se nos escapa.There's an important nuance we're missing. |
| la índole | the nature, kind (f.) | Es un problema de índole moral.It's a problem of a moral nature. |
| el atajo | the shortcut (m.) | No hay ningún atajo para aprender un idioma.There's no shortcut to learning a language. |
| el rasgo | the trait, feature (m.) | La generosidad es un rasgo definitorio suyo.Generosity is a defining trait of his. |
| el enfoque | the approach, focus (m.) | Necesitamos un enfoque distinto al problema.We need a different approach to the problem. |
| el alcance | the scope, reach (m.) | El alcance de la reforma aún no está claro.The scope of the reform still isn't clear. |
| el desafío | the challenge (m.) | El cambio climático es el mayor desafío de nuestro tiempo.Climate change is the greatest challenge of our time. |
| la cifra | the figure, number (f.) | La cifra de parados ha bajado este mes.The number of unemployed has fallen this month. |
| el vínculo | the bond, link (m.) | Mantienen un vínculo estrecho con su pueblo natal.They maintain a close bond with their hometown. |
| la huella | the trace, footprint, mark (f.) | La pandemia dejó una huella profunda en la sociedad.The pandemic left a deep mark on society. |
| el reto | the challenge (m.) | Aceptó el reto sin pensárselo dos veces.He accepted the challenge without a second thought. |
| el sesgo | the bias, slant (m.) | El estudio tiene un sesgo evidente.The study has an obvious bias. |
| el respaldo | the support, backing (m.) | La medida cuenta con el respaldo del parlamento.The measure has the backing of parliament. |
| la brecha | the gap, breach (f.) | Existe una gran brecha salarial entre géneros.There is a large pay gap between genders. |
| el hito | the milestone (m.) | El acuerdo marca un hito histórico.The agreement marks a historic milestone. |
| dar por sentado | to take for granted (phrase) | No debemos dar por sentado que vendrá.We shouldn't take for granted that he'll come. |
| tener en cuenta | to take into account (phrase) | Hay que tener en cuenta el contexto.You have to take the context into account. |
| salirse con la suya | to get one's way (phrase) | Siempre acaba por salirse con la suya.She always ends up getting her way. |
| llevar a cabo | to carry out (phrase) | Van a llevar a cabo una investigación exhaustiva.They're going to carry out a thorough investigation. |
| merecer la pena | to be worthwhile (phrase) | Creo que va a merecer la pena el esfuerzo.I think the effort is going to be worth it. |
| hacer caso | to pay attention, to heed (phrase) | No hay que hacer caso a los rumores.Don't pay attention to rumors. |
| ponerse en contacto | to get in touch (phrase) | Puede ponerse en contacto conmigo mañana.You can get in touch with me tomorrow. |
| estar al tanto | to be up to date, in the know (phrase) | Quiero estar al tanto de las novedades.I want to stay up to date on the latest news. |
| a grandes rasgos | broadly speaking (phrase) | A grandes rasgos, el plan funciona.Broadly speaking, the plan works. |
| a la larga | in the long run (phrase) | A la larga, ahorrar conviene.In the long run, saving pays off. |
| sin lugar a dudas | without a doubt (phrase) | Es, sin lugar a dudas, el mejor candidato.He is, without a doubt, the best candidate. |
| hoy en día | nowadays (phrase) | Hoy en día todo el mundo usa el móvil.Nowadays everyone uses a mobile phone. |
| acudir | to attend, to turn up, to resort to | Cientos de personas acudieron al acto.Hundreds of people turned up to the event. |
| apreciar | to appreciate; to perceive | Aprecio mucho tu sinceridad.I really appreciate your honesty. |
| asumir | to take on, to assume (a role) | Asumió el cargo el mes pasado.He took on the role last month. |
| descartar | to rule out, to discard | La policía no descarta ninguna hipótesis.The police aren't ruling out any theory. |
| plantear | to raise, to pose (a question) | El informe plantea varias dudas.The report raises several doubts. |
| suscitar | to provoke, to give rise to | La propuesta suscitó un intenso debate.The proposal sparked an intense debate. |
| recalcar | to stress, to emphasize | El ministro recalcó la importancia del acuerdo.The minister stressed the importance of the agreement. |
| sostener | to maintain, to hold (a view) | Resulta difícil sostener esa postura con los datos actuales.It's hard to maintain that position with the current data. |
| atribuir | to attribute, to ascribe | Atribuyen el éxito a su disciplina.They attribute the success to his discipline. |
| reconocer | to acknowledge, to recognize | Hay que reconocer que nos equivocamos.We have to admit that we were wrong. |
| advertir | to warn; to notice | Quiero advertirte de que el camino es peligroso.I want to warn you that the road is dangerous. |
| manifestar | to express, to state publicly | Manifestaron su rechazo a la propuesta.They expressed their rejection of the proposal. |
| destacar | to stand out, to highlight | El informe destaca varios puntos clave.The report highlights several key points. |
| abordar | to tackle, to address (an issue) | Hay que abordar el problema cuanto antes.The problem needs to be tackled as soon as possible. |
| fomentar | to promote, to foster | El programa fomenta la lectura entre jóvenes.The program promotes reading among young people. |
| a fin de cuentas | after all, when all is said and done (phrase) | A fin de cuentas, lo importante es la salud.After all, what matters is health. |
| en última instancia | ultimately, in the last resort (phrase) | En última instancia, decide el juez.Ultimately, the judge decides. |
| por consiguiente | consequently, therefore (phrase) | Hubo errores; por consiguiente, repetiremos la prueba.There were errors; consequently, we'll repeat the test. |
| no obstante | nevertheless, however (phrase) | Es complicado; no obstante, lo intentaremos.It's complicated; nevertheless, we'll try. |
| en pos de | in pursuit of (phrase) | Viajó al extranjero en pos de mejores oportunidades.He traveled abroad in pursuit of better opportunities. |
| por ende | hence, therefore (formal) | Faltan pruebas y, por ende, se archiva el caso.Evidence is lacking and, hence, the case is being closed. |
| en aras de | for the sake of (phrase) | Renunció al cargo en aras de la transparencia.He resigned for the sake of transparency. |
| rotundo | categorical, resounding | El director dio un no rotundo.The director gave a resounding no. |
| contundente | forceful, conclusive | Su respuesta fue contundente.His answer was categorical. |
| palpable | palpable, evident | La tensión en la sala era palpable.The tension in the room was palpable. |
| viable | viable, feasible | El proyecto resultó económicamente viable.The project turned out to be economically viable. |
| polémico | controversial | Es un tema muy polémico en el debate público.It's a very controversial topic in public debate. |
| sutil | subtle | Hay una diferencia sutil entre ambos términos.There's a subtle difference between the two terms. |
| exhaustivo | exhaustive, thorough | Realizaron un análisis exhaustivo del problema.They carried out an exhaustive analysis of the problem. |
| escaso | scarce, scant | El tiempo es escaso, démonos prisa.Time is scarce, let's hurry. |
| ajeno | alien, of someone else, unconnected | Se mantuvo ajeno a la polémica.He stayed out of the controversy. |
| imprescindible | essential, indispensable | Es imprescindible llevar el pasaporte.It's essential to bring your passport. |