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DELE B2 phrases for writing and speaking

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Writing task 1 Letter from a recording

Format
Listen to a recording and write a letter or email of 150 to 180 words based on it.
What it tests
A formal or informal letter or email, written from a recording, that sets out the ideas and arguments clearly, in detail and in a good order, keeping to the conventions of the genre. The recording can be a news item, an advert, an offer, a comment or a sports broadcast.

Free writing prompt with a model answer

Reporting what you heard

  • Acabo de escuchar que... I've just heard that...
  • Según he oído en la radio, ... From what I heard on the radio, ...
  • Según el anuncio, ... According to the advert, ...
  • Han anunciado que... They've announced that...
  • Por lo visto, ... Apparently, ...

Acabo de escuchar en la radio que el ayuntamiento va a cerrar la piscina municipal en agosto.

I've just heard on the radio that the council is going to close the public swimming pool in August.

Saying what you think of a decision

  • Me parece una medida acertada / poco acertada. I think it's a sensible / an unwise measure.
  • Comprendo que..., pero... I understand that... (subjunctive), but...
  • Me sorprende que... I'm surprised that... (subjunctive)
  • No entiendo por qué... I don't understand why...

Comprendo que el mantenimiento cueste mucho dinero, pero me parece una decisión poco acertada.

I understand that the upkeep costs a lot of money, but I think it's an unwise decision.

Explaining the consequences

  • Esto supondrá que... This will mean that...
  • Esta decisión afectará sobre todo a... This decision will mainly affect...
  • Los más perjudicados serán... The people hit hardest will be...

Los más perjudicados serán los niños del barrio, que no tienen otro sitio para bañarse en verano.

The people hit hardest will be the children of the area, who have nowhere else to swim in summer.

Proposing an alternative

  • Una posible solución sería... One possible solution would be...
  • ¿No sería mejor...? Wouldn't it be better to...?
  • Sería conveniente que... It would be advisable to... (imperfect subjunctive)
  • En lugar de..., se podría... Instead of..., they could...

Una posible solución sería abrir la piscina solo por las tardes, en lugar de cerrarla todo el mes.

One possible solution would be to open the pool only in the afternoons, instead of closing it for the whole month.

Making a formal request or complaint

  • Me gustaría expresar mi malestar por... I would like to express my dissatisfaction with...
  • Les ruego que... I would ask you to... (subjunctive)
  • Les agradecería que... I would be grateful if you could... (imperfect subjunctive)
  • Solicito que... I request that... (subjunctive)

Les agradecería que reconsideraran su decisión antes del verano.

I would be grateful if you could reconsider your decision before the summer.

Writing task 2 Composition

Format
Choose one of two options and write 150 to 180 words, such as an article commenting on data or a review.
What it tests
A formal text for a newspaper, blog or magazine that sets out the main and secondary ideas clearly and in detail, and argues, assesses or gives an opinion. One option asks for an article built on a chart or a data table; the other, a blog article or a review.

Free writing prompt with a model answer

Opening an article

  • Cada vez más personas... More and more people...
  • Es un tema que genera mucha polémica. It's a topic that causes a lot of controversy.
  • En los últimos años... In recent years...

En los últimos años, cada vez más personas han decidido dejar la gran ciudad para vivir en el campo.

In recent years, more and more people have decided to leave the big city to live in the country.

Commenting on the data in a chart or survey

  • Según los datos de la encuesta, ... According to the survey data, ...
  • Más de la mitad de los encuestados... More than half of those surveyed...
  • Solo un... % afirma que... Only...% say that...
  • La mayoría / Una minoría... The majority / A minority...
  • frente a un... % compared with...%

Según los datos de la encuesta, más de la mitad de los encuestados va al trabajo en coche, frente a un 15 % que va en bicicleta.

According to the survey data, more than half of those surveyed drive to work, compared with 15% who cycle.

Weighing advantages and disadvantages

  • Una de las principales ventajas es que... One of the main advantages is that...
  • El principal inconveniente es que... The main drawback is that...
  • No hay que olvidar que... We mustn't forget that...

Una de las principales ventajas es el ahorro de tiempo; el principal inconveniente es que no todo el mundo puede permitírselo.

One of the main advantages is the time saved; the main drawback is that not everyone can afford it.

Arguing your point of view

  • Desde mi punto de vista, ... From my point of view, ...
  • Considero que... I believe that...
  • Estoy convencido / convencida de que... I'm convinced that...
  • Es evidente que... It's clear that...
  • No estoy de acuerdo con quienes piensan que... I disagree with those who think that...

Desde mi punto de vista, trabajar desde casa solo funciona si la empresa confía en sus empleados.

From my point of view, working from home only works if the company trusts its staff.

Writing a review

  • La película / La novela cuenta la historia de... The film / The novel tells the story of...
  • Lo que más me ha gustado es... What I liked most is...
  • El ritmo decae en la segunda parte. The pace drops in the second half.
  • Merece la pena verla / leerla. It's worth seeing / reading.
  • Se la recomiendo a quien... I'd recommend it to anyone who... (subjunctive)

La novela cuenta la historia de una familia que lo pierde todo, y merece la pena leerla aunque el final sea previsible.

The novel tells the story of a family that loses everything, and it's worth reading even if the ending is predictable.

Speaking task 1 Evaluate proposals

Format
Present and assess proposals on a topic, then discuss them with the examiner, for 6 to 7 minutes.
What it tests
Weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of a set of proposals for solving a problem, then talking about your views on the topic.

Free speaking card with a model answer

Presenting the proposals

  • Voy a empezar por la propuesta de... I'll start with the proposal to...
  • Hay propuestas que me parecen más realistas que otras. Some proposals seem more realistic to me than others.
  • La que menos me convence es... The one I find least convincing is...

Hay propuestas que me parecen más realistas que otras, así que voy a empezar por las más sencillas.

Some proposals seem more realistic to me than others, so I'll start with the simplest ones.

Evaluating a proposal

  • Lo bueno de esta propuesta es que... The good thing about this proposal is that...
  • El problema es que costaría mucho dinero. The problem is that it would cost a lot of money.
  • Funcionaría siempre que... It would work as long as... (subjunctive)
  • No me parece muy realista, porque... I don't think it's very realistic, because...
  • Sería eficaz a corto plazo, pero no a largo plazo. It would work in the short term, but not in the long term.

Lo bueno de esta propuesta es que se podría aplicar enseguida; el problema es que costaría mucho dinero.

The good thing about this proposal is that it could be put into practice straight away; the problem is that it would cost a lot of money.

Choosing and justifying your choice

  • Yo me quedaría con..., porque... I'd go for..., because...
  • Me inclino por... I lean towards...
  • Combinaría... con... I'd combine... with...
  • Yo añadiría otra propuesta: ... I'd add another proposal: ...

Yo combinaría la segunda propuesta con la cuarta, porque una sin la otra no resolvería el problema.

I'd combine the second proposal with the fourth, because one without the other wouldn't solve the problem.

Discussing your views with the examiner

  • Entiendo lo que dice, pero... I understand what you're saying, but...
  • En eso tiene razón. You're right about that.
  • Yo no estoy tan seguro / segura. I'm not so sure.
  • Depende de cómo se haga. It depends how it's done.

En eso tiene razón, aunque depende de cómo se haga.

You're right about that, although it depends how it's done.

Arguing your point of view

  • Desde mi punto de vista, ... From my point of view, ...
  • Estoy convencido / convencida de que... I'm convinced that...

Estoy convencida de que ninguna de estas medidas funcionará si los vecinos no participan.

I'm convinced that none of these measures will work if local people don't take part.

Speaking task 2 Imagine a situation

Format
Describe the situation in a photo and talk about related experiences for 5 to 6 minutes.
What it tests
Describing a situation from a photo and talking briefly about your experiences and opinions on it.

Free speaking card with a model answer

Imagining who the people are and what they are doing

  • Da la impresión de que... It looks as though...
  • Deben de ser... They must be... (a guess)
  • Estarán en... They're probably in... (future for a guess about now)
  • Tendrá unos treinta años. He / She must be about thirty.

Deben de ser compañeros de trabajo y estarán celebrando algo, porque todos sonríen.

They must be colleagues and they're probably celebrating something, because they're all smiling.

Saying what happened before and what will happen next

  • Seguramente antes ha pasado algo. Something has probably happened before this.
  • Habrán discutido. They've probably had an argument. (future perfect for a guess about the past)
  • Lo más probable es que... The most likely thing is that... (subjunctive)
  • Me imagino que al final... I imagine that in the end...

Habrán perdido el último tren y lo más probable es que tengan que buscar un hotel.

They've probably missed the last train, and they'll most likely have to look for a hotel.

Describing how the people feel

  • Se le ve preocupado / preocupada. He / She looks worried.
  • Está claro que... It's clear that...
  • No parece que le haga mucha gracia. He / She doesn't look very pleased about it.

Se le ve preocupado, como si no supiera qué decir.

He looks worried, as if he didn't know what to say.

Relating the situation to your own experience

  • A mí me pasó algo parecido cuando... Something similar happened to me when...
  • Recuerdo una vez que... I remember once when...
  • Si me pasara a mí, ... If it happened to me, ...

A mí me pasó algo parecido cuando me quedé sin batería en una ciudad donde no conocía a nadie.

Something similar happened to me when my phone died in a city where I didn't know anyone.

Speaking task 3 Survey

Format
Comment on survey results and give your opinion for 3 to 4 minutes.
What it tests
An informal conversation with the examiner about a written text or a chart, such as the results of an opinion survey or news about a trend.

Free speaking card with a model answer

Giving your own answer to the survey

  • Mi respuesta sería... My answer would be...
  • Yo contestaría que... I'd answer that...
  • En mi caso, coincido con la mayoría. In my case, I'm with the majority.

En mi caso, coincido con la mayoría: casi siempre compro por internet.

In my case, I'm with the majority: I almost always shop online.

Reacting to the results

  • Me sorprende bastante que... I'm quite surprised that... (subjunctive)
  • Es curioso que... It's curious that... (subjunctive)
  • No me extraña que... I'm not surprised that... (subjunctive)
  • Los resultados reflejan que... The results show that...

No me extraña que tan poca gente compre en tiendas pequeñas, porque suelen ser más caras.

I'm not surprised that so few people buy in small shops, because they tend to be more expensive.

Explaining the reasons behind the results

  • Supongo que se debe a que... I suppose it's because...
  • Puede que tenga que ver con... It may have something to do with...
  • En mi país los resultados serían distintos. In my country the results would be different.

Supongo que se debe a que la gente tiene cada vez menos tiempo libre.

I suppose it's because people have less and less free time.

Commenting on the data in a chart or survey

  • Según los datos de la encuesta, ... According to the survey data, ...
  • Más de la mitad de los encuestados... More than half of those surveyed...
  • La mayoría / Una minoría... The majority / A minority...

La mayoría dice que compra por internet al menos una vez al mes.

Most people say they shop online at least once a month.

Discussing your views with the examiner

  • Entiendo lo que dice, pero... I understand what you're saying, but...
  • En eso tiene razón. You're right about that.

Entiendo lo que dice, pero yo creo que los datos serían muy distintos en otro grupo de edad.

I understand what you're saying, but I think the figures would be very different for another age group.

Letters, emails and messages

In the B2 guide, the raters say ¡Buenos días! is not a suitable greeting for a letter, and that Estimado señor with Atentamente suits the formality the task asks for.

Opening a formal or informal letter

  • Estimado señor director: Dear Editor, (to a newspaper) Writing task 1
  • Estimada señora alcaldesa: Dear Mayor, (to a woman mayor) Writing task 1
  • A quien corresponda: To whom it may concern, Writing task 1
  • Querida Lucía: Dear Lucía, (informal) Writing task 1

Estimado señor director: Me dirijo a usted como lector habitual de su periódico.

Dear Editor, I am writing to you as a regular reader of your newspaper. Writing task 1

Saying why you are writing

  • Me pongo en contacto con ustedes para... I am contacting you to... Writing task 1
  • Le escribo a raíz de... I'm writing following... (formal) Writing task 1
  • Como vecino / vecina del barrio, ... As a resident of the area, ... Writing task 1
  • Te escribo porque acabo de enterarme de que... I'm writing because I've just found out that... (informal) Writing task 1

Como vecina del barrio, me pongo en contacto con ustedes para darles mi opinión sobre el cierre.

As a resident of the area, I am contacting you to give you my opinion on the closure. Writing task 1

Closing a formal or informal letter

  • Espero que mi carta sirva para... I hope my letter helps to... Writing task 1
  • Agradeciendo de antemano su atención, ... Thanking you in advance for your attention, ... Writing task 1
  • Le saluda atentamente, Yours faithfully, / Yours sincerely, (literally 'greets you attentively') Writing task 1
  • Ya me contarás. Let me know how it goes. (informal) Writing task 1
  • Un abrazo fuerte, Lots of love, (informal) Writing task 1

Espero que mi carta sirva para que reconsideren la medida. Le saluda atentamente, Raúl Ortega.

I hope my letter helps you to reconsider the measure. Yours faithfully, Raúl Ortega. Writing task 1

Keeping one register from start to finish

  • Le / Les agradecería... I would be grateful... (usted / ustedes) Writing task 1
  • Te / Os agradecería... I'd be grateful... (tú / vosotros) Writing task 1
  • Disculpe las molestias. I apologise for the inconvenience. (usted) Writing task 1
  • Perdona el rollo. Sorry for going on. (tú, very informal) Writing task 1
  • ¿Le parece bien que...? Is it all right with you if...? (usted, to the examiner) Speaking tasks 1 and 3

Le agradecería que me informara de los nuevos horarios. Disculpe las molestias.

I would be grateful if you could tell me the new opening hours. I apologise for the inconvenience. Writing task 1

Connectors

Conectores

Band 3 of the B2 coherence scale (Coherencia) describes good control of organisers, connectors and other cohesive devices. Band 1 describes short, linear texts linked with frequent connectors.

Adding

  • además besides, moreover Writing tasks 1 and 2, speaking task 1
  • asimismo likewise, also (formal) Writing tasks 1 and 2
  • por otra parte furthermore, on the other hand Writing task 2, speaking task 1
  • incluso even Writing task 2, speaking task 2

El teletrabajo ahorra tiempo; asimismo, reduce el tráfico en las horas punta.

Working from home saves time; it also reduces traffic at rush hour. Writing task 2

Contrasting and conceding

  • sin embargo however Writing tasks 1 and 2, speaking task 1
  • no obstante nevertheless (formal) Writing tasks 1 and 2
  • aun así even so Writing task 2, speaking task 1
  • a pesar de que despite the fact that Writing tasks 1 and 2
  • mientras que whereas Writing task 2, speaking task 3

Entiendo los motivos del ayuntamiento; no obstante, creo que hay otras maneras de ahorrar.

I understand the council's reasons; nevertheless, I believe there are other ways to save money. Writing task 1

Giving a cause

  • ya que since, as Writing tasks 1 and 2, speaking task 1
  • puesto que since, given that Writing tasks 1 and 2
  • dado que given that Writing task 2
  • debido a due to, because of Writing tasks 1 and 2, speaking task 3

Debido al precio de la vivienda, muchos jóvenes siguen viviendo con sus padres.

Because of the price of housing, many young people still live with their parents. Speaking task 3

Giving a result

  • por lo tanto therefore Writing tasks 1 and 2, speaking task 1
  • de modo que so, so that Writing tasks 1 and 2
  • como consecuencia as a result Writing tasks 1 and 2
  • así pues so, therefore Writing task 2

La piscina es la única del barrio; por lo tanto, cerrarla en agosto sería un error.

The pool is the only one in the area; therefore, closing it in August would be a mistake. Writing task 1

Setting a condition

  • siempre que as long as (subjunctive) Writing task 2, speaking task 1
  • a no ser que unless (subjunctive) Writing task 2, speaking task 1
  • en caso de que in case, if (subjunctive) Writing task 1, speaking task 1

La propuesta funcionaría siempre que hubiera suficientes autobuses.

The proposal would work as long as there were enough buses. Speaking task 1

Explaining and giving examples

  • es decir that is, in other words Writing task 2, speaking task 3
  • por ejemplo for example Writing task 2, speaking tasks 1 and 2
  • en concreto specifically Writing task 2, speaking task 3

La mayoría prefiere el transporte público, es decir, casi seis de cada diez encuestados.

Most people prefer public transport, that is, almost six in ten of those surveyed. Writing task 2

Structuring a text

  • en primer lugar..., en segundo lugar... firstly..., secondly... Writing task 2, speaking task 1
  • en cuanto a as for, as regards Writing tasks 1 and 2, speaking task 1
  • por último finally, lastly Writing tasks 1 and 2, speaking task 1

En cuanto a los inconvenientes, el más citado es la falta de contacto con los compañeros.

As for the drawbacks, the one mentioned most often is the lack of contact with colleagues. Writing task 2

Concluding

  • en resumen to sum up Writing task 2, speaking task 3
  • en definitiva in short, all in all Writing tasks 1 and 2, speaking task 1
  • para concluir to conclude Writing task 2

En definitiva, el teletrabajo tiene más ventajas que inconvenientes, siempre que se organice bien.

All in all, working from home has more advantages than drawbacks, as long as it is well organised. Writing task 2

Sources

The tasks and what they test come from the Instituto Cervantes documents below. The Spanish phrases and sentences are Apto DELE's own.