Spanish · C1 · Everyday language
A Fair Hearing for Your Ideas in Spanish
At a C1 level, discussing proposals and disagreements with your child requires precision. This guide focuses on using Spanish equivalents of 'Funktionsverbgefüge' (verb-noun combinations) to model objective, measured language during constructive discussions.
What you'll learn
- Master the use of formal verb-noun constructions like 'tomar en cuenta' and 'poner en tela de juicio'.
- Model respectful disagreement and analytical thinking for children.
- Refine sentence structure and placement of prepositional objects in complex arguments.
Spanish phrases for a fair hearing for your ideas
Deberíamos tomar en cuenta un día de práctica diferente antes de que dejes el club.
We should take a different practice day into consideration before you give up the club.
'Tomar en cuenta' is the natural Spanish equivalent for taking something into consideration.
¿Has tomado en cuenta el trayecto más largo al comparar las dos actividades?
Have you taken the longer journey into consideration when comparing the two activities?
The past participle 'tomado' follows the auxiliary 'haber' in perfect tenses.
Puedes sacar a colación el reparto desigual del trabajo en tu próxima reunión de proyecto sin acusar a nadie.
You can raise the unequal division of work at your next project meeting without accusing anyone.
'Sacar a colación' is a sophisticated way to say 'bring up' or 'raise' a topic.
Me gustaría sacar a colación el tema de los mensajes a altas horas de la noche cuando ambos tengamos tiempo para escuchar.
I would like to raise the subject of late-night messages when we both have time to listen.
Uses the subjunctive 'tengamos' after 'cuando' because it refers to a future event.
Se te permite poner en tela de juicio una regla, incluso cuando todavía tienes que cumplirla.
You are allowed to call a rule into question, even when you still have to follow it.
'Poner en tela de juicio' is the precise C1 expression for 'calling into question'.
No estoy poniendo en tela de juicio tu honestidad; estoy preguntando si el plan es realista.
I am not calling your honesty into question; I am asking whether the plan is realistic.
Using the gerund 'poniendo' emphasizes the ongoing nature of the statement.
Lleguemos a una decisión después de haber escuchado tus razones y verificado los costos.
Let's come to a decision after we have heard your reasons and checked the costs.
'Llegar a una decisión' functions as a fixed lexical block.
No tenemos que llegar a una decisión esta noche solo porque tus amigos ya hayan elegido.
We do not have to come to a decision tonight just because your friends have already chosen.
'Hayan elegido' is in the subjunctive because it follows 'solo porque' expressing a reason that is being contextualized or dismissed.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Tomar en cuenta
To take into consideration / To keep in mind
Can also be 'tener en cuenta'.
Sacar a colación
To bring up / To raise a topic
Very formal and precise for debate or discussion.
Poner en tela de juicio
To call into question / To doubt
Literally means 'to put on the loom of judgment'.
Llegar a una decisión
To reach a decision / To decide
Equivalent to the German 'zu einer Entscheidung kommen'.
Verb-Noun Collocations (Fixed Frames)
In Spanish, as in German 'Funktionsverbgefüge', certain verbs lose their literal meaning when paired with specific nouns to create a more formal, objective tone.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action to Thought | Tomar + en cuenta | Debes tomar en cuenta los riesgos. |
| Introduction of Topic | Sacar + a colación | Sacó a colación un punto importante. |
| Expressing Doubt | Poner + en tela de juicio | No pongas en tela de juicio mi autoridad. |
More examples
Si ponemos en tela de juicio el presupuesto, ¿qué cambiaría?
If we call the budget into question, what would change?
Hypothetical discussion starter.
Espero que hayamos tomado en cuenta todos los factores.
I hope we have taken all factors into consideration.
Uses present perfect subjunctive after 'Espero que'.