Spanish · B1 · Milestone
B1 first milestone in Spanish
This guide celebrates your transition to B1 Spanish by using familiar family scenarios. We focus on connecting complex ideas using 'although', 'while', and 'so that', while refining your use of past and future tenses.
What you'll learn
- Express contrast using 'aunque' (although)
- Differentiate between specific past events and habitual past actions
- Use relative clauses to describe people
- Express purpose using 'para que' with the subjunctive
Spanish phrases for b1 first milestone
Aunque estabas cansado, terminaste tu práctica de lectura.
Although you were tired, you finished your reading practice.
We use 'aunque' with the indicative here because the tiredness is a known fact.
Ayer fui a la escuela y encontré tu fiambrera.
Yesterday, I went to school and found your lunchbox.
The Preterite (fui/encontré) is used for completed actions in the past.
Cuando empezaste la escuela, estabas nervioso; siempre que te recogía, sonreías.
When you started school, you were nervous; whenever I collected you, you smiled.
Use 'Cuando' + Preterite for a one-time start, but Imperfect (recogía/sonreías) for habits.
Ese es el amigo que viene a nuestra casa los viernes.
That is the friend who comes to our house on Fridays.
'Que' acts as the relative pronoun 'who' to link the description to the friend.
Te llevaré al club deportivo mañana.
I will take you to the sports club tomorrow.
The Spanish Future Simple (llevaré) is used for promises or scheduled events.
Mientras escribes con el lápiz nuevo, estoy preparando tu fiambrera.
While you write with the new pencil, I am packing your lunchbox.
'Mientras' is used here with the indicative to show two things happening at once.
Pon tu mochila detrás de la silla; tu bolsa de deporte ya está detrás de ella.
Put your school bag behind the chair; your sports bag is already standing behind it.
'Detrás de' is a fixed prepositional phrase meaning 'behind'.
Estoy poniendo tu paga sobre la mesa para que puedas contarla.
I am putting your pocket money on the table so that you can count it.
'Para que' (so that) always triggers the subjunctive mood (puedas).
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Fiambrera
Lunchbox
A common word in Spain; in Latin America, 'lonchera' is often used.
Paga
Pocket money / Allowance
Refers to the regular small amount of money given to children.
Mochila
School bag / Backpack
Comes from the word for 'knapsack'.
Recoger
To collect / To pick up
Used for picking up children from school or toys from the floor.
The Purpose Clause: Para que
To explain the 'why' or purpose of an action, Spanish uses 'para que'. Unlike English, this structure requires the Subjunctive mood because the outcome is an intention, not a guaranteed fact.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | Action + para que + Subjunctive | Estudia para que saque buenas notas. |
Past Habitual vs. Past Specific
Use the Preterite (e.g., fui) for actions that happened once. Use the Imperfect (e.g., sonreías) for ongoing states or things that happened repeatedly (like 'whenever').
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Specific (Preterite) | -é, -aste, -ó / -í, -iste, -ió | Ayer encontré el juguete. |
| Habitual (Imperfect) | -aba / -ía | Siempre sonreías. |
Relative Clauses with 'Que'
In B1, we use 'que' to combine sentences. It acts as the subject or object of the second clause, replacing the repeated noun.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject 'Who' | Persona + que + verbo | El niño que corre. |
More examples
Iremos al parque para que juegues con tus amigos.
We will go to the park so that you can play with your friends.
Future tense combined with 'para que' and the subjunctive 'juegues'.
Mientras cenamos, cuéntame sobre tu día.
While we have dinner, tell me about your day.
'Mientras' indicates simultaneous actions.