Spanish · B1 · Family moment
Less waste at school in Spanish
Helping your child adopt sustainable habits at school involves choosing reusable options and mindful consumption. We focus on using Spanish structures to express alternatives and reduce waste.
What you'll learn
- Express choosing one action over another using 'en vez de'.
- Identify school supplies and waste-related verbs in Spanish.
- Encourage environmentally friendly behaviors through shared resources.
Spanish phrases for less waste at school
Podemos rellenar esta botella en vez de comprar otra.
We can refill this bottle instead of buying another one.
'En vez de' is followed directly by the infinitive 'comprar'.
Uso ambos lados en vez de tomar una hoja nueva.
I use both sides instead of taking a new sheet.
'Hoja' refers to a sheet of paper.
Guardemos la caja en vez de tirarla.
Let's keep the box instead of throwing it away.
The pronoun 'la' (it) is attached to the end of the infinitive 'tirar'.
Puedes pedir prestada una regla en vez de comprar una.
You can borrow a ruler instead of buying one.
'Pedir prestada' is the standard way to say 'to borrow'.
Podríamos intercambiar libros en vez de pedir más.
We could swap books instead of ordering more.
'Intercambiar' covers 'swap' or 'exchange'.
Guardo los recortes en vez de echarlos a la papelera.
I save the scraps instead of putting them in the bin.
'Recortes' are scraps or clippings.
Reparemos la carpeta en vez de reemplazarla.
Let's mend the folder instead of replacing it.
'Reparar' or 'arreglar' can be used for 'to mend'.
Podemos compartir el pegamento en vez de abrir otro tubo.
We can share the glue instead of opening another tube.
'Pegamento' is glue; 'tubo' refers to the container.
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
En vez de
Instead of
The most common way to present an alternative action.
Papelera
Wastepaper bin
Specifically used for the small bins found in classrooms or offices.
Rellenar
To refill / To fill in
Used for both water bottles and forms/documents.
Recortes
Scraps / Cut-outs
Commonly used in school art projects.
Alternative-Action Infinitive Clauses
To express 'instead of doing something' when the subject remains the same, Spanish uses 'en vez de' or 'en lugar de' followed by an infinitive. Unlike English, which uses the -ing form, Spanish preserves the base verb form.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Structure | Verb (conjugated) + en vez de + Infinitive | Camino en vez de conducir. (I walk instead of driving.) |
| With Pronouns | en vez de + Infinitive + Pronoun | Úsalo en vez de tirarlo. (Use it instead of throwing it away.) |
More examples
¿Por qué no usamos lo que tenemos en vez de gastar dinero?
Why don't we use what we have instead of spending money?
A great phrase for teaching financial and environmental responsibility.
Dibuja aquí en vez de usar papel limpio.
Draw here instead of using clean paper.
Encouraging the use of scrap paper.