Spanish · C1 · Family moment
Reading the small print of an apprenticeship in Spanish
This guide helps parents assist their teenagers in navigating the formal language of apprenticeship contracts and employment offers in Spanish, focusing on the obligations and rights found in 'the small print'.
What you'll learn
- Identify and use 'a + infinitive' constructions to express tasks or items that must be handled.
- Discuss contractual obligations using formal, professional Spanish.
- Guide teenagers through complex administrative vocabulary without making the decision for them.
Spanish phrases for reading the small print of an apprenticeship
¿Qué documentos a entregar necesitan todavía tu firma?
Which documents to be submitted still need your signature?
Uses 'a entregar' as a concise attributive construction for 'to be submitted'.
Las tareas a desempeñar deberían estar claramente definidas.
The duties to be performed should be clearly defined.
'Desempeñar' is the standard professional term for carrying out duties or a role.
¿Se explican durante la inducción los procedimientos de seguridad a seguir?
Are the safety procedures to be followed explained during induction?
'A seguir' functions as the attributive modifier for the procedures.
Listemos los puntos a aclarar antes de que aceptes.
Let's list the points to be clarified before you accept.
Uses the subjunctive 'aceptes' after 'antes de que'.
Los gastos a reembolsar no están especificados en esta sección.
The expenses to be reimbursed aren't specified in this section.
Refers to future or pending actions using 'a + infinitive'.
¿Coinciden las habilidades a adquirir con tus intereses a largo plazo?
Do the skills to be acquired match your long-term interests?
'A adquirir' describes the skills that will be gained during the apprenticeship.
Los plazos a cumplir parecen manejables junto con la universidad.
The deadlines to be met look manageable alongside college.
'Cumplir' is the appropriate verb for meeting deadlines or requirements.
Las condiciones a negociar son, en última instancia, para que tú las priorices.
The conditions to be negotiated are ultimately for you to prioritise.
Uses 'para que' followed by the subjunctive to express purpose or result.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Letra pequeña
Small print
Literally 'small letter', used for contractual details.
Desempeñar
To perform / carry out
Used for professional duties or roles.
Inducción
Induction / Orientation
The period where a new employee is introduced to the company.
Plazo
Deadline / Period
A very common term in professional and academic settings.
Attributive 'a + Infinitive' Constructions
In high-level Spanish (C1), the Germanic 'zu + Partizip I' (gerundive) is often rendered using 'a + infinitive'. This construction follows a noun to indicate a necessity, an obligation, or a future action involving that noun.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun + a + Infinitive | [Sustantivo] + a + [Infinitivo] | Los temas a tratar (The topics to be discussed). |
| Passive Alternative | que + deber / haber de + ser + [Participio] | Los documentos que deben ser firmados. |
More examples
Hay varios factores a considerar antes de firmar el contrato de aprendizaje.
There are several factors to consider before signing the apprenticeship contract.
A formal way to present a list of pending thoughts.
Esta es la cantidad a percibir mensualmente durante el primer año.
This is the amount to be received monthly during the first year.
'Percibir' is a formal synonym for 'recibir' in financial contexts.