Finding the right counter at city hall | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a city hall entrance, two adults talk about arriving by bike and going inside to find the right counter..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Finding the right counter at city hall to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Nunca he estado dentro de este ayuntamiento.

NOON-kah eh eh-STAH-doh DEN-troh deh EH-steh ah-yoon-tah-MYEN-toh. I have never been inside this city hall before.
B

El edificio es más bonito de lo que esperaba.

ehl eh-dee-FEE-syoh ehs mahs boh-NEE-toh deh loh keh eh-speh-RAH-bah. The building is nicer than I expected.
A

La entrada está al lado del aparcamiento de bicicletas.

lah en-TRAH-dah eh-STAH ahl LAH-doh dehl ah-pahr-kah-MYEN-toh deh bee-see-KLEH-tahs. The entrance is beside the bicycle parking area.
B

Mucha gente vino en bicicleta.

MOO-chah HEN-teh BEE-noh en bee-see-KLEH-tah. A lot of people came by bike.
A

Tiene sentido.

TYEH-neh sen-TEE-doh. That makes sense.
A

Es más fácil que esperar el autobús.

ehs mahs fah-SEEL keh ehs-peh-RAHR ehl ow-toh-BOOS. It is easier than waiting for the bus.
B

La próxima vez, podríamos venir aquí en bicicleta también.

lah PROK-see-mah behs, poh-DREE-ah-mohs beh-NEER ah-KEE en bee-see-KLEH-tah tahm-BYEN. Next time, we could ride here too.
A

Entonces podemos dejar las bicicletas cerca de la entrada.

en-TOHN-sehs poh-DEH-mohs deh-HAHR lahs bee-see-KLEH-tahs SEHR-kah deh lah en-TRAH-dah. Then we can leave the bikes close to the entrance.
B

Por ahora, entremos y busquemos el mostrador correcto.

pohr ah-OH-rah, en-TREH-mohs ee boos-KEH-mohs ehl moh-strah-DOHR koh-RREHK-toh. For now, let's go inside and find the right counter.

Word by Word

Nunca “Nunca” means “never” in “Nunca he estado dentro de este ayuntamiento.” It places the experience at no time before now. Reuse it before a verb to say that something never happens or has never happened.
he “He” is the auxiliary form used with “estado” in “he estado,” giving the meaning “I have been.” It is used before a past participle in this kind of experience statement. Reuse “he” + a past participle when speaking about your own experience.
estado “Estado” means “been” in “he estado dentro de este ayuntamiento.” It is the form related to “estar” used after “he” here. Reuse “he estado” with a place phrase to say that you have been somewhere.
dentro “Dentro” means “inside” in “dentro de este ayuntamiento.” Together with “de,” it introduces the place where someone is or has been. Reuse “dentro de” + a place to say “inside” that place.
de “De” links “dentro” to the place phrase in “dentro de este ayuntamiento.” The whole phrase means “inside this city hall,” while “de” connects “dentro” with the place. Reuse “dentro de” + a noun or place.
este “Este” means “this” and points to the city hall in “este ayuntamiento.” It comes directly before the noun it identifies. Reuse “este” + a noun when referring to a nearby or currently relevant thing.
ayuntamiento “Ayuntamiento” means “city hall” in “este ayuntamiento.” It names the public building the speakers are entering. Reuse it after a determiner such as “este” or “el” when referring to a city hall.
El “El” means “the” before “edificio” in “El edificio.” It introduces the specific building being discussed. Reuse “el” before a specific masculine noun.
edificio “Edificio” means “building” in “El edificio es más bonito de lo que esperaba.” It is the building whose appearance is being evaluated. Reuse “el edificio” when referring to a particular building.
es “Es” means “is” in “El edificio es más bonito.” It is the form of “ser” used to describe the building. Reuse “es” before an adjective to describe what something is like.
más “Más” means “more” in “más bonito de lo que esperaba.” It marks a higher degree in the comparison. Reuse “más” + an adjective + “que” or a related comparison phrase.
bonito “Bonito” means “nice” or “pretty” when describing the building in “más bonito.” It gives the building a positive appearance description. Reuse “ser” + “bonito” to describe something as nice-looking.
lo “Lo” helps form the neutral comparison phrase “lo que esperaba,” meaning “what I expected.” It does not refer to a specific masculine noun here. Reuse “lo que” before a clause when referring to what someone thinks, expects, or knows.
que “Que” links the comparison in “más bonito de lo que esperaba.” The whole phrase compares the building with what the speaker expected. Reuse “lo que” + a verb to refer to what someone expected or experienced.
esperaba “Esperaba” means “expected” in “lo que esperaba.” It describes the expectation used as the comparison point for the building. The form is related to “esperar”; reuse it in “lo que esperaba” when describing an expectation.
La “La” means “the” before “entrada” in “La entrada.” It introduces the specific entrance being located. Reuse “la” before a specific feminine noun.
entrada “Entrada” means “entrance” in “La entrada está al lado...” It names the place where people enter the building. Reuse “la entrada” when giving directions to an entrance.
está “Está” means “is located” in “La entrada está al lado...” It is the form of “estar” used to describe the entrance’s location. Reuse “está” + a location phrase to say where something is.
al “Al” is the contracted form of “a” + “el” in “al lado de.” The whole phrase “al lado de” means “beside” or “next to,” and “al” begins that location expression. Reuse “al lado de” + a place or object.
lado “Lado” means “side” in “al lado de,” which means “beside” or “next to.” It contributes the idea of being at the side of something. Reuse “al lado de” to describe the position of one thing next to another.
del “Del” is the contracted form of “de” + “el” in “del aparcamiento.” It links “lado” with the specific parking area. Reuse “del” before a masculine singular noun when it means “of the” or “from the.”
aparcamiento “Aparcamiento” means “parking area” in “el aparcamiento de bicicletas.” It names the area for parking the bicycles. Reuse “aparcamiento de” + a vehicle or object to identify what is parked there.
bicicletas “Bicicletas” means “bicycles” in “el aparcamiento de bicicletas.” It specifies what the parking area is for. Reuse the plural form when referring to bicycles generally or to more than one bicycle.
Mucha “Mucha” means “a lot of” before “gente” in “Mucha gente.” The whole phrase means “a lot of people.” Reuse “mucha” before a noun when referring to a large amount.
gente “Gente” means “people” in “Mucha gente vino en bicicleta.” It refers collectively to the people who arrived. Reuse “gente” after an amount expression such as “mucha gente.”
vino “Vino” means “came” in “vino en bicicleta.” It describes the people’s arrival at the city hall. The form is related to “venir”; reuse “venir en bicicleta” to describe coming by bike.
en “En” means “by” in “en bicicleta,” indicating the means of transport. The whole phrase means “by bike.” Reuse “en” + a means of transport when saying how someone travels.
bicicleta “Bicicleta” means “bicycle” in “en bicicleta.” In this phrase, it identifies the means of transport rather than a particular bicycle. Reuse “en bicicleta” to say that someone travels by bike.
Tiene “Tiene sentido” means “That makes sense.” “Tiene” is the form of “tener” used in this expression, where the idea is treated as having sense. Reuse “tiene sentido” to agree that an explanation or suggestion is logical.
sentido “Sentido” means “sense” in the expression “Tiene sentido.” Together, “Tiene sentido” is used to say that something is logical or understandable. Reuse it when responding positively to a reason or explanation.
fácil “Fácil” means “easy” in “Es más fácil que esperar el autobús.” It describes the bike option as requiring less effort than waiting for the bus. Reuse “es fácil” or “es más fácil” to compare the difficulty of actions.
esperar “Esperar” means “to wait” in “esperar el autobús.” It is the action being compared with travelling by bike. Reuse “esperar” + a person or thing when saying what someone is waiting for.
autobús “Autobús” means “bus” in “esperar el autobús.” It is the vehicle the speakers would otherwise wait for. Reuse “el autobús” when referring to a specific bus or bus service.
próxima “Próxima” means “next” in “La próxima vez.” It describes the following occasion. Reuse “la próxima” before a time or occasion noun when referring to the next one.
vez “Vez” means “time” or “occasion” in “La próxima vez,” meaning “next time.” It refers to a future occasion rather than a clock time. Reuse “la próxima vez” when making a plan for a later occasion.
podríamos “Podríamos” means “we could” in “podríamos venir aquí.” It presents coming by bike as a possible suggestion for the next visit. The form is related to “poder”; reuse “podríamos” + an infinitive to suggest an option.
venir “Venir” means “to come” in “podríamos venir aquí en bicicleta.” It names the proposed movement toward this place. Reuse “venir” with a destination such as “aquí” and, when useful, a transport phrase.
aquí “Aquí” means “here” in “venir aquí.” It refers to the city hall location where the speakers are standing. Reuse it after movement verbs such as “venir” when referring to the current place.
también “También” means “also” or “too” in “venir aquí en bicicleta también.” It adds this bike journey to the other possible plans. Reuse it to show that an action or idea is included as well.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” or “so” at the start of “Entonces podemos dejar...” It signals the next action that follows from the previous suggestion. Reuse “Entonces” before a conclusion or resulting plan.
podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “podemos dejar las bicicletas.” It presents leaving the bicycles as an available action for both speakers. The form is related to “poder”; reuse “podemos” + an infinitive to state what you can do together.
dejar “Dejar” means “to leave” in “dejar las bicicletas cerca de la entrada.” It names the action of putting the bicycles in a nearby place and not taking them inside. Reuse “dejar” + an object + a place phrase.
las “Las” means “the” before “bicicletas” in “las bicicletas.” It introduces the specific bicycles belonging to or used by the speakers. Reuse “las” before a specific plural noun.
cerca “Cerca” means “near” in “cerca de la entrada.” The whole phrase states that the bicycles should be left close to the entrance. Reuse “cerca de” + a place or object to describe proximity.
Por “Por ahora” means “for now.” In this expression, “por” marks the current limited period during which the speakers will act. Reuse the fixed phrase “por ahora” when a situation is temporary or applies at present.
ahora “Ahora” means “now” in “Por ahora.” It refers to the present moment or current situation. Reuse “ahora” to indicate when an action is happening or being planned.
entremos “Entremos” means “let’s go inside” in “entremos y busquemos...” It is used to make a joint suggestion to enter. The form is related to “entrar”; reuse it before another coordinated action in a suggestion.
y “Y” means “and” in “entremos y busquemos.” It connects the two joint actions of going inside and finding the counter. Reuse “y” to join actions, people, or ideas.
busquemos “Busquemos” means “let’s find” in “busquemos el mostrador correcto.” It makes a joint suggestion to look for the needed counter. The form is related to “buscar”; reuse “busquemos” + an object when suggesting that you look for something together.
mostrador “Mostrador” means “counter” or “service desk” in “el mostrador correcto.” It names the desk the speakers need to locate inside city hall. Reuse “buscar el mostrador” when looking for a service counter.
correcto “Correcto” means “right” or “correct” in “el mostrador correcto.” It identifies the counter that provides the service they need, rather than just any counter. Reuse a noun + “correcto” when selecting the appropriate option.

Grammar Points

he estado + lugar

He estado dentro del edificio.

eh eh-STAH-doh DEN-troh dehl eh-dee-FEE-syoh.

I have been inside the building.

The present perfect uses haber + participle; he estado describes a past experience connected to the present.

podríamos + infinitivo

Podríamos esperar el próximo autobús.

poh-DREE-ah-mohs ehs-peh-RAHR ehl PROK-see-moh ow-toh-BOOS.

We could wait for the next bus.

The conditional podríamos expresses a possible or polite suggestion and is followed by an infinitive.

Spanish Vocabulary

al lado de prep
ahl LAH-doh deh beside; next to

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aparcamiento noun
ah-pahr-kah-MYEN-toh parking area

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ayuntamiento noun
ah-yoon-tah-MYEN-toh city hall

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bicicleta noun
bee-see-KLEH-tah bicycle bicicletas

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bonito adj
boh-NEE-toh nice; beautiful

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dentro de prep
DEN-troh deh inside

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edificio noun
eh-dee-FEE-syoh building

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entrada noun
en-TRAH-dah entrance

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esperar verb
eh-speh-RAHR to expect esperaba

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estar verb
eh-STAHR to be he estado

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gente noun
HEN-teh people

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venir verb
beh-NEER to come vino

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Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

A lot of people came by bike.

Show AnswerMucha gente vino en bicicleta.

That makes sense.

Show AnswerTiene sentido.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

entrance

Show Answerentrada

to expect

Show Answeresperaba

parking area

Show Answeraparcamiento

building

Show Answeredificio