Finding the Event Registration Desk | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a city hall lobby, two adults use the floor guide and stairs to find the event registration desk..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Finding the Event Registration Desk to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Este edificio se siente muy limpio por dentro.

ES-teh eh-dee-FEE-syoh seh SYEN-teh mwee LEEM-pyoh por DEN-troh. This building feels very clean inside.
B

El techo alto hace que el vestíbulo se sienta amplio.

el TEH-choh AL-toh AH-seh keh el bes-TEE-boo-loh seh SYEN-tah ahm-PLEE-oh. The high ceiling makes the lobby feel open.
A

Busquemos el mostrador de inscripción del evento.

boos-KEH-mos el mos-trah-DOR deh een-skreep-SYON del eh-BEN-toh. Let's find the event desk for registration.
B

Voy a consultar el directorio del edificio junto a la pared.

BOY ah kohn-sool-TAR el dee-rek-TOH-ryoh del eh-dee-FEE-syoh HOON-toh ah lah pah-RED. I'll check the building directory by the wall.
A

Dice que el mostrador del evento está arriba.

DEE-seh keh el mos-trah-DOR del eh-BEN-toh es-TAH ah-RREE-bah. It says the event desk is upstairs.
B

¿Tomamos la escalera mecánica o las escaleras?

toh-MAH-mos lah es-kah-LEH-rah meh-KAH-nee-kah oh lah es-kah-LEH-rahs? Should we take the escalator or the stairs?
A

Tomemos las escaleras; están aquí mismo.

toh-MEH-mos las es-kah-LEH-rahs; es-TAHN ah-KEE MEES-moh. Let's take the stairs; they are right here.
B

Las escaleras de madera hacen que el lugar se sienta acogedor.

las es-kah-LEH-rahs deh mah-DEH-rah AH-sen keh el loo-GAR seh SYEN-tah ah-koh-heh-DOR. The wooden stairs make the place feel warm.

Word by Word

Este In 'Este edificio', this points to the building being discussed. It is used before a singular masculine noun, so the reusable pattern is 'Este + noun'. Use it when identifying one nearby or currently relevant thing.
edificio In 'Este edificio', 'edificio' means building. It names the building whose interior is being described, and it can be used after a determiner such as 'Este'. Use it when talking about a place with rooms, floors, or public facilities.
se In 'se siente', 'se' is the pronoun used with the verb form meaning feels. Together, 'se siente' describes how a person or place seems or feels, rather than giving the meaning to 'se' alone. Use this pattern before an adjective describing the subject.
siente In 'se siente muy limpio', 'siente' contributes the meaning feels. The phrase describes the building's perceived condition, and the reusable pattern is 'se siente + adjective'. Use it when describing how a place or person seems to you.
muy In 'muy limpio', 'muy' strengthens the adjective and means very. It is placed directly before an adjective, giving the pattern 'muy + adjective'. Use it when you want to make a description stronger.
limpio In 'se siente muy limpio', 'limpio' describes the building as clean. It follows 'muy' and describes the subject after 'se siente'. Use it when commenting on the cleanliness of an interior or other place.
por In 'por dentro', 'por' helps express the inside aspect of the description. The whole phrase 'por dentro' means inside, so its meaning should be learned together rather than assigned to 'por' alone. Use 'por dentro' when describing how something is on its inner side.
dentro In 'por dentro', 'dentro' means inside. Together with 'por', it specifies that the building feels clean on the interior, and the reusable expression is 'por dentro'. Use it when contrasting or describing the inside of a place or object.
El In 'El techo', 'El' means the and introduces the specific ceiling being discussed. It appears before a singular masculine noun, giving the pattern 'El + noun'. Use it when referring to one identified masculine-noun item.
techo In 'El techo alto', 'techo' means ceiling. It identifies the overhead part of the building that is described as high, and it can be combined with an adjective after the noun. Use it when describing a room's interior structure.
alto In 'El techo alto', 'alto' means high and describes the ceiling. It follows the noun it describes in this phrase, forming 'noun + adjective'. Use it when describing the height of a ceiling or another object.
hace In 'hace que el vestíbulo se sienta amplio', 'hace' contributes the idea of makes or causes. The full structure 'hace que + clause' explains that one feature produces a feeling or result. Use it when saying that something causes a person or place to seem a certain way.
que In 'hace que el vestíbulo se sienta amplio', 'que' introduces the clause describing the result of the ceiling's effect. It belongs to the reusable structure 'hace que + clause', not to the meaning of 'hace' by itself. Use this link when connecting a cause with what it makes happen or feel.
vestíbulo In 'El vestíbulo', 'vestíbulo' means lobby, the entrance area of the building. It is the place described as feeling spacious, and it can be introduced with 'El'. Use it when talking about the main entrance area of a public building.
sienta In 'se sienta amplio', 'sienta' contributes the meaning feel or seem within the clause introduced by 'hace que'. The reusable pattern is 'se sienta + adjective', which describes the resulting impression of the subject. Use it when explaining how a place seems after something affects it.
amplio In 'se sienta amplio', 'amplio' describes the lobby as spacious or open. It is the adjective naming the resulting impression after 'se sienta'. Use it when describing the amount of open space in a room or public area.
Busquemos In 'Busquemos el mostrador', 'Busquemos' proposes that the speakers find something together. It is followed by the object being sought, giving the reusable pattern 'Busquemos + object'. Use it when suggesting a joint search for a place or item.
mostrador In 'el mostrador de inscripción', 'mostrador' means desk or counter where a service is provided. The phrase identifies the particular desk by its purpose, using 'mostrador de + activity'. Use it when looking for a service desk in a public building.
de In 'mostrador de inscripción', 'de' links the desk with the activity it serves, giving the meaning desk for registration. The reusable pattern is 'noun de + activity or purpose'. Use it to identify what a desk, room, or service is for.
inscripción In 'de inscripción', 'inscripción' means registration, the activity handled at the desk. It specifies the purpose of 'mostrador' through the pattern 'mostrador de inscripción'. Use it when referring to the process of registering for an event or activity.
del In 'del evento', 'del' means of the and connects the desk with the specific event. It is the contracted form used in this phrase, giving the pattern 'noun del + noun'. Use it when identifying something as belonging to or relating to a particular event.
evento In 'del evento', 'evento' means event. It identifies which event the desk belongs to or serves, and it follows 'del' in the phrase. Use it when referring to an organized public activity or occasion.
Voy In 'Voy a consultar', 'Voy' contributes the speaker's intention to do something. Together, 'Voy a + infinitive' expresses a planned or immediate action, with 'consultar' as the action here. Use it when announcing what you are about to do.
a In 'Voy a consultar', 'a' links 'Voy' with the planned action 'consultar'. The reusable structure is 'Voy a + infinitive', which expresses an intention or near-future action. Use it when saying that you are going to perform an action.
consultar In 'Voy a consultar el directorio', 'consultar' means check or consult by looking at a source for information. It follows 'Voy a' in the reusable pattern 'Voy a consultar + information source'. Use it when checking a directory or another information source.
directorio In 'el directorio del edificio', 'directorio' means directory, the guide that gives information about the building. It is identified by the phrase 'del edificio', and the reusable pattern is 'consultar el directorio'. Use it when looking for rooms, services, or locations in a building.
junto In 'junto a la pared', 'junto' contributes the idea of being next to something. The whole expression 'junto a + place or object' gives the location, so it should be learned as a unit. Use it when saying that something is beside a wall or another reference point.
la In 'la pared', 'la' means the and introduces the specific wall beside which the directory is located. It appears before a singular feminine noun, giving the pattern 'la + noun'. Use it when referring to one identified feminine-noun item.
pared In 'junto a la pared', 'pared' means wall. It is the reference point for the directory's location, and it follows 'la' in the phrase. Use it when describing where something is positioned inside a building.
Dice In 'Dice que el mostrador está arriba', 'Dice' means says or indicates, referring here to the information in the directory. The reusable pattern is 'Dice que + information'. Use it when reporting what a sign, guide, or written source tells you.
está In 'está arriba', 'está' says where the event desk is located. The reusable pattern is 'está + location', and here the location is 'arriba'. Use it when giving the position of a place or object.
arriba In 'está arriba', 'arriba' means upstairs or up above. It supplies the location after 'está', telling the speakers where to go. Use it when directing someone to a higher level or position.
Tomamos In '¿Tomamos la escalera mecánica o las escaleras?', 'Tomamos' asks whether the speakers should take one of the available routes. It is used to present a shared choice, with the options following it. Use this question pattern when deciding together how to travel or move somewhere.
escalera In 'la escalera mecánica', 'escalera' is the stairway part of the expression for an escalator. Its exact meaning here comes with 'mecánica', and the reusable pattern is 'la escalera + descriptor'. Use it when identifying one type of route between floors.
mecánica In 'la escalera mecánica', 'mecánica' means mechanical and identifies the stairway as a moving escalator. It follows 'escalera' and describes what kind of stairway it is. Use this expression when choosing an escalator as a way to go upstairs.
o In 'la escalera mecánica o las escaleras', 'o' means or and connects the two route choices. The reusable pattern is 'A o B' when offering alternatives. Use it when asking someone to choose between two options.
las In 'las escaleras', 'las' means the and introduces the specific stairs the speakers can use. It comes before a plural feminine noun, giving the pattern 'las + noun'. Use it when referring to several identified feminine-noun items.
escaleras In 'las escaleras', 'escaleras' means stairs. It names the route the speakers decide to use, and it appears with 'las' as a plural noun. Use it when referring to a staircase as a way to move between floors.
Tomemos In 'Tomemos las escaleras', 'Tomemos' proposes that the speakers take the stairs together. It is followed by the chosen route, giving the reusable pattern 'Tomemos + option'. Use it when making a joint decision about which route to take.
están In 'están aquí mismo', 'están' says that the stairs are located somewhere. Because the subject is the plural 'escaleras', the location statement uses this plural form. Use the pattern 'están + location' when locating more than one thing.
aquí In 'aquí mismo', 'aquí' means here and identifies the speakers' current location. Together with 'mismo', it forms the emphatic phrase 'aquí mismo'. Use it when pointing out that something is in the exact place where you are.
mismo In 'aquí mismo', 'mismo' adds emphasis to the location and means right or exactly here. Its contribution is to strengthen the whole phrase 'aquí mismo', rather than to give a separate location by itself. Use this expression when the nearby or exact position matters.
madera In 'de madera', 'madera' means wood and identifies the material of the stairs. The reusable pattern is 'de + material', as in 'escaleras de madera'. Use it when describing what a structure or object is made of.
hacen In 'hacen que el lugar se sienta acogedor', 'hacen' contributes the idea make or cause, with the stairs as the plural subject. The full structure 'hacen que + clause' explains the effect produced by something. Use it when describing how several things create a particular impression.
lugar In 'el lugar', 'lugar' means place and refers to the area being evaluated. It is the subject of the feeling described by 'se sienta acogedor', and it can be introduced with 'el'. Use it when talking about a location as a setting or environment.
acogedor In 'se sienta acogedor', 'acogedor' describes the place as cozy or welcoming. It gives the result of the stairs' effect in the structure 'se sienta + adjective'. Use it when describing a place that feels comfortable and inviting.

Grammar Points

busquemos / tomemos

Busquemos el mostrador.

boos-KEH-mos el mos-trah-DOR.

Let's find the desk.

The first-person plural subjunctive expresses a suggestion or proposal: “let’s …”.

sustantivo + adjetivo

edificio limpio

eh-dee-FEE-syoh LEEM-pyoh

clean building

Spanish adjectives often follow the noun and agree with it in gender and number.

Spanish Vocabulary

alto adj
AL-toh high
amplio adj
AHM-plyoh open; spacious
busquemos verb
boos-KEH-mos let's find
consultar verb
kohn-sool-TAR to check; to consult
edificio noun
eh-dee-FEE-syoh building
evento noun
eh-BEN-toh event
inscripción noun
een-skreep-SYON registration
limpio adj
LEEM-pyoh clean
mostrador noun
mos-trah-DOR desk; counter
por dentro phrase
por DEN-troh inside
techo noun
TEH-choh ceiling
vestíbulo noun
bes-TEE-boo-loh lobby

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Let's take the stairs; they are right here.

Show AnswerTomemos las escaleras; están aquí mismo.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

open; spacious

Show Answeramplio

building

Show Answeredificio

let's find

Show Answerbusquemos

ceiling

Show Answertecho