Choosing an Event Activity | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At an event desk, two adults ask a staff member about available activities and choose a guided walk..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Choosing an Event Activity to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Disculpe, ¿en qué eventos podemos participar ahora?

dis-KOOL-peh, en KEH eh-BEN-tohs poh-DEH-mohs par-tee-see-PAR ah-OH-rah. Excuse me, which events can we join now?
C

Pueden elegir entre una caminata guiada y una sesión de baile.

PWEH-den eh-leh-HEER EN-treh OO-nah kah-mee-NAH-tah gee-AH-dah ee OO-nah seh-SYON deh BAH-ee-leh. You can choose between a guided walk and a dance session.
B

¿Cómo es la caminata guiada?

KOH-moh es lah kah-mee-NAH-tah gee-AH-dah? What is the guided walk like?
C

Un guía dirige la caminata a un ritmo lento.

oon GEE-ah dee-REE-heh lah kah-mee-NAH-tah ah oon REET-moh LEN-toh. A guide leads the walk at a slow pace.
C

Así que es fácil de seguir.

ah-SEE keh es FAH-seel deh seh-GEER. So it is easy to follow.
A

Parece fácil para un primer intento.

pah-REH-seh FAH-seel PAH-rah oon pree-MEHR een-TEHN-toh. That sounds manageable for a first try.
B

¿La sesión de baile es muy activa?

lah seh-SYON deh BAH-ee-leh es moo-EE ahk-TEE-bah? How active is the dance session?
C

Es más rápida, con pasos sencillos en grupo.

es MAHS RAH-pee-dah kohn PAH-sohs sen-SEE-yohs en GROO-poh. It moves faster, with simple steps in a group.
A

La caminata guiada es mejor para nosotros.

lah kah-mee-NAH-tah gee-AH-dah es meh-HOR PAH-rah noh-SOH-trohs. The guided walk suits us better.

Word by Word

Disculpe “Disculpe” is a polite way to get someone’s attention or say “excuse me” when addressing a staff member formally. It is used here at the beginning of a question. A common reuse pattern is “Disculpe, ¿...?” when asking a stranger or service worker for information.
en In “en qué eventos”, “en” helps express the events in which the speakers can participate. Together with “participar”, it forms the useful pattern “participar en” followed by an activity or event. This is useful when asking which activities someone may join.
qué In the question “en qué eventos”, “qué” asks which events are meant. It appears with a noun inside a question, rather than standing alone. The pattern “en qué” is useful when asking about the specific place, event, or option involved.
eventos “Eventos” means events, referring here to the activities available at the event desk. It is the object of “en qué” in “en qué eventos”. This word can be reused when discussing organized activities or scheduled occasions.
podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “podemos participar”, expressing what the speakers are able or allowed to do now. It is followed here by the infinitive “participar”. A useful reuse pattern is “podemos” plus an infinitive when making a suggestion or asking about available options.
participar “Participar” means to participate or join an activity, as in “participar ahora”. It appears after “podemos” in the infinitive form and is used with “en” for the activity or event. This is useful when talking about taking part in an event.
ahora “Ahora” means “now” and limits the question to the activities currently available. It appears at the end of “podemos participar ahora”. This word is useful whenever the timing of an action matters.
Pueden “Pueden” means “you can” when speaking to more than one person or using a formal form of address. In “Pueden elegir”, it tells the two adults that they have a choice. It is followed here by the infinitive “elegir”.
elegir “Elegir” means to choose between the available activities. In “Pueden elegir entre”, it follows “Pueden” and introduces the choice. The reusable pattern is “elegir entre” followed by two or more options.
entre “Entre” means “between” in “elegir entre una caminata guiada y una sesión de baile”. It introduces the alternatives being compared. This preposition is useful when presenting a choice between options.
una “Una” means “a” or “an” before the feminine noun “caminata”. In “una caminata guiada”, it introduces one possible activity. It is useful before a singular feminine noun when mentioning one non-specific option.
caminata “Caminata” means a walk, specifically the walking activity discussed here. In “una caminata guiada”, it is described by “guiada”. This word is useful for naming a walking activity or outing.
guiada “Guiada” means guided and describes “caminata” in “caminata guiada”. It shows that a guide leads the activity. This form is useful when describing a feminine activity that is organized or led by a guide.
y “Y” means “and” and connects “una caminata guiada” with “una sesión de baile”. It joins the two choices in the same sentence. This conjunction is useful for linking words, phrases, or activities.
sesión “Sesión” means session, referring here to one organized period of dancing. In “una sesión de baile”, “de baile” specifies the type of session. This word is useful for talking about a scheduled class, activity, or period of practice.
de In “sesión de baile”, “de” connects “sesión” with “baile” and identifies what kind of session it is. The construction describes a session related to dancing. This pattern is useful for naming an activity by placing “de” before its topic.
baile “Baile” means dance in “sesión de baile”, identifying the activity in the session. It follows “de” to describe the type of session. This word is useful when referring to dancing as an activity.
Cómo “Cómo” means “how” in the question “¿Cómo es la caminata guiada?”. Here it asks what the walk is like, including its characteristics. The pattern “¿Cómo es...?” is useful when asking someone to describe an activity or thing.
es “Es” means “is” and links the subject with its description in “es la caminata guiada” and “es fácil de seguir”. It is also used in “La caminata guiada es mejor para nosotros” to give an evaluation. This form is useful for describing or evaluating something.
la “La” means “the” before the feminine noun “caminata” in “la caminata guiada” and before “sesión” in “la sesión de baile”. The same article appears as “La” at the beginning of “La caminata guiada es mejor...”. It identifies a specific activity already being discussed.
Un “Un” means “a” or “an” before the masculine noun “guía” in “Un guía dirige...”. It introduces the guide as one person who leads the walk. The same article appears as “un” inside “a un ritmo lento”; capitalization changes because “Un” begins a sentence.
guía “Guía” means guide, the person who leads the walk in “Un guía dirige la caminata”. It is the person responsible for directing the activity. This word is useful when identifying someone who accompanies or leads visitors.
dirige “Dirige” means leads or directs in “Un guía dirige la caminata”. It describes what the guide does to organize the walk. This form is useful for saying that a person leads an activity or group.
a In “a un ritmo lento”, “a” introduces the pace at which the walk is led. The full phrase means at a slow pace. This preposition is useful in expressions that describe the manner or rate of an activity.
ritmo “Ritmo” means pace or rhythm in “a un ritmo lento”. Here it refers to how quickly the walk proceeds. This word is useful when describing the speed or regular pattern of an activity.
lento “Lento” means slow in “a un ritmo lento”. It describes the pace of the guided walk. This word is useful when explaining that an activity proceeds slowly.
Así que “Así que” means “so” or “therefore” and connects the slow pace with the conclusion that the walk is easy to follow. “Así” contributes the idea of “that way”, and “que” introduces the resulting statement. This expression is useful for stating a consequence after giving a reason.
fácil “Fácil” means easy in “es fácil de seguir”, describing the guided walk as easy to follow. It is followed here by “de” and an infinitive. The pattern “es fácil de” plus an infinitive is useful when describing an action that does not require much difficulty.
seguir “Seguir” means to follow in “es fácil de seguir”. It refers to following the guide or the route of the walk. This infinitive is useful after “fácil de” when describing an action that is easy to do.
Parece “Parece” means “seems” or “appears” in “Parece fácil”. It presents the speaker’s assessment of the activity rather than stating it as an absolute fact. The pattern “Parece” plus an adjective is useful when giving an impression.
para In “fácil para un primer intento”, “para” means “for” and identifies the situation in which the activity seems easy. In “mejor para nosotros”, it identifies the people for whom the choice is better. This preposition is useful when connecting an evaluation with a person or situation.
primer “Primer” means first in “un primer intento”, referring to an initial attempt. It appears directly before the masculine noun “intento”. This form is useful when describing the first experience or attempt at something.
intento “Intento” means attempt or try in “un primer intento”. It names the effort of doing the activity for the first time. This word is useful when discussing an effort to do or experience something.
muy “Muy” means “very” in “muy activa”, intensifying the description of the dance session. It appears directly before the adjective “activa”. This word is useful for strengthening an adjective without changing the basic meaning.
activa “Activa” means active in “La sesión de baile es muy activa”. It describes the level of physical activity in the dance session. This form is useful when evaluating how energetic an activity is.
más “Más” means “more” in “más rápida”, indicating a higher speed in comparison with the guided walk. It appears directly before the adjective “rápida”. This pattern is useful when comparing the intensity or speed of two activities.
rápida “Rápida” means faster in “Es más rápida”, describing the dance session’s speed relative to the walk. It agrees with the feminine noun “sesión” understood from the context. This form is useful when comparing how quickly a feminine activity proceeds.
con “Con” means “with” in “con pasos sencillos en grupo”. It introduces the simple steps that are part of the dance session. This preposition is useful for adding accompanying features or elements of an activity.
pasos “Pasos” means steps in “con pasos sencillos”. It refers to the movements used in the dance session. This word is useful when describing dance movements or a sequence of actions.
sencillos “Sencillos” means simple in “pasos sencillos”, describing the steps as easy or uncomplicated. It matches the plural noun “pasos”. This form is useful when describing multiple masculine things as simple.
grupo “Grupo” means group in “en grupo”, indicating that the dance steps are done collectively. The phrase describes the way the session takes place. This word is useful when talking about people participating together.
mejor “Mejor” means better in “es mejor para nosotros”, expressing the speakers’ preference for the guided walk. It is followed by “para” to identify who finds the option better. This word is useful when choosing one option as more suitable than another.
nosotros “Nosotros” means “us” in “para nosotros”, identifying the speakers as the people for whom the guided walk is better. It follows “para” in this sentence. This form is useful when making a preference or evaluation about oneself together with others.

Grammar Points

elegir entre

elegir entre caminata guiada y sesión de baile

eh-leh-HEER EN-treh kah-mee-NAH-tah gee-AH-dah ee seh-SYON deh BAH-ee-leh

to choose between a guided walk and a dance session

Use entre after elegir to introduce the options being chosen.

caminata guiada / pasos sencillos

caminata guiada; pasos sencillos

kah-mee-NAH-tah gee-AH-dah; PAH-sohs sen-SEE-yohs

guided walk; simple steps

Adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number: guiada is feminine singular, sencillos masculine plural.

Spanish Vocabulary

ahora adv
ah-OH-rah now

¿En qué eventos podemos participar ahora?

baile noun
BAH-ee-leh dance

Una sesión de baile.

caminata noun
kah-mee-NAH-tah walk

¿Cómo es la caminata guiada?

cómo adv
KOH-moh how; what ... like

¿Cómo es la caminata guiada?

Disculpe verb
dis-KOOL-peh excuse me

Disculpe, ¿en qué eventos podemos participar ahora?

elegir verb
eh-leh-HEER to choose

Pueden elegir entre una caminata guiada y una sesión de baile.

entre prep
EN-treh between

Pueden elegir entre una caminata guiada y una sesión de baile.

eventos noun
eh-BEN-tohs events

¿En qué eventos podemos participar ahora?

guía noun
GEE-ah guide

Un guía dirige la caminata.

guiada adj
gee-AH-dah guided

¿Cómo es la caminata guiada?

participar verb
par-tee-see-PAR to participate; to join

¿En qué eventos podemos participar ahora?

sesión noun
seh-SYON session

Una sesión de baile.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What is the guided walk like?

Show Answer¿Cómo es la caminata guiada?

So it is easy to follow.

Show AnswerAsí que es fácil de seguir.

That sounds manageable for a first try.

Show AnswerParece fácil para un primer intento.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

session

Show Answersesión

walk

Show Answercaminata

now

Show Answerahora

guided

Show Answerguiada