Understanding a lesson question | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults work through a confusing lesson question by reading the sentence again..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Understanding a lesson question to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

No entiendo esta parte de la lección.

noh en-tee-EN-doh ES-tah PAR-teh deh lah lek-see-OWN I don't understand this part of the lesson.
B

¿Qué pregunta te cuesta?

keh preh-GOON-tah teh KWEH-stah Which question is giving you trouble?
A

Esta respuesta no tiene sentido para mí.

ES-tah res-PWES-tah noh TYEH-neh sen-TEE-doh pah-rah MEE The answer here doesn't make sense to me.
B

Primero, vamos a leer la oración.

pree-MEH-roh, BAH-mohs ah leh-ER lah oh-rah-SYOWN Let's read the sentence first.
B

Después, revisa la respuesta.

dehs-PWES, reh-BEE-sah lah res-PWES-tah Then check the answer.
A

¿Puedes leer la oración en voz alta?

PWEH-dehs leh-ER lah oh-rah-SYOWN en bohs AL-tah Can you read the sentence aloud?
B

Voy a leerla despacio.

boy ah leh-ER-lah deh-SPAH-syoh I'll read it slowly.
A

Voy a escribir las palabras clave en mi cuaderno.

boy ah es-kree-BEER las pah-LAH-brahs KLAH-beh en mee kwah-DEHR-noh I'll write the key words in my notebook.
B

Entonces, intentemos responder otra vez.

en-TON-sehs, een-ten-TEH-mohs res-pon-DEHR OH-trah behs Then let's try the answer again.

Word by Word

No “No” makes the statement negative: here, the speaker does not understand. It normally comes directly before the verb, as in “No entiendo”. Use it when saying that an action or situation is not the case.
entiendo “Entiendo” means “I understand” here, so “No entiendo” means “I don't understand.” This is the dialogue form of entender used with the speaker as the subject. Use “entiendo” for something you understand, such as a lesson or explanation.
esta “Esta” means “this” and points to the specific part being discussed in “esta parte”. It appears before the noun it describes. Use “esta” when identifying one nearby or currently relevant feminine noun.
parte “Parte” means “part”; in “esta parte de la lección”, it refers to one section of the lesson. The pattern “parte de” identifies a section belonging to a larger thing. Use it for one section or portion of something.
de “De” links “parte” with “la lección” and means “of” in “parte de la lección”. It commonly introduces the larger thing that a part belongs to or comes from. Use “de” in expressions such as “parte de” plus a noun.
la “La” means “the” before “lección” in “la lección”. It identifies a specific lesson already understood from the context. Use “la” before a specific feminine noun.
lección “Lección” means “lesson”; here it is the lesson containing the confusing part. The expression “parte de la lección” means “part of the lesson”. Use “lección” when talking about a lesson or teaching unit.
Qué “Qué” asks which or what in “Qué pregunta”, so the speaker is asking the learner to identify the question causing difficulty. It appears at the beginning of this question and has an accent mark here. Use “qué” when asking for identification or information.
pregunta “Pregunta” means “question”; in “Qué pregunta”, it identifies the lesson question that is difficult. It can be used after “qué” to ask which question someone means. Use “pregunta” for a question in a lesson or conversation.
te “Te” means “to you” in “te cuesta”, showing who experiences the difficulty. Together, “te cuesta” means that something is difficult for you. Use “te” with expressions that describe something affecting or being difficult for another person.
cuesta “Cuesta” means “is difficult” in the expression “te cuesta”. The full expression “te cuesta” says that the question gives you trouble, with “te” identifying the person affected. Use “cuesta” in this pattern when describing something that is difficult for someone.
respuesta “Respuesta” means “answer”; here it refers to the answer being discussed. In “Esta respuesta”, it is identified as a particular answer. Use “respuesta” for an answer to a question.
tiene sentido “Tiene sentido” means “makes sense” as a whole in “no tiene sentido para mí”. Here, “tiene” contributes “has” and “sentido” contributes “sense”, but together they describe whether something is understandable or logical. Use “tiene sentido” when an answer, explanation, or idea seems clear or logical.
para “Para” means “for” in “para mí” and marks the person whose perspective is being described. The pattern “para” plus a person expresses how something seems to that person. Use “para” when giving a viewpoint or intended recipient.
mí “Mí” means “me” after “para” in “para mí”, so the speaker says that the answer does not make sense from their perspective. The accent mark distinguishes this form from the possessive “mi” in “mi cuaderno”. Use “para mí” to say how something seems to you.
Primero “Primero” means “first” and sets the order of the proposed actions: first read the sentence. It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence to introduce the first step. Use “primero” when organizing instructions or actions in sequence.
vamos “Vamos” helps form the suggestion “vamos a leer”, meaning “let's read”. Here it introduces a shared action rather than describing movement to a place. Use “vamos a” followed by an infinitive to suggest doing something together.
a “A” is part of the construction “vamos a leer”, which introduces the action that is being proposed. It appears between “vamos” and the infinitive “leer”. Use “a” in the reusable pattern “vamos a” plus an infinitive for a joint plan or suggestion.
leer “Leer” means “to read”; in “vamos a leer la oración”, it is the action being suggested. It follows “vamos a” in this sentence. Use “leer” before the thing being read, such as “leer la oración”.
oración “Oración” means “sentence” here and is the item they will read. The phrase “leer la oración” means “read the sentence”. Use “oración” when referring to a sentence in a lesson or written text.
Después “Después” means “then” or “afterward” and introduces the next step after reading the sentence. It is placed at the beginning of the instruction “Después, revisa la respuesta”. Use “después” to show that one action follows another.
revisa “Revisa” means “check” in this direct instruction to check the answer. It is used before “la respuesta”, the thing being checked. Use “revisa” when telling someone to check a specific answer, text, or item.
Puedes “Puedes” means “can you” in “¿Puedes leer...?”, asking whether the other person is able or willing to read. It is followed by the infinitive “leer”. Use “¿Puedes” plus an infinitive to ask someone to do something.
en voz alta “En voz alta” means “aloud” as a whole in “leer la oración en voz alta”. The components contribute “en” as “in”, “voz” as “voice”, and “alta” as “high”, forming the expression for speaking so others can hear. Use “en voz alta” after an action such as “leer” when the action should be audible.
Voy “Voy” helps form “voy a leerla”, meaning “I am going to read it” or “I'll read it”. Here it introduces the speaker's intention to perform the following action. Use “voy a” followed by an infinitive to state what you are going to do.
leerla “Leerla” means “read it” in “Voy a leerla”, referring back to “la oración”. It combines “leer” with “la”, which represents the sentence being read. Use this form when the thing being read is a previously mentioned feminine noun.
despacio “Despacio” means “slowly” and describes how the speaker will read the sentence. It comes after “leerla” in “Voy a leerla despacio”. Use “despacio” after an action to say that it is done slowly.
escribir “Escribir” means “to write”; in “voy a escribir”, it is the action the speaker intends to do. It follows “voy a” as an infinitive. Use “escribir” before the thing being written, such as “escribir las palabras clave”.
las “Las” means “the” before “palabras” in “las palabras clave”. It identifies specific words, namely the key words the speaker plans to write down. Use “las” before specific feminine plural nouns.
palabras “Palabras” means “words”; here it refers to the key words from the lesson. The phrase “las palabras clave” identifies the words that are especially important. Use “palabras” when talking about written or spoken words.
clave “Clave” means “key” or “important” in “las palabras clave”. It describes which words the speaker will write: the words that help with understanding the lesson. Use “palabras clave” for important words in a text or lesson.
en “En” means “in” in “en mi cuaderno”, showing where the words will be written. It comes before the place or container. Use “en” with a noun to say where something is located or where an action takes place.
mi “Mi” means “my” in “mi cuaderno” and identifies the notebook as belonging to the speaker. It appears directly before the noun it describes. Use “mi” before a singular noun when referring to something belonging to you.
cuaderno “Cuaderno” means “notebook”; here it is the place where the speaker will write the key words. The phrase “en mi cuaderno” means “in my notebook”. Use “cuaderno” for a notebook used for writing or studying.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” and connects the next suggestion with the earlier steps. In “Entonces, intentemos responder otra vez”, it introduces what they will do after reviewing the material. Use “entonces” to move to a resulting or next action.
intentemos “Intentemos” means “let's try” and invites the speakers to make another attempt together. It is followed by the infinitive “responder” in “intentemos responder”. Use “intentemos” plus an infinitive to suggest trying an action together.
responder “Responder” means “to answer” or “to respond”; here it is the action they will try again. It follows “intentemos” in the pattern “intentemos responder”. Use “responder” when giving an answer to a question.
otra vez “Otra vez” means “again” as a whole in “intentemos responder otra vez”. The components contribute “otra” as “another” and “vez” as “time”, expressing a repeated attempt. Use “otra vez” after an action when you want it to happen again.

Grammar Points

vamos a + infinitivo

Vamos a leer.

BAH-mohs ah leh-ER

Let's read.

This structure expresses a suggestion (“let's...”) or a near-future action (“we are going to...”); the verb after a is infinitive.

infinitivo + pronombre de objeto

Puedes leerla.

PWEH-dehs leh-ER-lah

You can read it.

With an infinitive, the object pronoun can attach to the end: leer + la = leerla. Puedes comes before the infinitive.

Spanish Vocabulary

cuesta verb
KWEH-stah is difficult for you

¿Qué pregunta te cuesta?

entiendo verb
en-tee-EN-doh understand

No entiendo esta parte de la lección.

lección noun
lek-see-OWN lesson

No entiendo esta parte de la lección.

oración noun
oh-rah-SYOWN sentence

Primero, vamos a leer la oración.

para mí phrase
PAH-rah MEE to me; for me

Esta respuesta no tiene sentido para mí.

parte noun
PAR-teh part

No entiendo esta parte de la lección.

pregunta noun
preh-GOON-tah question

¿Qué pregunta te cuesta?

primero adv
pree-MEH-roh first

Primero, vamos a leer la oración.

qué det
keh which; what

¿Qué pregunta te cuesta?

respuesta noun
res-PWES-tah answer

Esta respuesta no tiene sentido para mí.

tiene sentido phrase
TYEH-neh sen-TEE-doh makes sense

Esta respuesta no tiene sentido para mí.

vamos a leer phrase
BAH-mohs ah leh-ER let's read; we are going to read

Primero, vamos a leer la oración.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Which question is giving you trouble?

Show Answer¿Qué pregunta te cuesta?

Let's read the sentence first.

Show AnswerPrimero, vamos a leer la oración.

Then check the answer.

Show AnswerDespués, revisa la respuesta.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

answer

Show Answerrespuesta

question

Show Answerpregunta

part

Show Answerparte

understand

Show Answerentiendo