Changing the Meeting Place | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a meeting place, two friends change their plan because the first spot is noisy and agree to meet inside the entrance..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Changing the Meeting Place to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Necesito cambiar el plan.

neh-seh-SEE-toh kahm-BYAR el PLAHN. I need to change the plan.
B

¿Qué parte no funciona?

keh PAR-teh noh foon-SYOH-nah? What part is not working?
A

El lugar de encuentro es demasiado ruidoso.

el loo-GAR deh en-KWEN-troh es deh-mah-SYAH-doh rwee-DOH-soh. The meeting spot feels too noisy.
B

Vamos a ir a un lugar más tranquilo adentro.

BAH-mohs ah EER ah oon loo-GAR mahs trahn-KEE-loh ah-DEN-troh. Let's move somewhere quieter inside.
A

¿Podemos encontrarnos justo dentro de la entrada?

poh-DEH-mohs en-kohn-TRAR-nohs HOO-stoh DEN-troh deh lah en-TRAH-dah? Can we meet just inside the entrance?
B

Eso me parece bien.

EH-soh meh pah-REH-seh BYEN. That works for me.
A

Esperaré allí cuando llegue.

es-peh-rah-REH ah-YEE KWAN-doh YEH-geh. I'll wait there when I arrive.
B

Entonces podemos buscar un lugar tranquilo los dos.

en-TOHN-sehs poh-DEH-mohs boos-KAR oon loo-GAR trahn-KEE-loh lohs DOHS. Then we can find a quiet place together.

Word by Word

Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” here. It expresses the speaker’s need and is followed by “cambiar” in “Necesito cambiar el plan.” A reusable pattern is “Necesito” plus an infinitive or noun when stating what you need.
cambiar “Cambiar” means “to change” in “Necesito cambiar el plan.” It is the action needed after “Necesito.” A reusable pattern is “Necesito cambiar” plus the thing that will be changed.
el “El” means “the” before “plan” in “el plan” and before “lugar” in “El lugar de encuentro.” It introduces a specific masculine noun in these expressions. A reusable pattern is “el” plus a specific noun.
plan “Plan” means “plan,” the arrangement that the speaker needs to change. In “cambiar el plan,” it is the thing being changed. A reusable pattern is “el plan” when referring to a specific plan.
Qué “Qué” means “what” in the question “¿Qué parte no funciona?” It asks which part is not working. A reusable pattern is “¿Qué” plus a noun when asking which thing or part.
parte “Parte” means “part” in “¿Qué parte no funciona?” It identifies the section or aspect being discussed. A reusable pattern is “qué parte” when asking which part of something is involved.
no “No” makes “funciona” negative in “no funciona,” meaning “does not work.” It is placed before the verb. A reusable pattern is “no” plus a verb to say that an action or condition does not happen.
funciona “Funciona” means “works” or “functions” in “¿Qué parte no funciona?” It describes whether the part is operating properly. A reusable pattern is “no funciona” when something is not working.
lugar “Lugar” means “place” in “El lugar de encuentro,” the place where the people are meeting. It is followed by “de encuentro” to specify the type of place. A reusable pattern is “lugar de” plus a noun describing the place.
de “De” links “lugar” and “encuentro” in “lugar de encuentro,” showing what kind of place it is. Together, the expression means “meeting place.” A reusable pattern is “lugar de” plus an activity or purpose.
encuentro “Encuentro” means “meeting” in “lugar de encuentro.” It helps identify the place as a place for meeting. A reusable pattern is “de encuentro” after “lugar” when naming a meeting place.
es “Es” means “is” in “El lugar de encuentro es demasiado ruidoso.” It connects the meeting place with the description “demasiado ruidoso.” A reusable pattern is “X es” plus a description.
demasiado “Demasiado” means “too” or “excessively” in “demasiado ruidoso.” It shows that the noise is more than is acceptable for the speaker. It commonly comes before an adjective, as in “demasiado” plus a description.
ruidoso “Ruidoso” means “noisy” in “El lugar de encuentro es demasiado ruidoso.” It describes the meeting place as having too much noise. A reusable pattern is “es ruidoso” when describing a noisy place or situation.
Vamos “Vamos” introduces the suggestion “Vamos a ir a un lugar más tranquilo adentro,” meaning “Let’s go to a quieter place inside.” It presents a shared action or proposal. A reusable pattern is “Vamos a” plus an infinitive for suggesting an action.
a “A” is part of the action pattern “Vamos a ir,” linking “Vamos” with the infinitive “ir.” In this dialogue, the full expression means “let’s go.” A reusable pattern is “Vamos a” plus an infinitive.
ir “Ir” means “to go” in “Vamos a ir a un lugar más tranquilo adentro.” It names the movement to another place. A reusable pattern is “ir a” plus a destination.
un “Un” means “a” in “un lugar más tranquilo.” It introduces a nonspecific place. A reusable pattern is “un” plus a masculine singular noun when mentioning one nonspecific thing.
más “Más” means “more” in “más tranquilo,” making the description comparative: “quieter” or “more quiet.” It comes before the adjective here. A reusable pattern is “más” plus an adjective when comparing descriptions.
tranquilo “Tranquilo” means “quiet” in “un lugar más tranquilo.” With “más,” it describes a place that is quieter than the first meeting spot. A reusable pattern is “un lugar tranquilo” for referring to a quiet place.
adentro “Adentro” means “inside” in “un lugar más tranquilo adentro.” It indicates that the quieter place is indoors or within the building. A reusable pattern is to place “adentro” after a place description when specifying an inside location.
Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “¿Podemos encontrarnos justo dentro de la entrada?” It asks whether the two people are able or allowed to meet there. A reusable pattern is “Podemos” plus an infinitive when making a suggestion or request.
encontrarnos “Encontrarnos” means “meet” in “¿Podemos encontrarnos justo dentro de la entrada?” It refers to the two people meeting each other. A reusable pattern is “Podemos encontrarnos” followed by a place or time.
justo “Justo” means “just” or “exactly” in “justo dentro de la entrada.” It makes the location more precise. A reusable pattern is “justo” plus a place expression when specifying an exact position.
dentro “Dentro” means “inside” in “justo dentro de la entrada.” It identifies the meeting location as being within the entrance area. A reusable pattern is “dentro de” plus a place or object.
la “La” means “the” before “entrada” in “la entrada.” It introduces a specific entrance. A reusable pattern is “la” plus a specific feminine noun.
entrada “Entrada” means “entrance” in “dentro de la entrada.” It names the place near which the speakers will meet. A reusable pattern is “dentro de la entrada” when referring to the inside of an entrance area.
Eso “Eso” means “that” in “Eso me parece bien.” It points back to the suggested meeting arrangement. A reusable pattern is “Eso” plus a verb when referring to something just mentioned.
me “Me” identifies the person whose opinion is given in “me parece bien,” meaning “seems good to me.” It shows that the evaluation belongs to the speaker. A reusable pattern is “me parece” when giving your personal impression.
parece “Parece” means “seems” in “Eso me parece bien.” Together with “me” and “bien,” it expresses approval of the proposal. A reusable pattern is “me parece bien” to say that something is acceptable to you.
bien “Bien” contributes the positive evaluation “well” or “good” in “me parece bien.” The full expression “Eso me parece bien” means “That works for me” or “That seems good to me.” A reusable pattern is “me parece bien” when agreeing with a suggestion.
Esperaré “Esperaré” means “I will wait” in “Esperaré allí cuando llegue.” It tells the other person what the speaker plans to do on arrival. A reusable pattern is “Esperaré” plus a place or time expression.
allí “Allí” means “there” in “Esperaré allí.” It points to the agreed meeting location. A reusable pattern is to use “allí” after a verb when referring back to a previously mentioned place.
cuando “Cuando” means “when” in “cuando llegue.” It introduces the time at which the speaker will arrive and wait. A reusable pattern is “cuando” plus a clause to connect an action with its time.
llegue “Llegue” means “arrive” in “cuando llegue,” referring to the speaker’s arrival. It completes the time expression after “cuando.” A reusable pattern is “cuando llegue” when saying what will happen when you arrive.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” in “Entonces podemos buscar un lugar tranquilo los dos.” It connects the agreed meeting arrangement with the next action. A reusable pattern is to begin a sentence with “Entonces” when stating what follows.
buscar “Buscar” means “to look for” or “to find” in “podemos buscar un lugar tranquilo.” It describes the action of finding a quiet place. A reusable pattern is “podemos buscar” plus the thing or place you want to find.
los “Los” is part of “los dos,” which means “both” or “the two” in “buscar un lugar tranquilo los dos.” It helps refer to the two people together. A reusable pattern is “los dos” when referring to two people doing something together.
dos “Dos” means “two” in “los dos,” referring to the two speakers together. The expression “los dos” means “both of us” in this dialogue. A reusable pattern is “los dos” after or near an action to emphasize that two people do it together.

Grammar Points

poder + infinitivo

Podemos encontrarnos adentro.

poh-DEH-mohs en-kohn-TRAR-nohs ah-DEN-troh.

We can meet inside.

After poder, the following verb stays in the infinitive: podemos + encontrarnos.

cuando + subjuntivo

Cuando llegue.

KWAN-doh YEH-geh.

When I/he/she arrives.

For a future or pending event after cuando, Spanish uses the subjunctive: llegue.

Spanish Vocabulary

cambiar verb
kahm-BYAR to change

Necesito cambiar el plan.

demasiado adv
deh-mah-SYAH-doh too

El lugar de encuentro es demasiado ruidoso.

encuentro noun
en-KWEN-troh meeting

El lugar de encuentro es demasiado ruidoso.

funcionar verb
foon-syoh-NAR to work funciona

¿Qué parte no funciona?

ir verb
EER to go

Vamos a ir a un lugar más tranquilo adentro.

lugar noun
loo-GAR place

El lugar de encuentro es demasiado ruidoso.

necesitar verb
neh-seh-see-TAR to need Necesito

Necesito cambiar el plan.

parte noun
PAR-teh part

¿Qué parte no funciona?

plan noun
PLAHN plan

Necesito cambiar el plan.

qué det
KEH what

¿Qué parte no funciona?

ruidoso adj
rwee-DOH-soh noisy

El lugar de encuentro es demasiado ruidoso.

tranquilo adj
trahn-KEE-loh quiet más tranquilo

Vamos a ir a un lugar más tranquilo adentro.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I need to change the plan.

Show AnswerNecesito cambiar el plan.

What part is not working?

Show Answer¿Qué parte no funciona?

That works for me.

Show AnswerEso me parece bien.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to need

Show AnswerNecesito

too

Show Answerdemasiado

part

Show Answerparte

place

Show Answerlugar