Finding a quiet study seat | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a library, one person asks whether a table is free and chooses a quiet place to study..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Finding a quiet study seat to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Está libre esta mesa?

ehs-TAH LEE-breh EHS-tah MEH-sah Is this table free?
B

No hay nadie sentado aquí.

noh eye NAH-dyeh seh-TAH-doh ah-KEE No one is sitting here.
A

Necesito un lugar tranquilo para sentarme.

neh-seh-SEE-toh oon loo-GAHR trahn-KEE-loh PAH-rah sehn-TAHR-meh I need a quiet place to sit.
B

Esta mesa está lejos de la puerta.

EHS-tah MEH-sah ehs-TAH LEH-hohs deh lah PWEHR-tah This table is away from the door.
A

Entonces, este es un buen lugar para estudiar.

ehn-TOHN-sehs EHS-teh ehs oon BWEHN loo-GAHR PAH-rah ehs-too-DYAHR Then this is a good place to study.
B

Por favor, habla en voz baja mientras estudias.

pohr fah-VOHR AH-blah ehn bohs BAH-hah MYEHN-trahs ehs-TOO-dyahs Please keep your voice low while you study.
A

Claro, hablaré en voz baja.

KLAH-roh ah-blah-REH ehn bohs BAH-hah Sure, I'll keep my voice down.
B

Eso ayuda a otras personas a estudiar.

EH-soh ah-YOO-dah ah OH-trahs pehr-SOH-nahs ah ehs-too-DYAHR That helps other people study.

Word by Word

Está “Está” means “is” here, describing the table’s current availability. It is a form of estar, used in “¿Está libre esta mesa?” for a current state. A reusable pattern is “Está + adjective” when asking or stating how something is now.
libre “Libre” means “free” or “available” here, so “¿Está libre esta mesa?” asks whether the table can be used. With a place or object, “estar libre” is a common way to ask about availability. You could use this when asking whether a seat, room, or table is available.
esta “Esta” means “this” and points to the particular table being indicated. In “esta mesa,” it comes before the noun and identifies one nearby or relevant table. Use “esta” with a feminine singular noun when referring to one specific thing.
mesa “Mesa” means “table,” the piece of furniture being checked for availability. In “esta mesa,” it follows the demonstrative “esta.” You can reuse “mesa” when talking about where someone sits, studies, or puts something.
No “No” means “not” or “no” and makes the statement negative in “No hay nadie sentado aquí.” It appears before “hay” to say that nobody is present. A common pattern is “No hay…” when saying that something or someone is not present.
hay “Hay” means “there is” or “there are” here, referring to the presence of someone sitting in the place. In “No hay nadie sentado aquí,” “no” makes the whole statement negative. Use “hay” before a person or thing when saying that it exists or is present somewhere.
nadie “Nadie” means “no one” or “nobody” in “No hay nadie sentado aquí.” Together with “No hay,” it says that no person is sitting here. You can use “nadie” when referring to an unspecified person in a negative statement.
sentado “Sentado” means “sitting” or “seated” and describes the person who might be in the place. In “No hay nadie sentado aquí,” it follows “nadie” and describes that person’s position. Use “sentado” when saying that someone is seated somewhere.
aquí “Aquí” means “here” and points to the place near the speaker. In “No hay nadie sentado aquí,” it identifies where nobody is sitting. Use “aquí” to refer to the speaker’s current location or a nearby place.
Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” and states the speaker’s need for a quiet place. It is a form of necesitar, and in “Necesito un lugar…” it comes before the thing needed. A reusable pattern is “Necesito + noun” or “Necesito + infinitive” when expressing a need.
un “Un” means “a” or “an” and introduces one unspecified place in “un lugar tranquilo.” It comes before the masculine singular noun “lugar.” Use “un” before a masculine singular noun when referring to one non-specific thing.
lugar “Lugar” means “place,” specifically the place where the speaker wants to sit. In “un lugar tranquilo,” it is followed by an adjective describing the place. You can reuse “lugar para + infinitive” to describe a place suitable for an activity.
tranquilo “Tranquilo” means “quiet” or “calm” and describes the place the speaker wants for sitting. In “un lugar tranquilo,” it follows “lugar” and gives the desired quality of that place. Use “tranquilo” to describe a place where there is little noise or disturbance.
para “Para” means “for” or “to” here and introduces the purpose of the place: sitting down. In “para sentarme,” it is followed by an infinitive with the speaker as the person carrying out the action. A reusable pattern is “un lugar para + infinitive” for a place intended for an activity.
sentarme “Sentarme” means “to sit down” in “para sentarme,” describing what the speaker wants to do in the place. The pronoun “me” is attached to the infinitive form, making the action refer to the speaker. Use “para sentarme” when explaining that a place is needed so you can sit down.
lejos “Lejos” means “far” or “away” and describes the table’s distance from the door. In “está lejos de la puerta,” it is used with “de” to identify what the table is far from. A reusable pattern is “estar lejos de + place or thing.”
de “De” means “from” here and links “lejos” to the door in “lejos de la puerta.” It identifies the point or thing from which the table is distant. Use “lejos de + noun” to say that something is far from a place or object.
la “La” means “the” and introduces the specific door in “la puerta.” It comes before the feminine singular noun “puerta.” Use “la” before a known or specific feminine singular noun.
puerta “Puerta” means “door,” the reference point for the table’s distance. In “lejos de la puerta,” it follows “de” and identifies what the table is away from. You can use “puerta” when describing where something is located in relation to a door.
Entonces “Entonces” means “then” and connects the speaker’s conclusion to the information about the table being away from the door. At the start of “Entonces, este es un buen lugar para estudiar,” it introduces the result or next thought. Use “entonces” when drawing a conclusion or moving to the next step.
este “Este” means “this” and points to the place being selected. In “este es un buen lugar,” it identifies the place as the one under discussion. Use “este” with a masculine singular noun when referring to one specific thing or place.
es “Es” means “is” and identifies this place as a good place to study. It is a form of ser used in “este es un buen lugar.” A reusable pattern is “X es + description” when identifying or describing something.
buen “Buen” means “good” in “un buen lugar para estudiar.” It is the form used before the masculine singular noun “lugar.” Use “buen” before a masculine singular noun when describing it positively.
estudiar “Estudiar” means “to study” and states the activity intended for the place. In “para estudiar,” it follows “para” to express purpose. A reusable pattern is “un lugar para estudiar” for a place where studying is intended.
Por favor “Por favor” means “please” and makes “habla en voz baja” a polite request. “Por” links the request to a favor, while “favor” names the favor being asked; together they form the polite expression. Use “Por favor” before or after a request when speaking politely.
habla “Habla” means “speak” here and gives the instruction to keep one’s voice low. In “Por favor, habla en voz baja,” it is the request directed to the other person. Use “habla” when politely telling one person to speak or behave in a certain way.
en “En” means “in” and forms part of the expression “en voz baja,” describing how someone should speak. It links the action of speaking with the manner or voice level. Use “en + noun” in expressions that describe the manner in which an action is done.
voz “Voz” means “voice” in “en voz baja.” Together with “baja,” it refers to speaking quietly rather than loudly. You can reuse “voz” when talking about how someone speaks or about the sound of a person’s voice.
baja “Baja” means “low” in “en voz baja,” so the requested voice level is quiet. It describes “voz” within this expression. Use “en voz baja” when asking someone to speak quietly.
mientras “Mientras” means “while” and links the request to the time when the other person studies. In “mientras estudias,” it introduces an action happening at the same time. Use “mientras + clause” when one action takes place during another.
estudias “Estudias” means “you study” in “mientras estudias,” referring to the person being addressed. It describes the activity that is happening while the person is asked to speak quietly. Use “mientras estudias” when referring to something done during someone’s studying.
Claro “Claro” means “sure” or “of course” here and accepts the request to speak quietly. At the beginning of “Claro, hablaré en voz baja,” it signals agreement. Use “Claro” as a brief positive reply when accepting a request or suggestion.
hablaré “Hablaré” means “I will speak” and states the speaker’s promise about how they will speak. In “hablaré en voz baja,” it is followed by the manner expression “en voz baja.” Use “hablaré + expression” when promising what you will say or how you will speak.
Eso “Eso” means “that” and refers to the agreed action of speaking in a low voice. In “Eso ayuda a otras personas a estudiar,” it is the thing that helps other people. Use “eso” to refer back to an action, idea, or situation already mentioned.
ayuda “Ayuda” means “helps” and says that the previous action benefits other people’s studying. In “Eso ayuda a otras personas a estudiar,” it comes after the subject “Eso.” A reusable pattern is “X ayuda a alguien a + infinitive” when one thing helps a person do something.
a “A” means “to” here and introduces the people who receive the help in “ayuda a otras personas.” It connects “ayuda” with the people benefited by the action. Use “ayudar a + person” when saying whom someone or something helps.
otras “Otras” means “other” and describes people besides the speaker and the person speaking quietly. In “otras personas,” it comes before the plural noun “personas.” Use “otras” before a feminine plural noun when referring to additional people or things.
personas “Personas” means “people” and refers to the other people who are studying. In “a otras personas,” it is the group receiving the help. You can reuse “ayuda a otras personas a + infinitive” to describe how an action benefits other people.

Grammar Points

hay + sustantivo

Aquí hay una mesa libre.

ah-KEE eye OO-nah MEH-sah LEE-breh

There is a free table here.

Hay means both “there is” and “there are”; it stays the same with singular and plural nouns.

mientras + presente, futuro

Mientras estudias, hablaré en voz baja.

MYEHN-trahs ehs-TOO-dyahs ah-blah-REH ehn bohs BAH-hah

While you study, I will speak in a low voice.

Mientras introduces an action happening at the same time; the main clause can use the future.

Spanish Vocabulary

aquí adv
ah-KEE here

No hay nadie sentado aquí.

hay verb
eye there is; there are

No hay nadie sentado aquí.

lejos de phrase
LEH-hohs deh far from; away from

Esta mesa está lejos de la puerta.

libre adj
LEE-breh free; available

¿Está libre esta mesa?

lugar noun
loo-GAHR place

Necesito un lugar tranquilo para sentarme.

mesa noun
MEH-sah table

¿Está libre esta mesa?

nadie pron
NAH-dyeh no one; nobody

No hay nadie sentado aquí.

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

Necesito un lugar tranquilo para sentarme.

puerta noun
PWEHR-tah door

Esta mesa está lejos de la puerta.

sentado adj
seh-TAH-doh sitting; seated

No hay nadie sentado aquí.

sentarse verb
sehn-TAHR-seh to sit down sentarme

Necesito un lugar tranquilo para sentarme.

tranquilo adj
trahn-KEE-loh quiet; calm

Necesito un lugar tranquilo para sentarme.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Is this table free?

Show Answer¿Está libre esta mesa?

No one is sitting here.

Show AnswerNo hay nadie sentado aquí.

I need a quiet place to sit.

Show AnswerNecesito un lugar tranquilo para sentarme.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

place

Show Answerlugar

here

Show Answeraquí

table

Show Answermesa

sitting; seated

Show Answersentado