Finding a book on a library shelf | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a library, one person asks where to find a book and gets help checking the shelf..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Finding a book on a library shelf to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Dónde puedo encontrar este libro?

DON-deh PWEH-doh en-kon-TRAR ES-teh LEE-broh Where can I find this book?
B

Debe estar en uno de estos estantes.

DEH-beh es-TAR en OO-noh deh ES-tos es-TAN-tes It should be on one of these shelves.
A

¿Qué estante debo mirar primero?

KEH es-TAN-teh DEH-boh mee-RAR pree-MEH-roh Which shelf should I check first?
B

Mira el estante de abajo, cerca del final.

MEE-rah el es-TAN-teh deh ah-BAH-hoh, SER-kah del fee-NAL Try the lower shelf near the end.
A

Ahora puedo ver la portada.

ah-OH-rah PWEH-doh ber lah por-TAH-dah I can see the cover now.
B

Sácalo con cuidado para que los demás sigan en su sitio.

SAH-kah-loh kon kwee-DAH-doh PAH-rah keh los deh-MAS SEE-gan en soo SEE-tyoh Pull it out carefully so the others stay in place.
A

Este es el libro correcto.

ES-teh es el LEE-broh koh-REK-toh This is the right book.
B

Puedes leerlo en esa mesa.

PWEH-des leh-ER-loh en EH-sah MEH-sah You can read it at that table.

Word by Word

Dónde “Dónde” asks for the place where something can be found; here it means “where” in “¿Dónde puedo encontrar este libro?”. It is useful in questions about location, such as a place where you can find something.
puedo “Puedo” means “I can” or “I am able to” here, as in “¿Dónde puedo encontrar este libro?”. It is followed by the infinitive “encontrar” to say what the speaker can do. A reusable pattern is “Puedo + infinitive” for something you can do.
encontrar “Encontrar” means “to find” in “¿Dónde puedo encontrar este libro?”. It stays in this form after “puedo”. A reusable pattern is “puedo encontrar + object” when asking or saying where you can find something.
este “Este” means “this” and identifies the nearby or current book in “este libro”. It agrees with the masculine singular noun “libro”. A reusable pattern is “este + masculine singular noun” for “this” thing.
libro “Libro” means “book” in “este libro”. It is the object the speaker wants to find and later identifies as “el libro correcto”. A reusable pattern is “leer un libro” for “read a book”.
Debe “Debe” means “should” here in “Debe estar en uno de estos estantes”, expressing an expectation about where the book is. It is followed by “estar” to describe its location. A reusable pattern is “debe estar + place” for something that should be in a place.
estar “Estar” means “to be” in the sense of being located somewhere in “Debe estar en uno de estos estantes”. It follows “debe” in this sentence. A reusable pattern is “estar en + place” for saying where something is.
en “En” means “in” or “on” here, showing the location of the book on a shelf: “en uno de estos estantes”. It is used before a place or location. A reusable pattern is “estar en + place”.
uno “Uno” means “one” in “uno de estos estantes”, identifying one shelf from a group. The expression is completed by “de estos estantes”, meaning “of these shelves”. A reusable pattern is “uno de + plural noun” for “one of + plural noun”.
de “De” means “of” in “uno de estos estantes”, linking one shelf to the group of shelves. It commonly introduces the group after “uno”. A reusable pattern is “uno de + plural noun” for selecting one item from several.
estos “Estos” means “these” in “estos estantes”, referring to the shelves nearby or under discussion. It agrees with the plural noun “estantes”. A reusable pattern is “estos + masculine plural noun” for “these” things.
estantes “Estantes” means “shelves” in “uno de estos estantes”. It names the places where the book may be located. A reusable pattern is “en los estantes” for “on the shelves”.
Qué “Qué” asks which one in “¿Qué estante debo mirar primero?”. It comes directly before “estante” to ask the identity of the shelf. A reusable pattern is “¿Qué + noun...?” when asking which item.
estante “Estante” means “shelf” in “¿Qué estante debo mirar primero?”. It is the singular form used when asking about one shelf. A reusable pattern is “mirar un estante” for checking a shelf.
debo “Debo” means “should” or “must” here in “¿Qué estante debo mirar primero?”, asking which shelf the speaker should check. It is followed by the infinitive “mirar”. A reusable pattern is “debo + infinitive” for something I should or must do.
mirar “Mirar” means “to look at” or “to check” in “debo mirar”. It stays in the infinitive after “debo”. A reusable pattern is “mirar + object” when checking or looking at something.
primero “Primero” means “first” in “¿Qué estante debo mirar primero?”, showing the order in which the shelves should be checked. It appears after the action “mirar”. A reusable pattern is to place “primero” after an action when saying what happens first.
Mira “Mira” tells one person to look at or check something in “Mira el estante de abajo”. It is a direct instruction to the person being addressed. A reusable pattern is “Mira + object” when directing someone’s attention.
el “El” means “the” before the masculine singular noun “estante” in “el estante de abajo”. It identifies one specific shelf. A reusable pattern is “el + masculine singular noun” for a specific thing.
abajo “Abajo” means “below” or “lower” in “el estante de abajo”, identifying the shelf lower down. It helps specify which shelf to check. A reusable pattern is “de abajo” after a noun when identifying something lower down.
cerca “Cerca” means “near” in “cerca del final”, describing the shelf’s position near the end. It is followed by “de” when naming what something is near. A reusable pattern is “cerca de + place or thing” for “near” something.
del “Del” means “of the” in “cerca del final”. It is the combined form used before the masculine singular noun “final”. A reusable pattern is “cerca del + noun” for “near the + noun” when the noun is masculine singular.
final “Final” means “end” in “cerca del final”, referring to the end of the shelf or row. It completes the location phrase after “cerca del”. A reusable pattern is “cerca del final” for something near the end.
Ahora “Ahora” means “now” in “Ahora puedo ver la portada”, marking the current moment when the speaker can see the cover. It commonly appears at the beginning of a sentence. A reusable pattern is “Ahora + sentence” to say what is happening now.
ver “Ver” means “to see” in “puedo ver la portada”. It stays in the infinitive after “puedo”. A reusable pattern is “puedo ver + object” for saying what you can see.
la “La” means “the” before the feminine singular noun “portada” in “la portada”. It identifies the specific cover of the book. A reusable pattern is “la + feminine singular noun” for a specific thing.
portada “Portada” means “cover” in “la portada”, referring to the visible cover of the book. It is the object the speaker can now see. A reusable pattern is “ver la portada” for seeing a book’s cover.
Sácalo “Sácalo” means “pull it out” or “take it out” in the instruction “Sácalo con cuidado”. It combines the command to take something out with “lo”, referring to the book. A reusable pattern is “Sácalo + manner” when telling someone to take a masculine object out.
con “Con” means “with” in “con cuidado”, describing how the book should be pulled out. It introduces the noun “cuidado”. A reusable pattern is “con + noun” for describing the manner of an action.
cuidado “Cuidado” means “care” in “con cuidado”, so the instruction is to pull the book out carefully. The expression “con cuidado” is used to describe a careful manner. A reusable pattern is “hacer algo con cuidado” for doing something carefully.
para “Para” introduces the purpose of the instruction in “para que los demás sigan en su sitio”. It means “so that” together with “que” here. A reusable pattern is “para que + clause” when explaining the intended result of an action.
que “Que” links the purpose clause in “para que los demás sigan en su sitio”. Together, “para que” means “so that”; the whole expression explains the intended result of pulling the book out carefully. A reusable pattern is “para que + sentence” for a purpose or desired result.
los “Los” means “the” before “demás” in “los demás”, identifying the other books. It is part of the expression referring to the remaining items. A reusable pattern is “los + masculine plural noun” for specific plural things.
demás “Demás” means “the others” in “los demás”, referring here to the other books on the shelf. It is used with “los” in this dialogue. A reusable pattern is “los demás” when referring to the remaining people or things in a group.
sigan “Sigan” means “continue” or “remain” here in “sigan en su sitio”, describing the other books staying in place. It appears after “para que” to express the intended result. A reusable pattern is “seguir en + place” for something that remains in a place.
su “Su” means “their” in “su sitio”, referring to the place belonging to the other books. It comes directly before the noun “sitio”. A reusable pattern is “su + noun” for “their” or “its” thing, depending on the context.
sitio “Sitio” means “place” in “en su sitio”, referring to the books’ proper position on the shelf. The full expression “seguir en su sitio” means to remain in place. A reusable pattern is “en su sitio” for something being in its proper place.
es “Es” means “is” in “Este es el libro correcto”, identifying the book as the correct one. It connects “este” with the description that follows. A reusable pattern is “Este es + noun” for identifying something.
correcto “Correcto” means “correct” or “right” in “el libro correcto”, showing that this is the book the speaker wanted. It agrees with the masculine singular noun “libro”. A reusable pattern is “el/la + noun + adjective” for describing a specific thing.
Puedes “Puedes” means “you can” or “you are able to” in “Puedes leerlo en esa mesa”. It is followed by the infinitive “leerlo” to say what the person can do. A reusable pattern is “Puedes + infinitive” when giving permission or describing ability.
leerlo “Leerlo” means “to read it” in “Puedes leerlo”, referring to the book. It combines the infinitive “leer” with “lo” attached to the end. A reusable pattern is “puedes leerlo” for saying that someone can read a specific masculine object.
esa “Esa” means “that” in “esa mesa”, identifying a particular table. It agrees with the feminine singular noun “mesa”. A reusable pattern is “esa + feminine singular noun” for “that” thing.
mesa “Mesa” means “table” in “esa mesa”, naming the place where the person can read the book. It follows the demonstrative “esa”. A reusable pattern is “en una mesa” or “en esa mesa” when saying where someone can read or work.

Grammar Points

Imperativo + pronombre de objeto: saca + lo → sácalo

Sácalo con cuidado.

SAH-kah-loh kon kwee-DAH-doh

Take it out carefully.

In commands, the object pronoun can attach to the verb: saca + lo becomes sácalo, with an accent mark.

deber + infinitivo

Debe estar cerca de la mesa.

DEH-beh es-TAR SER-kah deh lah MEH-sah

It must be near the table.

Debe + infinitive expresses obligation or a strong assumption, similar to “must” or “should” in English.

Spanish Vocabulary

deber verb
deh-BER should; must debe
dónde adv
DON-deh where
encontrar verb
en-kon-TRAR to find
estante noun
es-TAN-teh shelf estantes
estar verb
es-TAR to be
este det
ES-teh this
estos det
ES-tos these
libro noun
LEE-broh book
mirar verb
mee-RAR to look at; to check
poder verb
poh-DER can; to be able to puedo
qué det
KEH which; what
uno pron
OO-noh one

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Where can I find this book?

Show Answer¿Dónde puedo encontrar este libro?

Which shelf should I check first?

Show Answer¿Qué estante debo mirar primero?

I can see the cover now.

Show AnswerAhora puedo ver la portada.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

these

Show Answerestos

can; to be able to

Show Answerpuedo

where

Show Answerdónde

book

Show Answerlibro