About This Lesson
Use Talking about reading to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
¿Qué estás leyendo?
keh eh-STAS leh-YEN-doh What are you reading?
B
Estoy leyendo un libro corto.
es-TOY leh-YEN-doh oon LEE-broh KOR-toh I am reading a short book.
A
¿Te gusta la historia?
teh GOOS-tah lah ees-TOH-ryah Do you like the story?
B
Es fácil de seguir.
es fah-SEEL deh seh-GEER It is easy to follow.
A
¿Dónde lees normalmente?
DON-deh lees nor-mal-MEN-teh Where do you usually read?
B
Normalmente leo en una habitación tranquila de casa.
nor-mal-MEN-teh LEH-oh en oo-nah ah-bee-tah-see-OWN trahn-KEE-lah deh KAH-sah I usually read in a quiet room at home.
A
Eso suena tranquilo.
EH-soh SWEH-nah trahn-KEE-loh That sounds calm.
B
Me ayuda a disfrutar de mi tiempo libre.
meh ah-YOO-dah ah dees-froo-TAR deh mee TYEM-poh LEE-breh It helps me enjoy my free time.Word by Word
Qué
«Qué» asks what is being read in the question «¿Qué estás leyendo?». It is used at the beginning of this direct question to ask for the thing being read. A reusable pattern is «¿Qué + verb...?». In this dialogue, it is useful when asking someone about their current reading.
estás
«Estás» means are in «estás leyendo» and helps express an action happening now. It is the second-person form of estar used with «leyendo» for this ongoing action. A reusable pattern is «estás + gerundio». Use it when asking or saying what one person is doing at the moment.
leyendo
«Leyendo» means reading in «¿Qué estás leyendo?». It is the form of leer used with «estás» to describe reading in progress. A reusable pattern is «estar + leyendo» for an action happening now. Use it when talking about someone reading at this moment.
Estoy
«Estoy» means am in «Estoy leyendo un libro». It is the first-person form of estar and combines with «leyendo» to say that the speaker is reading now. A reusable pattern is «Estoy + gerundio». Use it to describe your own current activity.
un
«Un» means a or one before «libro» in «un libro corto». It introduces one non-specific book. A reusable pattern is «un + singular noun». Use it when mentioning one item without identifying it more specifically.
libro
«Libro» means book in «un libro corto». Here it is the thing that the speaker is reading. A reusable pattern is «leer un libro». Use it when talking about reading a book.
corto
«Corto» means short and describes «libro» in «un libro corto». Its form matches the singular masculine noun «libro». A reusable pattern is «noun + adjective», as in «libro corto». Use it to describe a book with little length.
Te
«Te» identifies the person who likes something in «¿Te gusta la historia?». With «gusta», it refers to the person experiencing the liking, here “you.” A reusable pattern is «Te gusta + singular thing». Use it when asking one person whether they like something.
gusta
«Gusta» expresses like in «¿Te gusta la historia?», literally presenting the story as pleasing to you. In this construction, «gusta» agrees with the singular thing that is pleasing, «la historia». A reusable pattern is «Te gusta + singular noun». Use it to ask about one person’s preference.
la
«La» means the before «historia» in «la historia». It points to a specific story being discussed. A reusable pattern is «la + noun» when referring to a known feminine singular noun. Here it helps identify the story the speakers are discussing.
historia
«Historia» means story in «¿Te gusta la historia?». It is the reading content whose qualities and appeal are being discussed. A reusable pattern is «leer una historia» when talking about reading a story. Use it in a conversation about the content of a book.
Es
«Es» means is in «Es fácil de seguir». It links the story’s implied quality with «fácil de seguir». A reusable pattern is «Es + adjective» for describing something. Use it when giving a simple evaluation of a story or activity.
fácil
«Fácil» means easy in «Es fácil de seguir». It evaluates the story as easy to follow. A reusable pattern is «fácil de + infinitive», as in «fácil de seguir». Use it when saying that an activity or task does not require much difficulty.
de
«De» connects «fácil» with «seguir» in the expression «fácil de seguir». Together, the expression says that the story is easy to follow; «de» introduces the action connected with «fácil». A reusable pattern is «adjective + de + infinitive». Use it when describing how easy an action is.
seguir
«Seguir» means follow in «Es fácil de seguir». Here it means following the story and keeping track of it while reading. It appears as an infinitive after «de» in «fácil de seguir». Use this form when describing an action as easy to do.
Dónde
«Dónde» asks where in «¿Dónde lees normalmente?». It asks for the place where the person usually reads. A reusable pattern is «¿Dónde + verb...?». Use it when asking someone about the location of an activity.
lees
«Lees» means you read in «¿Dónde lees normalmente?». It refers to the person’s usual reading activity, together with «normalmente». A reusable pattern is «lees + place» when asking or saying where one person reads. Use it to ask about another person’s reading habit.
normalmente
«Normalmente» means usually or normally in «¿Dónde lees normalmente?» and «Normalmente leo». It marks the reading as a usual habit rather than a single event. A reusable pattern is placing «normalmente» before or after the verb. Use it when describing what commonly happens.
leo
«Leo» means I read in «Normalmente leo en una habitación tranquila de casa». It describes the speaker’s usual reading habit because it occurs with «normalmente». A reusable pattern is «Normalmente leo + place». Use it when saying where you usually read.
en
«En» means in and introduces the location in «en una habitación tranquila de casa». It places the reading activity inside a room. A reusable pattern is «en + place». Use it to state where an activity happens.
una
«Una» means a or one before «habitación» in «una habitación tranquila». It introduces one non-specific room. Its form matches the feminine singular noun «habitación». A reusable pattern is «una + singular feminine noun».
habitación
«Habitación» means room in «una habitación tranquila de casa». It names the place where the speaker usually reads. A reusable pattern is «en una habitación + adjective» when describing a room in which an activity happens. Use it when talking about a room at home or elsewhere.
tranquila
«Tranquila» means quiet in «una habitación tranquila». It describes the room as peaceful and matches the feminine singular form of «habitación». A reusable pattern is «habitación tranquila». Use it when describing a room suitable for calm activities such as reading.
casa
«Casa» means home or house in «de casa». Here, «de casa» identifies the room as part of the home. A reusable pattern is «de + place or home noun» to show where something belongs. Use it when locating a room or object in the home context.
Eso
«Eso» means that in «Eso suena tranquilo». It refers back to the quiet reading situation just described. A reusable pattern is «Eso + verb» when reacting to something already mentioned. Use it to comment on another person’s description or idea.
suena
«Suena» means sounds in «Eso suena tranquilo». It gives an impression of the situation described by the other speaker. A reusable pattern is «Eso suena + adjective». Use it when responding to how an idea, plan, or situation seems.
tranquilo
«Tranquilo» means calm in «Eso suena tranquilo». It describes the situation referred to by «Eso» as peaceful. Its form matches the singular form of «Eso». A reusable pattern is «suena tranquilo» for saying that something seems calm.
Me
«Me» means me in «Me ayuda a disfrutar de mi tiempo libre». It identifies the person who receives the help, here the speaker. A reusable pattern is «me ayuda a + infinitive». Use it when saying that something helps you do an activity.
ayuda
«Ayuda» means helps in «Me ayuda a disfrutar de mi tiempo libre». The reading activity or situation is understood as what helps the speaker enjoy free time. A reusable pattern is «ayuda a + infinitive», with «me» showing who benefits. Use it to describe something that supports a person in doing something.
a
«A» introduces the action after «ayuda» in «me ayuda a disfrutar». It connects the help with the activity that becomes possible or easier. A reusable pattern is «ayudar a + infinitive». Use it when saying what someone or something helps a person do.
disfrutar
«Disfrutar» means enjoy in «disfrutar de mi tiempo libre». It is the infinitive naming the activity that the reading helps the speaker do. In this dialogue, it is followed by «de» and the thing enjoyed. A reusable pattern is «disfrutar de + noun».
mi
«Mi» means my before «tiempo» in «mi tiempo libre». It shows that the free time belongs to the speaker. A reusable pattern is «mi + noun». Use it when identifying something as your own.
tiempo
«Tiempo» means time in «mi tiempo libre». Together with «libre», it refers to time available for personal activities. A reusable pattern is «tiempo + adjective», as in «tiempo libre». Use it when talking about how you spend time outside other obligations.
libre
«Libre» means free in «mi tiempo libre». It describes «tiempo» as time available for personal activities. A reusable pattern is «tiempo libre». Use it when talking about leisure time.
Grammar Points
estar + gerundio
Estás leyendo un libro corto.
es-TAS leh-YEN-doh oon LEE-broh KOR-tohYou are reading a short book.
Spanish uses estar + gerundio to describe an action happening now.
gustar + noun
Me gusta la historia.
meh GOOS-tah lah ees-TOH-ryahI like the story.
With gustar, the liked thing is the grammatical subject: “the story pleases me.”
Spanish Vocabulary
corto
adj
KOR-toh
short
dónde
adv
DON-deh
where
estar
verb
eh-STAR
to be
estás
fácil
adj
fah-SEEL
easy
gustar
verb
goos-TAR
to like
gusta
habitación
noun
ah-bee-tah-see-OWN
room
historia
noun
ees-TOH-ryah
story
leer
verb
leh-EHR
to read
leyendo
libro
noun
LEE-broh
book
normalmente
adv
nor-mal-MEN-teh
usually
qué
pron
keh
what
¿Qué estás leyendo?
seguir
verb
seh-GEER
to follow
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
What are you reading?
Show Answer
¿Qué estás leyendo?I am reading a short book.
Show Answer
Estoy leyendo un libro corto.Do you like the story?
Show Answer
¿Te gusta la historia?Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
to follow
Show Answer
seguirstory
Show Answer
historiato be
Show Answer
estásto read