About This Lesson
Use Taking photos of quiet streets to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.
Dialogue
A
¿Tomas fotos?
TOH-mahs FOH-tohs? Do you take photos?
B
Uso mi cámara pequeña casi todos los días.
OO-soh mee KAH-mah-rah peh-KEH-nyah KAH-see TOH-dohs lohs DEE-ahs. I use my small camera most days.
A
¿Qué te gusta fotografiar?
keh teh GOOS-tah foh-toh-grah-FYAR? What do you like to photograph?
B
Las calles tranquilas son mis favoritas.
Lahs KAH-yehs trahn-KEE-lahs sohn mees fah-boh-REE-tahs. Quiet streets are my favorite.
A
¿Puedo ver una?
PWEH-doh BEHR OO-nah? Can I see one?
B
Aquí tienes una que tomé cerca de mi casa.
ah-KEE tee-EH-nehs OO-nah keh toh-MEH SEHR-kah deh mee KAH-sah. Here is one I took near my home.
A
Se ve sencilla y clara.
seh beh sehn-SEE-yah ee KLAH-rah. It looks simple and clear.
B
Practico cuando tengo tiempo.
prahk-TEE-koh KWAHN-doh TEHN-goh TYEM-poh. I practice whenever I have time.Word by Word
Tomas
In «¿Tomas fotos?», «Tomas» means “take” as part of the question about taking photos. Its citation form is «tomar». A reusable pattern is «¿Tomas + object?», such as the dialogue phrase «¿Tomas fotos?».
fotos
«Fotos» means “photos” in «Tomas fotos». Its citation form is «foto»; «fotos» is the plural form. It can be used after a verb to name the things being photographed, as in «Tomas fotos».
Uso
«Uso» means “I use” in «Uso mi cámara pequeña». Its citation form is «usar». A reusable pattern is «Uso + object», as in «Uso mi cámara pequeña».
mi
«Mi» means “my” before a singular noun, as in «mi cámara» and «mi casa». It identifies something connected with the speaker. A reusable pattern is «mi + singular noun».
cámara
«Cámara» means “camera” in «mi cámara pequeña». It names the object the speaker uses for taking photos. It can be used after a possessive, as in «mi cámara».
pequeña
«Pequeña» means “small” and describes the camera in «cámara pequeña». Its citation form is «pequeño»; «pequeña» is the feminine singular form used here. A reusable pattern is «noun + adjective», as in «cámara pequeña».
casi
«Casi» means “almost” in «casi todos los días». It makes the time expression less than completely regular: nearly every day. A reusable pattern is «casi + time or quantity expression».
todos
«Todos» contributes “all” or “every” in «casi todos los días». Its citation form is «todo»; «todos» is the masculine plural form used with «días». The expression «todos los días» is a common way to say “every day.”
los
«Los» is the definite article before «días» in «todos los días». It marks the following noun as plural and masculine in this expression. A reusable pattern is «los + plural noun».
días
«Días» means “days” in «todos los días». Its citation form is «día»; «días» is the plural form. Together with «todos los», it forms the common time expression «todos los días».
Qué
«Qué» means “what” in «¿Qué te gusta fotografiar?». It asks which thing or activity is the focus of the question. The accent is part of this interrogative form. A reusable pattern is «¿Qué + verb...?», as in the dialogue question.
te
In «¿Qué te gusta fotografiar?», «te» marks the person who has the preference: “you.” Together, «te gusta fotografiar» expresses that photographing is pleasing to you or that you like photographing. A reusable pattern is «te gusta + infinitive».
gusta
«Gusta» contributes the meaning of “like” in the construction «te gusta fotografiar». Its citation form is «gustar». The reusable pattern «te gusta + infinitive» is used to ask or say what someone likes doing.
fotografiar
«Fotografiar» means “to photograph” in «te gusta fotografiar». It is the infinitive naming the activity that is liked. Its citation form is also «fotografiar». A reusable pattern is «gusta + infinitive» for describing a liked activity.
Las
«Las» is the definite article before «calles» in «Las calles tranquilas». It marks the following noun as feminine and plural in this phrase. A reusable pattern is «las + plural noun».
calles
«Calles» means “streets” in «Las calles tranquilas». Its citation form is «calle»; «calles» is the plural form. It can be followed by an adjective to describe the streets, as in «calles tranquilas».
tranquilas
«Tranquilas» means “quiet” in «calles tranquilas». Its citation form is «tranquilo»; «tranquilas» is the feminine plural form used with «calles». A reusable pattern is «noun + adjective» for describing places.
son
«Son» means “are” in «Las calles tranquilas son mis favoritas». Its citation form is «ser». It links the subject «Las calles tranquilas» with the description «mis favoritas». A reusable pattern is «plural subject + son + description».
mis
«Mis» means “my” before the plural expression «mis favoritas». Its citation form is «mi»; «mis» is the plural form used with more than one thing. A reusable pattern is «mis + plural noun or adjective used as a noun».
favoritas
«Favoritas» means “favorite” in «mis favoritas», referring to the favorite streets. Its citation form is «favorito»; «favoritas» is the feminine plural form used here. «Son mis favoritas» is a reusable way to express a preference for several feminine things.
Puedo
«Puedo» means “can I” or “may I” in «¿Puedo ver una?». Its citation form is «poder». It introduces a polite question about permission or possibility. A reusable pattern is «¿Puedo + infinitive...?», as in «¿Puedo ver una?».
ver
«Ver» means “to see” in «¿Puedo ver una?». It is the infinitive that follows «Puedo» and names the requested action. A reusable pattern is «Puedo ver + object» when asking to look at something.
una
«Una» means “one” here and stands for one feminine item, the photo being discussed in «¿Puedo ver una?». It allows the noun to be left understood instead of repeated. A reusable pattern is «ver una» when the feminine item is already clear from the conversation.
Aquí
«Aquí» means “here” in «Aquí tienes una». It points to the item being shown or offered. A common reusable expression is «Aquí tienes + item» when handing or presenting something to someone.
tienes
In the expression «Aquí tienes», «tienes» comes from «tener» and contributes the idea of “you have”; the whole expression presents something as “here is” or “here you are.” Its citation form is «tener». A reusable pattern is «Aquí tienes + item» when offering or showing something.
que
«Que» links «una» with the information «tomé» in «una que tomé». Here it means “that” or “which” and introduces information about the photo. A reusable pattern is «una que + verb» when identifying one feminine item by adding a description.
tomé
«Tomé» means “I took” in «una que tomé cerca de mi casa», identifying the photo as one the speaker took. Its citation form is «tomar». A reusable pattern is «que tomé» after an item when explaining that the speaker made or took it.
cerca
«Cerca» means “near” in «cerca de mi casa». It describes the location of the photo-taking in relation to the speaker’s home. A reusable pattern is «cerca de + place».
de
In «cerca de mi casa», «de» connects «cerca» with the place used as the reference point. The complete expression «cerca de» means “near.” A reusable pattern is «cerca de + place».
casa
«Casa» means “home” or “house” in «mi casa». It names the place used as the reference point in «cerca de mi casa». A reusable pattern is «mi casa» when referring to the speaker’s home.
Se
In «Se ve sencilla y clara», «Se» is part of the construction used to describe how something appears. It helps present the picture’s appearance rather than describing someone actively looking at it. A reusable pattern is «Se ve + adjective».
ve
In «Se ve sencilla y clara», «ve» contributes “looks” or “appears” as part of the expression «Se ve». Its citation form is «ver». A reusable pattern is «Se ve + adjective» to describe how something appears.
sencilla
«Sencilla» means “simple” in «Se ve sencilla y clara». Its citation form is «sencillo»; «sencilla» is the feminine singular form used to describe the picture. It can be used after «Se ve» to describe appearance.
y
«Y» means “and” in «sencilla y clara». It connects the two descriptions of the picture. A reusable pattern is «adjective y adjective» when giving two descriptions.
clara
«Clara» means “clear” in «sencilla y clara». Its citation form is «claro»; «clara» is the feminine singular form used with the picture being described. It can follow «y» to add another description after «Se ve sencilla».
Practico
«Practico» means “I practice” in «Practico cuando tengo tiempo». Its citation form is «practicar». It describes the speaker’s activity in free time. A reusable pattern is «Practico cuando + clause» for saying when the activity is done.
cuando
«Cuando» means “when” or “whenever” in «cuando tengo tiempo». It links the practice with the condition of having time. A reusable pattern is «cuando + clause» for explaining when something happens.
tengo
«Tengo» means “I have” in «tengo tiempo». Its citation form is «tener». Together with «tiempo», it expresses having time available. A reusable pattern is «tengo + noun» for stating what the speaker has.
tiempo
«Tiempo» means “time” in «tengo tiempo». It names the availability that allows the speaker to practice. A reusable expression is «tener tiempo», as in «cuando tengo tiempo».
Grammar Points
¿Qué te gusta + infinitivo?
¿Qué te gusta fotografiar?
keh teh GOOS-tah foh-toh-grah-FYAR?What do you like to photograph?
With gustar, te marks the person who likes something; the liked activity follows in the infinitive.
cuando + oración
Practico cuando tengo tiempo.
prahk-TEE-koh KWAHN-doh TEHN-goh TYEM-poh.I practice when I have time.
Cuando introduces a time clause; the verb after it can be in the present for a repeated situation.
Spanish Vocabulary
calles
noun
KAH-yehs
streets
Las calles tranquilas
cámara
noun
KAH-mah-rah
camera
mi cámara pequeña
casi todos los días
phrase
KAH-see TOH-dohs lohs DEE-ahs
most days
casi todos los días
favoritas
adj
fah-boh-REE-tahs
favorite
mis favoritas
fotografiar
verb
foh-toh-grah-FYAR
to photograph
te gusta fotografiar
fotos
noun
FOH-tohs
photos
Tomas fotos
pequeña
adj
peh-KEH-nyah
small
cámara pequeña
qué
pron
keh
what
¿Qué te gusta fotografiar?
te gusta
verb
teh GOOS-tah
you like
¿Qué te gusta fotografiar?
tomas
verb
TOH-mahs
take
Tomas
Tomas fotos
tranquilas
adj
trahn-KEE-lahs
quiet
calles tranquilas
uso
verb
OO-soh
use
Uso
Uso mi cámara pequeña
Quiz
Word Order
Arrange the words in the correct order.
Do you take photos?
Show Answer
¿Tomas fotos?What do you like to photograph?
Show Answer
¿Qué te gusta fotografiar?Quiet streets are my favorite.
Show Answer
Las calles tranquilas son mis favoritas.Spelling
Tap the letters to spell the word.
take
Show Answer
Tomassmall
Show Answer
pequeñaphotos
Show Answer
fotosto photograph