Choosing a Place to Sit | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a public indoor space, two adults choose a quiet table with good light for reading..

EN → ES / Level: A1

About This Lesson

Use Choosing a Place to Sit to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Dónde nos sentamos?

DOHN-deh nohs sehn-TAH-mohs? Where should we sit?
B

La mesa de la esquina está en un lugar tranquilo.

lah MEH-sah deh lah ehs-KEE-nah ehs-TAH ehn oon loo-GAHR trahn-KEE-loh. The corner table is in a quiet spot.
A

Esta mesa también tiene buena luz.

EHS-tah MEH-sah tahm-BYEHN TYEH-neh BWEH-nah loos. This table has nice light too.
B

Esta mesa sería mejor para leer.

EHS-tah MEH-sah seh-REE-ah meh-HOR pah-rah leh-EHR. This table would be better for reading.
A

¿Son cómodas estas sillas?

sohn KOH-moh-dahs EHS-tahs SEE-yahs? Are these chairs comfortable?
B

Me parecen cómodas.

meh pah-REH-sehn KOH-moh-dahs. They feel fine to me.
A

Sentémonos a esta mesa.

sehn-TEH-moh-nohs ah EHS-tah MEH-sah. Let's sit at this table.
B

Pondré nuestras bolsas debajo.

pohn-DRAY NWEHS-trahs BOHL-sahs deh-BAH-hoh. I'll put our bags under it.

Word by Word

Dónde “Dónde” means “where” and asks for the place in “¿Dónde nos sentamos?”. The accent mark is part of this question word. Use it when asking where someone or something is or should be located.
nos “nos” refers to “us” and, with “sentamos”, shows that the people in the conversation sit themselves. It is the exact form used in “¿Dónde nos sentamos?”. A common reuse pattern is nos followed by a verb describing an action involving the speakers.
sentamos “sentamos” means “we sit” in “¿Dónde nos sentamos?”, where the speakers are deciding where to sit. Together with “nos”, it refers to the two speakers sitting themselves. Use this form when referring to where the speakers sit or will sit together.
La “La” means “the” before the feminine singular noun “mesa” in “La mesa de la esquina”. The citation form is “la”; it is capitalized here because it begins the sentence. Use it before a feminine singular noun when referring to a specific thing.
mesa “mesa” means “table” in “La mesa de la esquina”. It is the noun being identified by the phrase that follows it. Use it for a table, especially with a location or description after it.
de “de” links “mesa” with “esquina” in “La mesa de la esquina”, identifying the table by its corner location. Here it contributes the relationship “of” or “from” inside the noun phrase. A common reuse pattern is de followed by a noun to identify or describe another noun.
esquina “esquina” means “corner” in “La mesa de la esquina”, so the table is the one by the corner. It appears after “de” as part of the location description. Use it when identifying a place or object associated with a corner.
está “está” means “is located” in “La mesa de la esquina está en un lugar tranquilo”. It describes the table’s location rather than identifying what the table is. Use it with a place phrase to say where something is located.
en “en” means “in” in “está en un lugar tranquilo” and introduces the place where the table is located. It commonly appears before a location or place expression. Use it to connect something with the place where it is.
un “un” means “a” before the masculine singular noun “lugar” in “un lugar tranquilo”. The citation form is “un”; it introduces one non-specific place here. Use it before a masculine singular noun when referring to one such thing or place.
lugar “lugar” means “place” or “spot” in “un lugar tranquilo”. It is the place where the table is located. Use it to name a place, often followed by an adjective that describes it.
tranquilo “tranquilo” means “quiet” in “un lugar tranquilo”, describing the place as suitable for a calm setting. It agrees with the masculine singular noun “lugar”. Use it after a noun when describing a quiet place or environment.
Esta “Esta” means “this” before the feminine singular noun “mesa” in “Esta mesa también tiene buena luz”. The citation form is “esta”; it is capitalized here because it begins the sentence. Use it before a feminine singular noun to point to a specific nearby thing.
también “también” means “also” or “too” in “Esta mesa también tiene buena luz”, adding this table’s light to the discussion. It usually appears near the verb or the information being added. Use it to say that another person or thing shares the same relevant feature.
tiene “tiene” means “has” in “Esta mesa también tiene buena luz”, stating that the table provides or possesses good light. It is the form used with the subject “Esta mesa”. Use it before the thing that someone or something has.
buena “buena” means “good” or “nice” in “buena luz”, describing the light positively. It agrees with the feminine singular noun “luz”. Use it before a feminine singular noun when giving it a positive description.
luz “luz” means “light” in “Esta mesa también tiene buena luz”. It names the useful lighting associated with the table. Use it when discussing the amount or quality of light in a place.
sería “sería” means “would be” in “Esta mesa sería mejor para leer”, presenting this table as a better option for reading. It is the conditional form of “ser” used with “esta mesa”. Use it to make a suggestion or describe a possible choice in a less direct way.
mejor “mejor” means “better” in “sería mejor para leer”, comparing this table with another possible place. It appears after “sería” and before the purpose phrase. Use it when recommending one option over another.
para “para” means “for” in “mejor para leer” and introduces the purpose of using the table. Here it connects the table with the activity of reading. Use para before an activity or goal to express purpose.
leer “leer” means “to read” in “para leer”, naming the activity the table would be suitable for. It is the infinitive form used after “para”. Use para followed by an infinitive to explain what something is for.
Son “Son” means “are” in “¿Son cómodas estas sillas?”, asking about the chairs’ comfort. The citation form is “son”; it is capitalized because it begins the question. Use it with a plural subject when asking or stating what something is like.
cómodas “cómodas” means “comfortable” in “¿Son cómodas estas sillas?”. It describes the chairs and agrees with the feminine plural noun “sillas”. Use it after a form of “ser” to describe whether plural feminine things are comfortable.
estas “estas” means “these” before the feminine plural noun “sillas” in “estas sillas”. It points to specific chairs near the speakers. Use it before a feminine plural noun when referring to several nearby things.
sillas “sillas” means “chairs” in “estas sillas”. It is the plural noun being evaluated for comfort. Use it when talking about chairs, often with a description after “ser”.
Me “Me” means “to me” in “Me parecen cómodas”, showing whose impression is being expressed. It appears before “parecen” in this sentence. Use me with expressions that report how something seems or feels to the speaker.
parecen “parecen” means “seem” in “Me parecen cómodas”, expressing the speaker’s impression that the chairs are comfortable. Together with “Me”, the construction means “they seem comfortable to me”. Use it before an adjective or description when giving an impression of plural things.
Sentémonos “Sentémonos” means “let’s sit down” in “Sentémonos a esta mesa”, making a suggestion that both speakers sit. The form combines the suggestion to sit with “nos”, referring to the speakers themselves. Use it when inviting the other person to sit together.
a “a” means “at” in “Sentémonos a esta mesa”, introducing the table chosen as the place to sit. Here it connects the action of sitting with a destination or place. Use it before a place when describing movement or an action directed toward that place.
Pondré “Pondré” means “I will put” in “Pondré nuestras bolsas debajo”, stating what the speaker plans to do with the bags. It is the future form of “poner” used for the speaker. Use it before the object being placed and, when needed, the location where it will go.
nuestras “nuestras” means “our” before the feminine plural noun “bolsas” in “nuestras bolsas”. It shows that the bags belong to both speakers. Use it before a feminine plural noun to identify something as belonging to us.
bolsas “bolsas” means “bags” in “Pondré nuestras bolsas debajo”. It is the object that the speaker will put somewhere. Use it when referring to bags, often with an expression that states their location.
debajo “debajo” means “underneath” in “Pondré nuestras bolsas debajo”, referring in context to the space under the table. The location is understood from the preceding discussion. Use it to state that something is positioned below or under another thing.

Grammar Points

sería mejor + infinitivo

Sería mejor leer.

seh-REE-ah meh-HOR leh-EHR.

It would be better to read.

Spanish uses the conditional sería with mejor plus an infinitive to make a suggestion: “It would be better to…”

sentémonos

Sentémonos.

sehn-TEH-moh-nohs.

Let’s sit down.

This is the affirmative nosotros command for a suggestion. The pronoun nos is attached to the verb.

Spanish Vocabulary

buena adj
BWEH-nah good; nice

Esta mesa también tiene buena luz.

dónde adv
DOHN-deh where

¿Dónde nos sentamos?

esquina noun
ehs-KEE-nah corner

La mesa de la esquina está en un lugar tranquilo.

está verb
ehs-TAH is; is located

La mesa de la esquina está en un lugar tranquilo.

lugar noun
loo-GAHR place; spot

La mesa de la esquina está en un lugar tranquilo.

luz noun
loos light

Esta mesa también tiene buena luz.

mesa noun
MEH-sah table

La mesa de la esquina está en un lugar tranquilo.

nos pron
nohs us; ourselves

¿Dónde nos sentamos?

sentamos verb
sehn-TAH-mohs sit; we sit

¿Dónde nos sentamos?

también adv
tahm-BYEHN also; too

Esta mesa también tiene buena luz.

tiene verb
TYEH-neh has

Esta mesa también tiene buena luz.

tranquilo adj
trahn-KEE-loh quiet; calm

La mesa de la esquina está en un lugar tranquilo.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Where should we sit?

Show Answer¿Dónde nos sentamos?

This table has nice light too.

Show AnswerEsta mesa también tiene buena luz.

This table would be better for reading.

Show AnswerEsta mesa sería mejor para leer.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

is; is located

Show Answerestá

corner

Show Answeresquina

table

Show Answermesa

place; spot

Show Answerlugar