Preparing the room for a quiet evening | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At home in the evening, two adults close curtains, adjust warmth, and use softer light to make the room comfortable..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Preparing the room for a quiet evening to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Se está haciendo de noche más temprano estos días.

seh es-TAH ah-SYEN-doh deh NOH-cheh mahs tehm-PRAH-noh ES-tohs DEE-ahs It is getting dark earlier these days.
B

Cerraré las cortinas antes de cenar.

seh-RRAH-REH lahs kor-TEE-nahs AHN-tehs deh seh-NAHR I will close the curtains before dinner.
A

¿Podrías encender también el calefactor pequeño?

poh-DREE-ahs en-sen-DEHR tahm-BYEN ehl kah-leh-fak-TOR peh-KEH-nyoh Could you switch on the small heater too?
B

Puedo ponerlo a baja potencia.

PWEH-doh poh-NEHR-loh ah BAH-hah poh-ten-SYAH I can set it to low.
B

Pero la habitación ya está agradable.

PEH-roh lah ah-bee-tah-SYOHN yah es-TAH ah-grah-DAH-bleh But the room already feels comfortable.
A

Quiero que la habitación esté acogedora esta tarde.

KYEH-roh keh lah ah-bee-tah-SYOHN es-TEH ah-koh-heh-DOH-rah ES-tah TAR-deh I want the room to feel cozy this evening.
B

Una lámpara con una luz más suave podría hacerlo sin calentar demasiado la habitación.

OO-nah LAHM-pah-rah kohn OO-nah loos mahs SWAH-beh poh-DREE-ah ah-SEHR-loh seen kah-len-TAHR deh-mah-SYAH-doh lah ah-bee-tah-SYOHN A softer lamp might do that without making it too warm.
A

La luz más suave hace que la habitación se sienta mucho más tranquila.

lah loos mahs SWAH-beh AH-seh keh lah ah-bee-tah-SYOHN seh SYEN-tah MOO-choh mahs trahn-KEE-lah The softer light makes the room feel much calmer.
B

Entonces podemos relajarnos después de comer.

en-TOHN-sehs poh-DEH-mohs reh-lah-HAR-nohs dehs-PWEHS deh koh-MEHR Then we can relax after we eat.

Word by Word

Se “Se” is part of “Se está haciendo de noche”, the expression used here for the change to darkness. This pattern is useful for describing a change in conditions, such as when it is becoming cold or quiet.
está “está” helps express the current developing state in “Se está haciendo de noche”. It is used with “haciendo” in this expression to describe what is happening now.
haciendo “haciendo” means becoming or making in “Se está haciendo de noche”; here, the expression means that night is coming on. The form “haciendo” is also used in “estar haciendo” to describe an action or change in progress.
de “de” forms part of the expression “haciendo de noche”, which refers to night beginning. In “de noche”, it also helps refer to the time of night, as in activities done at night.
noche “noche” means night in “Se está haciendo de noche”. The expression “de noche” is a common way to refer to nighttime.
más “más” marks a greater degree or an earlier time in “más temprano”. Together, “más temprano” means earlier than before or earlier than usual.
temprano “temprano” means early in “más temprano”, so the sentence says that it gets dark earlier these days. The pattern “más temprano” is useful when comparing times.
estos “estos” means these and points to the current days in “estos días”. It is used before a plural masculine noun, as in “estos días” for a current period.
días “días” means days in “estos días”, referring to the present period. The expression “estos días” is commonly used to talk about what is happening recently or now.
Cerraré “Cerraré” means I will close in the sentence about the curtains. It is the future form of “cerrar”, and the pattern “Cerraré las cortinas” can be reused to say what you will close later.
las “las” means the and identifies the plural feminine noun in “las cortinas”. It is used before a specific group of feminine plural things.
cortinas “cortinas” means curtains, the objects that will be closed before dinner. A useful pattern is “cerrar las cortinas” when preparing a room or blocking out light.
antes “antes” means before in “antes de cenar”. The pattern “antes de” is followed here by an infinitive to say that one action happens earlier than another.
cenar “cenar” means to have dinner in “antes de cenar”. After “antes de”, an infinitive such as “cenar” names the later activity.
Podrías “Podrías” means could you in this polite request about switching on the heater. It is a useful way to ask someone to do something, followed by an infinitive such as “Podrías encender...”.
encender “encender” means to switch on or turn on the heater. The pattern “encender el calefactor” is useful when asking someone to start a heater.
también “también” means also or too in “encender también el calefactor pequeño”. It adds another requested action and can be placed before the thing or action being added.
el “el” means the and identifies the singular masculine noun in “el calefactor”. It is used before a specific masculine singular object.
calefactor “calefactor” means heater in “el calefactor pequeño”. The pattern “encender el calefactor” is useful when talking about turning on a heater.
pequeño “pequeño” means small and describes the heater in “el calefactor pequeño”. It comes after the noun here and can be used after a masculine singular noun to describe its size.
Puedo “Puedo” means I can in “Puedo ponerlo a baja potencia”. It introduces an ability or possible action, followed here by the infinitive “ponerlo”.
ponerlo “ponerlo” means to put it or set it, referring to the heater’s setting in “Puedo ponerlo a baja potencia”. The form combines “poner” with “lo”, and the pattern “ponerlo a...” is useful when setting an object to a level or mode.
a “a” links the heater to its setting in “a baja potencia”. The pattern “ponerlo a...” is used here to say what level or setting the object will have.
baja “baja” means low in “baja potencia” and describes the level of power. It agrees with the feminine noun “potencia”; the phrase “a baja potencia” is useful for describing a low setting.
potencia “potencia” means power in “a baja potencia”, referring to the heater’s operating level. The phrase “a baja potencia” can be reused when an appliance is running at a low setting.
Pero “Pero” means but and introduces a contrasting point: the room is already comfortable. It is useful at the start of a sentence when the next idea differs from or limits the previous one.
la “la” means the and identifies the singular feminine noun in “la habitación”. It is used before a specific feminine singular place or thing.
habitación “habitación” means room in “la habitación ya está agradable”. The pattern “la habitación está...” is useful for describing the current condition of a room.
ya “ya” means already in “ya está agradable”, showing that the room is comfortable now. It is commonly used before a verb or description to indicate that a state has been reached.
agradable “agradable” means comfortable or pleasant in “la habitación ya está agradable”. It is useful after “estar” to describe a pleasant condition of a place or environment.
Quiero “Quiero” means I want in “Quiero que la habitación esté acogedora”. It introduces a wish or desired result and is followed here by “que” and a description of that result.
que “que” links the wish “Quiero” to the desired state “la habitación esté acogedora”. The pattern “Quiero que...” is useful when saying what you want another person or thing to be or do.
esté “esté” expresses the desired state of the room in “Quiero que la habitación esté acogedora”. It follows “Quiero que” here because the speaker is describing what they want the room to be like.
acogedora “acogedora” means cozy or welcoming and describes the room in “la habitación esté acogedora”. Its feminine form matches “habitación”; it is useful for describing a warm, inviting atmosphere.
esta “esta” means this in “esta tarde”, referring to the evening of the current day. It is used before a singular feminine noun such as “tarde”.
tarde “tarde” means evening in “esta tarde”, the time when the speaker wants the room to feel cozy. The expression “esta tarde” is useful for referring to this evening or afternoon, depending on context.
Una “Una” means a or one in “Una lámpara con una luz más suave”. It introduces one non-specific feminine singular lamp, and the same pattern can introduce another feminine singular object.
lámpara “lámpara” means lamp in “Una lámpara con una luz más suave”. The pattern “una lámpara con...” is useful for describing a lamp and its features.
con “con” means with in “una lámpara con una luz más suave”. It links the lamp to the kind of light it provides and is commonly used to describe an object together with an associated feature.
luz “luz” means light in “una luz más suave”. The phrase “luz más suave” is useful when describing lighting that feels gentler or less harsh.
suave “suave” means soft or gentle in “una luz más suave”. It describes the quality of the light, and the pattern “luz suave” is useful when talking about calm or gentle lighting.
podría “podría” means might or could in “podría hacerlo”, presenting the softer lamp as a possible solution. The pattern “podría + infinitive” is useful for suggesting what may help.
hacerlo “hacerlo” means do it or make it in “podría hacerlo”, referring to making the room feel cozy. The form combines “hacer” with “lo”; “podría hacerlo” can be reused when suggesting that an action may achieve a previously mentioned result.
sin “sin” means without in “sin calentar demasiado la habitación”. It introduces an action that does not happen, and “sin” is followed here by the infinitive “calentar”.
calentar “calentar” means to heat or warm in “sin calentar demasiado la habitación”. After “sin”, the infinitive names the action that is avoided; the pattern can describe avoiding excessive heating.
demasiado “demasiado” means too much in “calentar demasiado la habitación”, indicating more heating than desired. It is used here with the verb “calentar” to limit the amount of heating.
hace “hace” means makes in “La luz más suave hace que...”, connecting the softer light with its effect on the room. The pattern “hace que...” is useful for saying that one thing causes a result.
sienta “sienta” means feels in “se sienta mucho más tranquila”, describing how the room seems emotionally or atmospherically. The pattern “hacer que algo se sienta...” is useful for describing how something causes a place or person to feel.
mucho “mucho” greatly intensifies the comparison in “mucho más tranquila”, meaning much calmer. The pattern “mucho más + adjective” is useful when the difference is significant.
tranquila “tranquila” means calm or quiet in “la habitación se sienta mucho más tranquila”. Its feminine form matches “habitación”, and it is useful for describing a peaceful atmosphere.
Entonces “Entonces” means then in “Entonces podemos relajarnos”, showing the consequence of making the room comfortable. It is useful at the start of a sentence to introduce what follows from a previous action or situation.
podemos “podemos” means we can in “podemos relajarnos”. It expresses a shared possibility or ability and is followed here by the infinitive “relajarnos”.
relajarnos “relajarnos” means to relax, with “nos” referring to the people speaking in “podemos relajarnos”. The pattern “podemos relajarnos” is useful for saying that people can rest together after an activity.
después “después” means after or afterward in “después de comer”. The pattern “después de” introduces the activity that happens first, followed here by the infinitive “comer”.
comer “comer” means to eat in “después de comer”. After “después de”, the infinitive names the activity that comes before relaxing.

Grammar Points

estar + gerundio

Se está haciendo de noche.

seh es-TAH ah-SYEN-doh deh NOH-cheh

It is getting dark.

Use estar plus a gerund to describe an action or change happening now.

infinitivo + pronombre de objeto

Quiero ponerlo a baja potencia.

KYEH-roh poh-NEHR-loh ah BAH-hah poh-ten-SYAH

I want to set it to low power.

An object pronoun can attach directly to an infinitive: poner + lo = ponerlo.

Spanish Vocabulary

antes de phrase
AHN-tehs deh before

Cerraré las cortinas antes de cenar.

calefactor noun
kah-leh-fak-TOR heater

¿Podrías encender también el calefactor pequeño?

cenar verb
seh-NAHR to have dinner

Cerraré las cortinas antes de cenar.

cerrar verb
seh-RRAHR to close Cerraré

Cerraré las cortinas antes de cenar.

cortina noun
kor-TEE-nah curtain cortinas

Cerraré las cortinas antes de cenar.

encender verb
en-sen-DEHR to switch on

¿Podrías encender también el calefactor pequeño?

estos días phrase
ES-tohs DEE-ahs these days

Se está haciendo de noche más temprano estos días.

hacerse de noche phrase
ah-SEHR-seh deh NOH-cheh to get dark se está haciendo de noche

Se está haciendo de noche más temprano estos días.

pequeño adj
peh-KEH-nyoh small

¿Podrías encender también el calefactor pequeño?

poner verb
poh-NEHR to set; to put ponerlo

Puedo ponerlo a baja potencia.

también adv
tahm-BYEN also; too

¿Podrías encender también el calefactor pequeño?

temprano adv
tehm-PRAH-noh early más temprano

Se está haciendo de noche más temprano estos días.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I will close the curtains before dinner.

Show AnswerCerraré las cortinas antes de cenar.

Could you switch on the small heater too?

Show Answer¿Podrías encender también el calefactor pequeño?

I can set it to low.

Show AnswerPuedo ponerlo a baja potencia.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

also; too

Show Answertambién

to have dinner

Show Answercenar

to switch on

Show Answerencender

curtain

Show Answercortinas