Using the Library Printer | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: In a library, one person asks how to use the printer, choose print settings, and collect the printed pages..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Using the Library Printer to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

¿Cómo uso la impresora de la biblioteca?

KOH-moh OO-soh lah eem-preh-SOH-rah deh lah bee-blee-oh-TEH-kah How do I use the printer in the library?
B

Primero, elige la impresora en esta pantalla.

pree-MEH-roh, EH-lee-heh lah eem-preh-SOH-rah en EH-stah pahn-TAH-yah First, choose the printer on this screen.
A

¿Puedo elegir la impresión a doble cara?

PWEH-doh eh-leh-HEER lah eem-preh-SYON ah DOH-bleh KAH-rah Can I choose double-sided printing?
B

Cambia la configuración antes de imprimir.

KAHM-byah lah kohn-fee-goo-rah-SYON AHN-tehs deh eem-pree-MEER Change the setting before you print.
A

Solo necesito imprimir un documento corto.

SOH-loh neh-seh-SEE-toh eem-pree-MEER oon doh-koo-MEHN-toh KOR-toh I only need to print a short document.
B

Entonces, revisa la vista previa antes de empezar.

en-TOHN-sehs, reh-BEE-sah lah BEE-stah PREH-byah AHN-tehs deh em-peh-SAR Then check the preview before you start.
A

¿Por dónde salen las páginas impresas?

por DOHN-deh SAH-len las PAH-hee-nas eem-PREH-sas Where do the printed pages come out?
B

Salen en la bandeja de abajo.

SAH-len en lah bahn-DEH-hah deh ah-BAH-hoh They come out in the tray below.

Word by Word

Cómo “Cómo” asks how in “¿Cómo uso la impresora de la biblioteca?”. It is useful when asking someone to explain a method or procedure, such as how to operate a machine.
uso “Uso” means use in “¿Cómo uso la impresora de la biblioteca?”. It expresses what the speaker wants to do with the printer; reuse the pattern “¿Cómo uso ...?” when asking how to operate or handle something.
la “La” means “the” in “la impresora” and introduces the specific printer being discussed. It is used before a singular feminine noun, for example when referring to a known object in a room.
impresora “Impresora” means printer in “la impresora de la biblioteca”. It names the machine the speakers are using; reuse it with actions such as choosing or using the printer.
de “De” links “impresora” with “biblioteca” in “la impresora de la biblioteca”, identifying the library associated with the printer. The pattern noun + “de” + noun is useful for showing ownership, association, or origin.
biblioteca “Biblioteca” means library in “la impresora de la biblioteca”. It identifies the place where the printer is located; use it when referring to library services, rooms, or equipment.
Primero “Primero” means first and marks the first step in “Primero, elige la impresora en esta pantalla.”. Use it at the beginning of instructions when actions need to be done in sequence.
elige “Elige” tells one person to choose the printer in “elige la impresora”. It is used as a direct instruction; reuse the pattern “elige” + an option or object when guiding someone through a menu.
en “En” shows the location of the printer option in “en esta pantalla”, meaning on this screen. Use “en” with a place or surface when directing someone where to look or act.
esta “Esta” means this in “esta pantalla” and points to the screen currently being shown. It is used before the singular feminine noun “pantalla”; use the same pattern to identify a nearby or current item.
pantalla “Pantalla” means screen in “esta pantalla”. It refers to the display where the printer is selected; use it when giving instructions about what appears on a device display.
Puedo “Puedo” means can or am able to in “¿Puedo elegir la impresión a doble cara?”. Here it asks whether the speaker may select an option; it is commonly followed by an action such as “elegir” when asking permission or ability.
elegir “Elegir” means choose in “Puedo elegir la impresión a doble cara”. It names the action that the speaker asks about; reuse the pattern “poder” + “elegir” + an option when asking whether a selection is possible.
impresión “Impresión” means printing or a print option in “la impresión a doble cara”. Here it names the selected printing format; use it when discussing printer settings or the result of printing.
a doble cara “A doble cara” means double-sided in “la impresión a doble cara”, describing printing on both sides of a sheet. “A” introduces the manner, “doble” means double, and “cara” means side or face; reuse the complete expression with “impresión” when choosing this printer setting.
Cambia “Cambia” tells one person to change something in “Cambia la configuración”. It is a direct instruction used when guiding someone through a device setting; reuse it before the setting or item that should be changed.
configuración “Configuración” means setting or configuration in “Cambia la configuración”. It is the printer option that should be adjusted before printing; use it with an action such as changing or checking a device setting.
antes “Antes” means before in “antes de imprimir”. It places one action earlier than another; reuse the pattern “antes de” + an infinitive when giving instructions about what must happen first.
imprimir “Imprimir” means print in “antes de imprimir”. It names the action that will happen after the setting is changed; use it after “antes de” or when discussing producing pages from a printer.
Solo “Solo” means only or just in “Solo necesito imprimir un documento corto”. It limits the speaker’s need to one small printing task; use it before a verb when clarifying that the request is limited.
necesito “Necesito” means need in “Solo necesito imprimir un documento corto”. It expresses the speaker’s requirement and is followed here by the action “imprimir”; use it when explaining what action or item is required.
un “Un” means a or one in “un documento corto”. It introduces one non-specific document; use it before a singular masculine noun when mentioning an item for the first time.
documento “Documento” means document in “un documento corto”. It identifies the file or text being printed; use it when referring to something that can be opened, reviewed, or printed.
corto “Corto” means short in “un documento corto”, describing the document as limited in length. It is useful when explaining that the item to print is brief rather than extensive.
Entonces “Entonces” means then or in that case in “Entonces, revisa la vista previa antes de empezar.”. It introduces the next step that follows from the previous information; use it when moving from a situation to a resulting instruction.
revisa “Revisa” tells one person to check or review something in “revisa la vista previa”. It is a direct instruction used before starting the print job; reuse it with a document, setting, or preview that should be checked.
vista previa “Vista previa” means preview in “revisa la vista previa”. “Vista” refers to a view and “previa” indicates that it comes beforehand, so the expression is the version seen before printing; reuse “revisar la vista previa” when checking a result before confirming an action.
empezar “Empezar” means start or begin in “antes de empezar”. It names the action that should wait until the preview has been checked; reuse “antes de empezar” when giving a precaution before beginning a task.
por “Por” indicates the route or opening in “¿Por dónde salen las páginas impresas?”. With “dónde”, it asks through which place something comes out; use the pattern “¿Por dónde ...?” when asking about a route or exit.
dónde “Dónde” asks where in “¿Por dónde salen las páginas impresas?”. Together with “por”, it asks which opening or route the pages use; reuse “¿Por dónde ...?” when locating an exit or passage.
salen “Salen” means come out in “¿Por dónde salen las páginas impresas?” and “Salen en la bandeja de abajo.”. It describes the printed pages leaving the printer; use it when asking or answering where something exits.
las “Las” means “the” in “las páginas impresas” and introduces the specific printed pages. It is used before a plural feminine noun, such as when referring to several pages produced by the printer.
páginas “Páginas” means pages in “las páginas impresas”. It refers to the sheets produced by the printer; use it when discussing the number, location, or condition of printed pages.
impresas “Impresas” means printed in “las páginas impresas”, describing the pages after they have been produced. It is useful when distinguishing the finished pages from blank or digital pages.
bandeja “Bandeja” means tray in “la bandeja de abajo”. It names the part of the printer where the pages appear; use it when directing someone to collect output from a machine.
abajo “Abajo” means below or underneath in “la bandeja de abajo”. It identifies the lower tray relative to another position; use “de abajo” when specifying that something is in the lower place.

Grammar Points

antes de + infinitivo

Antes de imprimir, revisa la vista previa.

AHN-tehs deh eem-pree-MEER, reh-BEE-sah lah BEE-stah PREH-byah

Before printing, check the preview.

Use antes de followed by an infinitive to say that one action happens before another.

poder + infinitivo

Puedo elegir doble cara.

PWEH-doh eh-leh-HEER DOH-bleh KAH-rah

I can choose double-sided printing.

Use puedo + infinitive to express ability or permission to do something.

Spanish Vocabulary

biblioteca noun
bee-blee-oh-TEH-kah library

la biblioteca

cambia verb
KAHM-byah change

Cambia la configuración.

configuración noun
kohn-fee-goo-rah-SYON setting

la configuración

doble cara phrase
DOH-bleh KAH-rah double-sided

a doble cara

elegir verb
eh-leh-HEER to choose

¿Puedo elegir la impresión?

elige verb
EH-lee-heh choose

Elige la impresora.

impresión noun
eem-preh-SYON printing; printout

la impresión a doble cara

impresora noun
eem-preh-SOH-rah printer

la impresora

pantalla noun
pahn-TAH-yah screen

esta pantalla

primero adv
pree-MEH-roh first

Primero, elige la impresora.

puedo verb
PWEH-doh I can

¿Puedo elegir...?

uso verb
OO-soh I use

¿Cómo uso la impresora?

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Change the setting before you print.

Show AnswerCambia la configuración antes de imprimir.

I only need to print a short document.

Show AnswerSolo necesito imprimir un documento corto.

Where do the printed pages come out?

Show Answer¿Por dónde salen las páginas impresas?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

choose

Show Answerelige

library

Show Answerbiblioteca

to choose

Show Answerelegir

printer

Show Answerimpresora