Renewing a Library Book | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At a library desk, one person asks how to renew a borrowed book when their online account is not working..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Renewing a Library Book to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Me gustaría renovar un libro que saqué prestado.

meh goo-stah-REE-ah reh-noh-VAHR oon LEE-broh keh sah-KAY prehs-TAH-doh I'd like to renew a book I borrowed.
B

Puedes renovarlo desde tu cuenta en línea.

PWEH-dehs reh-noh-VAHR-loh DEHS-deh too KWEHN-tah ehn LEE-neh-ah You can renew it through your online account.
A

Hoy no puedo entrar en mi cuenta.

oy noh PWEH-doh ehn-TRAHR ehn mee KWEHN-tah I can't get into my account today.
B

Podemos ayudarte en el mostrador.

poh-DEH-mohs ah-yoo-DAHR-teh ehn ehl moh-strah-DOHR We can help you at the desk.
A

¿Necesito mi tarjeta de la biblioteca?

neh-seh-SEE-toh mee tahr-HEH-tah deh lah bee-blee-oh-TEH-kah Do I need my library card?
B

Trae tu tarjeta para que podamos encontrar tus datos.

TRAH-eh too tahr-HEH-tah PAH-rah keh poh-DAH-mohs ehn-kohn-TRAHR toos DAH-tohs Bring your card so we can find your record.
A

¿Puedo renovar el libro hoy después de eso?

PWEH-doh reh-noh-VAHR ehl LEE-broh oy dehs-PWEHS deh EH-soh Can I renew the book today after that?
B

Puedes hacerlo, a menos que otra persona lo haya pedido.

PWEH-dehs ah-SEHR-loh, ah MEH-nohs keh OH-trah pehr-SOH-nah loh AH-yah peh-DEE-doh You can, unless someone else has requested it.

Word by Word

Me In “Me gustaría renovar...”, “Me” marks the person who has the wish: me. The reusable pattern is “Me gustaría + infinitive” for making a polite request or expressing what you would like.
gustaría “gustaría” expresses a polite wish in “Me gustaría renovar...”, meaning “I would like”. It comes from “gustar”, and “Me gustaría + infinitive” is useful when asking for something politely, such as at a library desk.
renovar “renovar” means to renew, referring here to extending the borrowing period of a book. It follows “Me gustaría” and can be reused in the pattern “renovar + object” when requesting an extension.
un “un” introduces one unspecified book in “un libro”. The pattern “un + singular noun” is useful when mentioning one item that has not yet been identified more specifically.
libro “libro” means “book” in “un libro que saqué prestado”. It is the item the speaker wants to renew, and “libro” can be used when identifying a book at a library.
que In “un libro que saqué prestado”, “que” introduces the information describing which book the speaker means. The pattern “noun + que + clause” is useful for identifying a particular person or thing.
saqué “saqué” says that the speaker took the book out or borrowed it earlier in “que saqué prestado”. It is a past form of “sacar”, and the pattern “sacar algo prestado” is useful when describing borrowing an item.
prestado “prestado” describes the book as borrowed in “saqué prestado”. Together, “sacar algo prestado” refers to taking something out on loan, such as a book from a library.
Puedes “Puedes” tells the person addressed that they can renew the book in “Puedes renovarlo”. It is a form of “poder”, and “Puedes + infinitive” is useful when offering or explaining an available action.
renovarlo “renovarlo” means “to renew it”; “lo” refers to the book. It combines “renovar” with “lo”, and a verb with “lo” attached can refer to carrying out an action on an object already mentioned.
desde In “desde tu cuenta en línea”, “desde” indicates the source or means through which the renewal is done: from or through the online account. The pattern “desde + account or place” is useful for explaining where an online action is carried out.
tu “tu” means “your” in “tu cuenta en línea” and marks the account as belonging to the person addressed. The reusable pattern is “tu + singular noun” when referring to something belonging to one person.
cuenta “cuenta” means “account” in “tu cuenta en línea”. It refers to the library user’s online account, and “cuenta en línea” is useful when discussing access to an online service.
en In “en línea”, “en” helps form the expression describing something as online. The phrase “en línea” is a reusable way to refer to an online account, service, or activity.
línea “línea” means “line” in the expression “en línea”, which describes the account as online. Use “en línea” when referring to services or actions available through the internet.
Hoy “Hoy” means “today” at the beginning of “Hoy no puedo entrar en mi cuenta”. It places the access problem on the current day, and “hoy + clause” is useful for describing what is happening today.
no “no” negates “puedo entrar” in “Hoy no puedo entrar en mi cuenta”, showing that the speaker cannot get into the account. The pattern “no + verb” is used to state that an action is not possible or does not happen.
puedo “puedo” means “I can” in “no puedo entrar”, while “Puedo” appears at the start of “¿Puedo renovar...?” to ask about permission or possibility. It is a form of “poder”, and “puedo + infinitive” is useful for talking about what the speaker can do.
entrar “entrar” means “to enter” or “to get into” in “entrar en mi cuenta”. It follows “puedo” and the pattern “entrar en + account or place” is useful when describing access.
mi “mi” means “my” in “mi cuenta” and identifies the account as belonging to the speaker. The pattern “mi + singular noun” is useful for referring to something the speaker owns or uses.
Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” in “Podemos ayudarte en el mostrador”, where the library staff offer help. It is a form of “poder”, and “Podemos + infinitive” is useful when offering assistance or stating what a group is able to do.
ayudarte “ayudarte” means “to help you” in “Podemos ayudarte”. It combines “ayudar” with “te”, which refers to the person being helped, and the pattern “ayudar + te” is useful when offering help directly to someone.
el “el” means “the” in “el mostrador” and identifies a specific desk or counter. The pattern “el + noun” is useful when referring to a particular place or object known in the situation.
mostrador “mostrador” means “desk” or “counter” in “en el mostrador”, referring to the library service desk. The pattern “en el mostrador” is useful when telling someone where assistance is available.
Necesito “Necesito” means “I need” in “¿Necesito mi tarjeta de la biblioteca?”, where the speaker asks whether the card is required. It comes from “necesitar”, and “Necesito + noun” is useful when asking about something necessary.
tarjeta “tarjeta” means “card” in “mi tarjeta de la biblioteca”. Here it refers to the library card, and “tarjeta de + institution or service” is useful for identifying what kind of card it is.
de In “tarjeta de la biblioteca”, “de” links the card with the library and shows its association with that institution. The pattern “noun + de + noun” is useful for identifying the type or affiliation of an item.
la “la” means “the” in “la biblioteca” and identifies the particular library relevant to the conversation. The pattern “la + noun” is useful when referring to a specific known place or thing.
biblioteca “biblioteca” means “library” in “la biblioteca”. It identifies the institution that issued the card, and “la biblioteca” is useful when discussing services or items connected with the library.
Trae “Trae” tells the person to bring the card in “Trae tu tarjeta”. It is a form of “traer”, and “Trae + object” is useful when giving a direct instruction about what someone should bring.
para In “para que podamos encontrar tus datos”, “para” introduces the purpose of bringing the card. The full pattern “para que + clause” is useful for explaining why an action is needed.
podamos “podamos” expresses “we can” in the purpose clause “para que podamos encontrar tus datos”. It is a form of “poder” used after “para que”, and “para que podamos + infinitive” is useful for stating what a group needs an action to achieve.
encontrar “encontrar” means “to find” in “podamos encontrar tus datos”. It follows “podamos” and the pattern “encontrar + object” is useful when describing locating information or an item.
tus “tus” means “your” in “tus datos” and marks the details as belonging to the person addressed. It is used before a plural noun, so “tus + plural noun” is a useful pattern for referring to someone’s things or information.
datos “datos” means “details” or “records” in “encontrar tus datos”, referring to the library user’s account information. The phrase “tus datos” is useful when staff need to locate a person’s information in a record.
después “después” means “after” or “afterward” in “después de eso”, placing the renewal after the previous step. The pattern “después de + noun or pronoun” is useful for describing the next action in a sequence.
eso “eso” means “that” in “después de eso” and refers to the step just discussed, such as getting help at the desk. The phrase “después de eso” is useful when referring to what should happen after a previous action.
hacerlo “hacerlo” means “to do it” in “Puedes hacerlo”, referring to the renewal mentioned earlier. It combines “hacer” with “lo”, and “hacerlo” is useful when repeating an already understood action without naming it again.
a menos que “a menos que” means “unless” and introduces the exception to the permission to renew the book. The expression is made up of “a”, “menos”, and “que” and is used in the pattern “a menos que + clause” to state a condition that could prevent an action.
otra “otra” means “another” or “other” in “otra persona”, referring to a person different from the current library user. The pattern “otra + noun” is useful when identifying an additional or different person or thing.
persona “persona” means “person” in “otra persona”. Here it refers to someone else who may have requested the book, and “otra persona” is useful when discussing a different individual involved in a situation.
lo “lo” means “it” in “lo haya pedido” and refers back to the book. The pattern “lo + verb” is useful for referring to an object already mentioned instead of repeating its name.
haya “haya” is the form of “haber” used with “pedido” in “lo haya pedido”, expressing that another person has requested the book. Because the clause follows “a menos que”, “haya” appears in this condition, and “haya + participle” is a reusable pattern for a completed action connected with the condition.
pedido “pedido” means “requested” or “asked for” in “lo haya pedido”. It is the participle form of “pedir” used with “haya”; together, “haya pedido” says that someone has requested the book, which is the exception to renewing it.

Grammar Points

renovar + pronombre: renovarlo

Puedes renovarlo.

PWEH-dehs reh-noh-VAHR-loh

You can renew it.

El pronombre de objeto se une al infinitivo: renovar + lo = renovarlo.

a menos que + subjuntivo

A menos que otra persona lo haya pedido.

ah MEH-nohs keh OH-trah pehr-SOH-nah loh AH-yah peh-DEE-doh

Unless someone else has requested it.

Después de «a menos que» se usa el subjuntivo para expresar una condición o excepción.

Spanish Vocabulary

cuenta noun
KWEHN-tah account
desde prep
DEHS-deh from; through
en línea phrase
ehn LEE-neh-ah online
hoy adv
oy today
libro noun
LEE-broh book
me gustaría phrase
meh goo-stah-REE-ah I would like
prestado adj
prehs-TAH-doh borrowed
puedes verb
PWEH-dehs you can
que pron
keh that; which
renovar verb
reh-noh-VAHR to renew
renovarlo verb
reh-noh-VAHR-loh to renew it
saqué verb
sah-KAY I took out; I borrowed

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

We can help you at the desk.

Show AnswerPodemos ayudarte en el mostrador.

Do I need my library card?

Show Answer¿Necesito mi tarjeta de la biblioteca?

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

borrowed

Show Answerprestado

to renew it

Show Answerrenovarlo

book

Show Answerlibro

I took out; I borrowed

Show Answersaqué