Finding an accessible route to the platform | Learn Spanish in English

Sentence explanations

1. Disculpe, ¿hay una forma accesible de llegar al andén correcto?

   Excuse me, is there an accessible way to reach the correct platform?

   Disculpe

   Excuse me

   hay

   there is / there are

   forma

   way

   accesible

   accessible

   llegar

   to reach / to get to

   andén

   platform

   correcto

   correct

   More detail

   Disculpe is the formal singular command form of disculpar, used here as “Excuse me.” It addresses one person as usted; it is not the informal singular disculpa or the plural disculpen. hay is the impersonal present form of haber, used to ask whether something exists or is available: ¿Hay una entrada? — “Is there an entrance?” It does not change for singular versus plural: hay una forma and hay varias formas. forma means a method or way. It is a feminine singular noun; the indefinite article una agrees with it. The pattern una forma de + infinitive is reusable for asking about a way to do something: una forma de entrar — “a way to enter.” accesible describes forma here as accessible. It has the same written form for masculine and feminine singular nouns, while its plural is accesibles: un camino accesible, unas rutas accesibles. llegar is the infinitive “to reach” or “to get to.” After de, it stays in the infinitive: una forma de llegar — “a way to get to.” The preposition de links the method (forma) with the action. al is the contraction of a + el. Here a marks the destination and el agrees with the masculine singular noun andén. The contraction is required in standard Spanish when a comes before the article el. andén means “platform,” specifically the platform at a station. It is a masculine singular noun, as shown by el; its plural is andenes. correcto means “correct” or “the right one” here. It is a masculine singular adjective agreeing with andén: el andén correcto. Its feminine singular form is correcta, and the plural forms are correctos and `correctas. Together, ¿hay una forma accesible de llegar al andén correcto? literally asks whether there is an accessible way to get to the correct platform. With Disculpe at the beginning, the whole utterance is a polite formal request for that information: “Excuse me, is there an accessible way to reach the correct platform?”

2. El ascensor más cercano está cerrado por mantenimiento en este momento.

   The closest elevator is closed for maintenance at the moment.

   ascensor

   elevator

   más cercano

   closest

   está

   is

   cerrado

   closed

   mantenimiento

   maintenance

   momento

   moment

   More detail

   ascensor means “elevator.” It is a masculine singular noun, as shown by el and by the masculine singular form cerrado. Example: El ascensor funciona. — “The elevator works.” más cercano means “closest” here. cercano means “near/close,” and más cercano is the comparative form used here as a relative superlative: the elevator that is nearer than the relevant alternatives. Example: La estación más cercana está aquí. — “The closest station is here.” The adjective agrees with its noun: el ascensor más cercano, but la salida más cercana. está is the third-person singular present form of estar, used for a current state or condition. It agrees with the singular subject el ascensor. Compare está cerrado (“is closed”) with están cerrados (“are closed”) when the subject is plural. Example: La puerta está abierta. — “The door is open.” cerrado means “closed.” It is the masculine singular past participle of cerrar, used here adjectivally with ascensor; therefore it is masculine singular. The related forms are cerrada, cerrados, and cerradas when the noun requires those forms. Example: El acceso está cerrado. — “The access point is closed.” mantenimiento means “maintenance.” In por mantenimiento, por links the condition to its reason or purpose: the elevator is closed for maintenance. Example: El servicio está suspendido por mantenimiento. — “The service is suspended for maintenance.” momento means “moment.” Together with en este, the phrase en este momento means “at the moment” or “right now.” momento is a masculine singular noun, hence este; the phrase marks the current time. Example: No puedo hablar en este momento. — “I cannot talk at the moment.” Putting the parts together, El ascensor más cercano identifies the closest elevator. está cerrado states its current condition, por mantenimiento gives the reason, and en este momento places that condition in the present. The complete meaning is: “The closest elevator is closed for maintenance at the moment.”

3. Eso podría ser difícil con mi maleta pesada.

   That might be difficult with my heavy suitcase.

   Eso

   That

   podría ser

   might be

   difícil

   difficult

   mi

   my

   maleta

   suitcase

   pesada

   heavy

   More detail

   Eso means “that” here and functions as a demonstrative pronoun: it points to an identifiable situation or matter rather than naming a noun in the sentence. Its form is neuter and does not show masculine or feminine agreement with a noun. Compare esto (“this”) and aquello (“that over there”) for different discourse or distance relationships. podría ser combines the conditional form podría of poder (“to be able to; may/might”) with ser (“to be”). Here it expresses possibility: “might be,” not certainty. Podría is third-person singular, matching eso. A useful pattern is podría ser + adjective, as in Podría ser útil — “It might be useful.” difícil is an adjective meaning “difficult” or “hard.” It describes what eso might be. In the singular, difícil does not change for masculine versus feminine; its plural is difíciles. For example, La tarea es difícil means “The task is difficult.” mi is the singular possessive determiner “my.” It agrees in number with the possessed noun, not in gender with the possessor: mi maleta is “my suitcase,” while mis maletas is “my suitcases.” Nuestro/nuestra means “our,” not “my”; it is a different possessive form. maleta is a feminine singular noun meaning “suitcase.” Its grammatical gender is reflected by the article or adjective used with it, as in una maleta pesada — “a heavy suitcase.” The noun’s grammatical gender does not mean that the physical suitcase has a gender. pesada means “heavy” here and is the feminine singular form of the adjective pesado. It agrees with the feminine singular noun maleta: maleta pesada. With a masculine singular noun, the form is pesado; with plural nouns, it is pesados or pesadas according to the noun’s gender. For example, un bolso pesado means “a heavy bag.” Together, Eso podría ser difícil says “That might be difficult.” Con mi maleta pesada adds the circumstance “with my heavy suitcase.” In the original order, Eso podría ser difícil con mi maleta pesada means “That might be difficult with my heavy suitcase.”

4. Use el ascensor que está junto a la entrada norte. Tendrá que caminar un poco más.

   Use the elevator by the north entrance. It adds a short walk.

   Use

   use

   el ascensor

   the elevator

   está

   is located

   junto a

   next to

   la entrada

   the entrance

   norte

   north

   Tendrá que

   will have to

   caminar

   walk

   un poco más

   a little more

   More detail

   Use is the affirmative command form of usar for usted singular. It means “use” when addressing one person formally; it is not the tú form, which is usa. Example: Use esta puerta. — “Use this door.” el ascensor means “the elevator.” Ascensor is a masculine singular noun, so it appears with el. Example: El ascensor está abierto. — “The elevator is open.” está is the third-person singular present form of estar, used here for location. The pattern estar + place states where something is situated: La salida está allí. — “The exit is there.” junto a is a reusable location pattern meaning “next to” or “beside.” Example: La farmacia está junto al hotel. — “The pharmacy is next to the hotel.” Before el, a + el contracts to al. la entrada means “the entrance.” Entrada is a feminine singular noun, so it takes la. In la entrada norte, norte identifies the direction associated with the entrance: “the north entrance.” norte means “north.” Cardinal-direction words can identify a place or its side, as in la salida norte — “the north exit.” Tendrá que contains tendrá, the third-person singular future form of tener, plus que. The pattern tener que + infinitive expresses obligation or necessity: Tendrá que esperar. — “He, she, or you (formal) will have to wait.” The exact sentence does not state the subject with a separate pronoun; the translation presents the result as something that adds a short walk. caminar is the infinitive “to walk.” After tener que, the infinitive names the required action: Tenemos que caminar. — “We have to walk.” un poco más means “a little more.” Más compares with an understood amount, distance, or degree; un poco limits the increase. Example: Está un poco más lejos. — “It is a little farther away.” Here it describes an additional short amount of walking, without specifying an exact distance. Together, Use el ascensor gives the formal singular instruction “Use the elevator.” que está junto a la entrada norte identifies which elevator by saying that it is next to the north entrance. Tendrá que caminar un poco más adds that this choice will involve a little more walking. The complete meaning is: “Use the elevator by the north entrance. It adds a short walk.”

5. ¿Podría indicarme cómo llegar, o es fácil seguir las señales?

   Could you point me toward it, or are the signs easy to follow?

   Podría

   could

   indicarme

   indicate to me

   cómo llegar

   how to get there

   fácil

   easy

   seguir

   follow

   señales

   signs

   More detail

   Podría is the conditional form of poder (“to be able to”). Here it makes a polite request to the listener: “Could you…?” In this use, the implied subject is the listener addressed with usted; the form itself is also compatible with first-person singular in other contexts. indicarme combines the infinitive indicar (“to indicate, show, or point out”) with the attached pronoun me. Here me is an indirect-object pronoun: it marks the person receiving the directions, not the destination itself. Spanish commonly attaches this pronoun to an infinitive, as in ¿Puede indicarme la salida? — “Can you point out the exit to me?” cómo llegar means “how to get there.” Cómo introduces an indirect question and has an accent mark; llegar is the infinitive “to arrive/get.” A useful pattern is ¿Podría decirme cómo llegar? — “Could you tell me how to get there?” fácil is the adjective “easy.” It does not change for masculine or feminine, though its plural is fáciles: un camino fácil, unas instrucciones fáciles (“an easy route,” “easy instructions”). seguir is the infinitive “to follow.” In this sentence it follows es fácil: es fácil seguir… means “it is easy to follow…” This pattern uses an infinitive to name the activity being evaluated. For example, Es fácil entenderlo means “It is easy to understand it.” señales is the plural of the noun señal, here meaning “signs” or “directional signs.” The plural ending is -es; the singular is una señal, and the plural is unas señales. The nearby context supports directional signs, while the noun can refer to other kinds of signs or signals in other contexts. Together, ¿Podría indicarme cómo llegar asks politely for directions to the destination: “Could you point me toward it/how to get there?” The alternative o es fácil seguir las señales? asks whether reaching it is straightforward by following the signs: “or are the signs easy to follow?” The complete utterance is: “Could you point me toward it, or are the signs easy to follow?”

6. Pase las máquinas expendedoras de billetes y siga las señales azules.

   Go past the ticket machines, then follow the blue signs.

   Pase

   go past; pass

   máquinas

   machines

   expendedoras

   vending; dispensing

   billetes

   tickets

   siga

   follow

   señales

   signs

   azules

   blue

   More detail

   Pase means “go past” here. It is the affirmative command form for usted singular: pasar → pase. The same form can occur in other grammatical contexts, so the command meaning comes from this direction-giving sentence. For an informal singular command, Spanish uses pasa instead. máquinas means “machines.” It is the plural of the feminine noun máquina; the plural article and adjective around it would also agree in feminine plural when present. Example: Las máquinas están aquí. — “The machines are here.” expendedoras describes máquinas as dispensing or vending machines. It is the feminine plural form of expendedor/expendedora, agreeing with máquinas. Together, máquinas expendedoras is a reusable noun phrase meaning “vending machines.” billetes means “tickets” in this context. It is the plural of billete. The phrase de billetes identifies what the machines dispense: ticket machines. De often links a noun to the type, purpose, or content of another noun, as in máquina de café — “coffee machine.” siga means “follow” here. It is the affirmative command form for usted singular: seguir → siga. For an informal singular command, the form is sigue; for a plural ustedes command, it is sigan. The exact form siga therefore addresses one person formally, rather than several people. señales means “signs” or “signals” here. In this sentence it refers to directional signs. It is the plural of the feminine noun señal. Example: Busco las señales. — “I am looking for the signs.” azules means “blue.” It is the plural form of azul, agreeing with the feminine plural noun señales. Unlike many Spanish adjectives, azul uses the same plural form with masculine and feminine nouns: carteles azules and señales azules both use azules. The sentence gives two formal singular instructions in sequence: Pase ... y siga ... — “Go past ... and follow ... .” The first instruction uses Pase with the ticket-dispensing machines as the landmark; the second uses siga las señales azules, meaning that the signs to follow are blue. Together, the fixed utterance means: “Go past the ticket machines, then follow the blue signs.”

7. ¿Aun así llegaré al tren antes de que salga?

   Will I still reach the train before it leaves?

   Aun así

   even so; still

   llegaré

   I will reach

   tren

   train

   antes de que

   before

   salga

   leaves

   More detail

   Aun así means “even so” or “still.” It keeps the earlier situation in view while marking that the question asks whether the result will hold despite it. Here it does not exclude the earlier information; it adds a concession. llegaré is the first-person singular future of llegar: llegar → llegaré (“I will arrive/reach”). The ending -é identifies “I” in this future form. In this sentence, llegar al tren expresses getting to or reaching the train. Example: Llegaré a tiempo. — “I will arrive on time.” tren is the noun “train.” Its masculine singular form appears in al tren, where al is the contraction of a + el (“to the”). Example: El tren sale pronto. — “The train leaves soon.” antes de que introduces an event that is earlier than another event: “before.” Because the leaving is presented as a pending or anticipated event, Spanish uses a subjunctive form after this expression here. salga is the third-person singular present subjunctive of salir (“to leave/go out”): salir → salga. In this sentence, it means that the train leaves. Example: Espera antes de que salga. — “Wait before it leaves.” Together, Aun así sets up the concession, llegaré al tren asks whether the speaker will reach the train, and antes de que salga places that arrival before the train’s departure. The complete meaning is: “Will I still reach the train before it leaves?”

8. Si sale ahora, debería llegar con tiempo de sobra.

   If you leave now, you should get there with time to spare.

   Si

   if

   sale

   leaves

   ahora

   now

   debería

   should

   llegar

   arrive; get there

   con tiempo de sobra

   with time to spare

   More detail

   Si introduces a condition: Si + present-tense clause can be followed by a conditional result. It means “if,” and it includes the condition rather than replacing it. Example: Si vienes, hablamos. — “If you come, we’ll talk.” sale means “leave” here, from salir (“to leave; go out”). It is the present indicative form for third-person singular and is also the form used with singular usted; in this sentence, the fixed translation identifies the person as “you.” The useful pattern is si sale... — “if you leave...” The form salga would be a different form, used in contexts such as a command or a subjunctive clause. ahora means “now.” It places the leaving at the present time: sale ahora means “you leave now.” debería means “should” here, from deber. It is the conditional form corresponding to the subject understood from the sentence, and it expresses an expected or advisable result rather than certainty. The related present form debe can mean “must” or “should,” while debería is softer or more hypothetical in this conditional setting. Example: Deberías descansar. — “You should rest.” llegar means “arrive” or “get there.” It is the infinitive, and it follows debería: debería llegar — “should arrive.” After a conjugated form of deber, Spanish uses the infinitive for the second verb. Example: Deberías llegar temprano. — “You should arrive early.” con tiempo de sobra means “with time to spare.” con means “with,” while tiempo de sobra is the reusable expression for more time than necessary. Here it describes the expected arrival: there should still be ample time available when you get there. Together, Si sale ahora gives the condition “If you leave now.” debería llegar gives the expected result “you should arrive,” and con tiempo de sobra adds “with time to spare.” The complete meaning is: “If you leave now, you should get there with time to spare.”

9. Iré hacia allí ahora mismo.

   I'll head that way now.

   Iré

   I’ll go

   hacia allí

   that way / toward there

   ahora mismo

   right now

   More detail

   Iré is the first-person singular future form of ir (“to go”): ir → iré. It means that the speaker will go or head somewhere. Example: Iré mañana. — “I’ll go tomorrow.” hacia allí combines hacia (“toward”) with allí (“there”). Together, it indicates the direction or destination as “toward there” or “that way.” Hacia focuses on direction and does not by itself say that the destination has been reached. Example: Camina hacia allí. — “Walk that way.” ahora mismo is a time expression meaning “right now.” Mismo adds emphasis to ahora, making the timing immediate in this utterance. Example: Lo hago ahora mismo. — “I’ll do it right now.” The sentence assembles as Iré (“I’ll go”) + hacia allí (“that way/toward there”) + ahora mismo (“right now”): “I’ll head that way now.” The future form presents the speaker’s immediate intended movement, while the directional phrase identifies where they will head and the final time expression places it in the present moment.

10. Pregunte al personal de la puerta si necesita ayuda durante el trayecto.

    Ask the gate staff if you need help on the way.

    Pregunte

    ask (formal singular)

    personal

    staff

    puerta

    gate

    si

    if / whether

    necesita

    needs

    ayuda

    help

    durante

    during

    trayecto

    journey / way

    More detail

    Pregunte is the affirmative command form for usted singular: “ask.” The verb is preguntar; its ordinary present forms include pregunto (“I ask”), pregunta (“you/he/she asks”), and pregunte for this formal command. It is not the tú command pregunta. personal means “staff” or “personnel” here. It is a collective noun referring to the people working there. In al personal, a + el contracts to al; this marks the staff as the people being asked. de la puerta identifies which staff: the staff associated with the gate. The noun puerta is feminine, so it appears with la. si necesita introduces the condition or question being checked: “if you need.” Here si means “if/whether,” not the affirmative word sí (“yes”). necesita is the third-person singular present form of necesitar. In this utterance, the intended subject is the person being addressed, expressed formally as usted, consistent with Pregunte and the translation “you need.” The same form can also agree with a singular third-person subject in other contexts. ayuda means “help.” It is a noun in this sentence, although ayudar is the related verb “to help.” The phrase necesita ayuda uses ayuda as what is needed; Spanish commonly uses this noun without an article when speaking about help in general. durante means “during” and introduces the time span. el trayecto means “the journey” or “the way,” with trayecto referring to the route or trip from one point to another. Together, durante el trayecto means “on the way” or literally “during the journey.” Putting the parts together: Pregunte al personal de la puerta means “Ask the gate staff,” si necesita ayuda means “if you need help,” and durante el trayecto specifies when the help may be needed. The complete utterance is: “Ask the gate staff if you need help on the way.”