Choosing the best place to study | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: While planning study time, two adults compare a cafe, a library, and home for different learning tasks..

EN → ES / Level: B1

About This Lesson

Use Choosing the best place to study to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Necesito elegir el mejor lugar para estudiar.

neh-seh-SEE-toh eh-leh-HEER ehl meh-HOR loo-GAR pah-rah ehs-too-dee-AR I need to choose the best place to study.
B

Piensa en el ruido, la luz, la comodidad y las distracciones.

PYEHN-sah ehn ehl RROO-ee-doh, lah loos, lah koh-moh-dee-DAHD ee lahs dees-trak-see-OH-nehs. Think about noise, light, comfort, and distractions.
A

La cafetería es luminosa, pero la gente pasa constantemente junto a mi mesa.

lah kah-feh-teh-REE-ah ehs loo-mee-NOH-sah, PEH-roh lah HEN-teh PAH-sah kohn-stahn-teh-MEN-teh HOON-toh ah mee MEH-sah. The cafe is bright, but people keep walking past my table.
B

Ese movimiento podría hacer que me cueste concentrarme.

EH-seh moh-bee-MYEN-toh poh-DREE-ah ah-SEHR keh meh KWEHS-teh kohn-sehn-TRAHR-meh. That movement could make it hard to focus.
A

La biblioteca es más silenciosa, pero no puedo practicar hablar allí.

lah bee-blee-oh-TEH-kah ehs mahs see-lehn-see-OH-sah, PEH-roh noh PWEH-doh prak-tee-KAR ah-BLAR ah-YEE. The library is quieter, but I can't practice speaking there.
B

Usa la biblioteca para leer y luego practica hablar en casa.

OO-sah lah bee-blee-oh-TEH-kah pah-rah leh-ER ee LWEH-goh PRAHK-tee-kah ah-BLAR ehn KAH-sah. Use the library for reading, then practice speaking at home.
A

Eso me permite elegir un lugar adecuado para cada tarea.

EH-soh meh pehr-MEE-teh eh-leh-HEER oon loo-GAR ah-deh-KWAH-doh pah-rah KAH-dah tah-REH-ah. That lets me choose a suitable place for each task.
B

Una elección clara debería hacer que estudiar sea menos estresante.

OO-nah eh-lehk-see-OHN KLAH-rah deh-beh-REE-ah ah-SEHR keh ehs-too-dee-AR seh-ah MEH-nohs ehs-treh-SAHN-teh. A clear choice should make studying feel less stressful.

Word by Word

Necesito Necesito means “I need” in this dialogue and introduces the thing the speaker needs to do. It is used with an infinitive in “Necesito elegir”. Use this form to state a current need or requirement.
elegir Elegir means “to choose” in “Necesito elegir el mejor lugar”. It is an infinitive after “Necesito”, so the speaker describes the action they need to carry out. A useful pattern is “necesitar + infinitive”.
el El means “the” before the masculine singular noun “mejor lugar”. It identifies one specific place as the best option in the discussion. It is used directly before a masculine singular noun.
mejor Mejor means “best” in “el mejor lugar”, identifying the place that is most suitable among the options. It appears between the article and the noun here. Use it before a noun when selecting the strongest or most suitable option.
lugar Lugar means “place” in “el mejor lugar para estudiar”. It names the location the speaker must choose. It can be followed by “para + infinitive” to specify the purpose of the place.
para Para means “in order to” in “para estudiar”, explaining the purpose of the chosen place. Here it is followed by the infinitive “estudiar”. A reliable pattern is “para + infinitive” for expressing purpose.
estudiar Estudiar means “to study” in “para estudiar”, describing the activity the place should support. It is an infinitive after “para”. Use “para + infinitive” to say what something is intended for.
Piensa Piensa means “think” as a direct instruction in “Piensa en el ruido”. The speaker asks the listener to consider several factors before deciding. It is used with “en” when directing attention to something.
en En means “about” in “Piensa en el ruido”, marking what the listener should consider. It forms the reusable expression “pensar en” with the verb “Piensa”. Use it before the topic being considered.
ruido Ruido means “noise” in the list of factors to consider when choosing a study place. It is the noun after “el” in “el ruido”. It can be used when discussing sound that may affect an activity.
la La means “the” before the feminine singular noun “luz”. It identifies the light as one specific factor in the decision. It is used directly before a feminine singular noun.
luz Luz means “light” in “la luz”, one of the conditions being compared between study locations. It names the brightness available in a place. Use it when discussing lighting or visibility.
comodidad Comodidad means “comfort” in the list of things to consider before choosing a place. It refers to how comfortable the study environment is. It is used as a noun when evaluating the conditions of a place.
y Y means “and” and connects the listed factors “el ruido, la luz, la comodidad y las distracciones”. It joins items of equal importance in a list. Use it before the final item in a series.
las Las means “the” before the feminine plural noun “distracciones”. It marks the distractions as a plural group of factors. It is used directly before a feminine plural noun.
distracciones Distracciones means “distractions” in the list of conditions that can affect studying. It refers to things that draw attention away from the task. The plural form is used because the dialogue discusses distractions generally.
cafetería Cafetería means “cafe” in “La cafetería es luminosa”. It names the first possible study location. Use it when referring to a place where people can have drinks or food.
es Es means “is” in “La cafetería es luminosa”, linking the cafe with the description “luminosa”. It presents a characteristic of the place. Use it to describe what a place or thing is like.
luminosa Luminosa means “bright” in “La cafetería es luminosa”. It describes the cafe as having plenty of light and agrees with “La cafetería”. Use it after “es” to describe a place’s lighting.
pero Pero means “but” and introduces a problem that contrasts with the cafe’s brightness. In “es luminosa, pero la gente pasa...”, it connects a positive feature with a distraction. Use it to contrast two statements.
gente Gente means “people” in “la gente pasa constantemente”. It is the group doing the action of passing by the table. It commonly appears with a singular verb in this expression.
pasa Pasa means “passes” or “goes by” in “la gente pasa constantemente junto a mi mesa”. It describes repeated movement by the table. Use it with a place expression such as “junto a mi mesa” to say where someone passes.
constantemente Constantemente means “constantly” and shows that the people pass by repeatedly rather than only once. It modifies “pasa” in the dialogue. Use it to describe an action that happens again and again.
junto Junto means “next to” or “alongside” in the expression “junto a mi mesa”. Together with “a”, it identifies the location beside the speaker’s table. A useful pattern is “junto a + place or thing”.
a A is part of the location expression “junto a mi mesa”, meaning “next to my table”. It completes “junto a” rather than expressing a separate destination here. Use “junto a” before the thing or place beside which something happens.
mi Mi means “my” in “mi mesa”, showing that the table belongs to or is associated with the speaker. It comes directly before the noun “mesa”. Use it before a singular noun to identify something connected with the speaker.
mesa Mesa means “table” in “junto a mi mesa”. It names the object beside which people keep passing. Use it when referring to a table as a place for studying or other activities.
Ese Ese means “that” before the masculine singular noun “movimiento”. It points back to the movement just described near the table. It is used directly before a masculine singular noun.
movimiento Movimiento means “movement” in “Ese movimiento”, referring to people repeatedly passing by. It names the activity that may interfere with concentration. Use it when discussing motion in a place or situation.
podría Podría means “could” in “podría hacer que...”, presenting a possible effect rather than a certain one. It expresses the speaker’s cautious judgment about the movement. Use it when describing a possible result or consequence.
hacer Hacer means “to make” in the construction “hacer que me cueste concentrarme”. The whole construction expresses that the movement could cause concentration to become difficult for the speaker. A reusable pattern is “hacer que + clause” for causing a result.
que Que introduces the result clause in “hacer que me cueste concentrarme”. It connects the possible cause with the difficulty experienced by the speaker. In this construction, it is followed by the clause describing the result.
me Me means “for me” or “to me” in “me cueste concentrarme”, identifying the person who experiences the difficulty. It is placed before “cueste” in this clause. Use this type of pronoun to show whose experience or reaction is being described.
cueste Cueste means “be difficult for me” in “me cueste concentrarme”. It describes the difficulty the movement may cause the speaker, not a physical cost. It appears in the construction “hacer que me cueste + infinitive”.
concentrarme Concentrarme means “to focus” in “me cueste concentrarme”. The ending “me” shows that the speaker is the person who focuses. It is used as an infinitive after “cueste” to name the activity that becomes difficult.
biblioteca Biblioteca means “library” in “La biblioteca es más silenciosa”. It names the second possible study location. Use it when referring to a place intended for reading, studying, or accessing books.
más Más means “more” in “más silenciosa”, making a comparison between the library and the cafe. It increases the degree of the adjective that follows. A useful pattern is “más + adjective” for comparison.
silenciosa Silenciosa means “quieter” in “La biblioteca es más silenciosa”. It describes the library as having less noise than the cafe in the comparison. It agrees with “La biblioteca” and follows “más”.
no No means “not” in “no puedo practicar hablar allí”. It negates the speaker’s ability to practise speaking in the library. It is placed before the conjugated verb “puedo”.
puedo Puedo means “I can” in “no puedo practicar hablar allí”. With “no”, it says that the speaker is unable to practise speaking there. Use “poder + infinitive” to express ability or possibility.
practicar Practicar means “to practise” in “practicar hablar allí”. It introduces the activity the speaker cannot do in the library. It is followed here by the infinitive “hablar”; a useful pattern is “practicar + infinitive”.
hablar Hablar means “to speak” in “practicar hablar allí”. It names the language activity the speaker wants to practise. It appears as an infinitive after “practicar”.
allí Allí means “there” in “hablar allí”, referring to the library just mentioned. It indicates the location where speaking practice is not possible. Use it to point to a place already identified in the conversation.
Usa Usa means “use” as a direct instruction in “Usa la biblioteca para leer”. The speaker recommends the library for a specific learning activity. It is followed by the thing to use and “para + infinitive” stating the purpose.
leer Leer means “to read” in “para leer”, explaining the purpose for using the library. It is an infinitive after “para”. Use “para + infinitive” to state what a place or object is used for.
luego Luego means “then” in “y luego practica hablar en casa”. It orders speaking practice after reading. Use it to connect two actions in sequence.
practica Practica means “practise” as an instruction in “practica hablar en casa”. It tells the listener what to do after reading. It can be followed by an infinitive to name the activity being practised.
casa Casa means “home” in the expression “en casa”. Together, “en casa” identifies home as the place for speaking practice. Use this expression when describing an activity done at home.
Eso Eso means “that” in “Eso me permite elegir...”, referring to the preceding plan of using different places for different activities. It points to an idea or situation rather than naming it again. Use it to refer back to something just mentioned.
permite Permite means “allows” in “Eso me permite elegir un lugar adecuado”. It shows that the plan makes the choice possible for the speaker. A useful pattern is “permitir + person + infinitive”.
un Un means “a” before the masculine singular noun “lugar”. It introduces one suitable place without identifying a particular one yet. It is used directly before a masculine singular noun.
adecuado Adecuado means “suitable” in “un lugar adecuado”. It describes a place that fits the task being considered and agrees with “lugar”. Use it after a noun when describing whether something is appropriate for a purpose.
cada Cada means “each” in “cada tarea”, showing that the choice is considered separately for every task. It comes directly before the singular noun “tarea”. Use “cada + singular noun” to refer to members of a group one by one.
tarea Tarea means “task” in “cada tarea”. It refers to each learning activity, such as reading or speaking practice, for which a place may be selected. Use it when discussing a specific piece of work or activity.
Una Una means “a” before the feminine singular noun “elección”. It introduces a clear choice as a general idea rather than a previously identified choice. It is used directly before a feminine singular noun.
elección Elección means “choice” in “Una elección clara”. It names the decision about which place to use for studying. Use it when referring to the result or act of selecting between options.
clara Clara means “clear” in “Una elección clara”. It describes a choice that is settled or easy to understand and agrees with “elección”. Use it after a noun to describe the quality of a decision.
debería Debería means “should” in “debería hacer que...”, expressing an expected or advisable effect of making a clear choice. It presents the result as likely or desirable rather than guaranteed. Use “debería + infinitive” to express expectation or advice.
sea Sea means “be” in “hacer que estudiar sea menos estresante”. It describes the result the clear choice is expected to produce for studying. It appears after “hacer que” to introduce the resulting state.
menos Menos means “less” in “menos estresante”, reducing the degree of the adjective “estresante”. The phrase says that studying should feel less stressful than before. A useful pattern is “menos + adjective” for comparison.
estresante Estresante means “stressful” in “menos estresante”, describing the feeling studying should have after making a clear choice. It follows “menos” to express a reduced degree of stress. Use it to describe a situation, activity, or experience that causes stress.

Grammar Points

hacer que + subjuntivo

El ruido hace que me cueste concentrarme.

ehl RROO-ee-doh AH-seh keh meh KWEHS-teh kohn-sehn-TRAHR-meh.

The noise makes it difficult for me to focus.

After hacer que, Spanish uses the subjunctive; cueste is the subjunctive form here.

Spanish Vocabulary

cafetería noun
kah-feh-teh-REE-ah cafe
comodidad noun
koh-moh-dee-DAHD comfort
distracciones noun
dees-trak-see-OH-nehs distractions
elegir verb
eh-leh-HEER choose
estudiar verb
ehs-too-dee-AR study
lugar noun
loo-GAR place
luminosa adj
loo-mee-NOH-sah bright
luz noun
loos light
mejor adj
meh-HOR best
necesito verb
neh-seh-SEE-toh need
piensa verb
PYEHN-sah think
ruido noun
RROO-ee-doh noise

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

place

Show Answerlugar

choose

Show Answerelegir

study

Show Answerestudiar

comfort

Show Answercomodidad