Descriptions and comparisons
Compare familiar places or items using simple descriptions.
What you’ll work on
- Use este and esta with familiar nouns.
- Make a simple comparison with más or menos.
- Give a short reason with porque.
A short conversation
Google voice when available; device voice as a fallback. Read along, then try each line aloud.
Este café es pequeño, pero es tranquilo.
This café is small, but it is quiet.
¿Y el café de la plaza?
And the café on the square?
Es más grande y más caro.
It is bigger and more expensive.
Quiero comer aquí porque este café es más barato.
I want to eat here because this café is cheaper.
Sí, y está cerca de la estación.
Yes, and it is near the station.
Use este, esta, estos, and estas
Este means this with a masculine singular noun, and esta means this with a feminine singular noun: este café, esta tienda. For plural nouns, use estos and estas. These words match the noun, like many other small words you have learned.
Be careful with esta and está. Esta tienda means this shop, while la tienda está aquí means the shop is here. The written accent identifies a different word and the stress follows it. Read the two phrases aloud, paying attention to the stress.
Make a simple comparison
Use más plus an adjective plus que for more… than: este café es más grande que el otro. Use menos for less: es menos caro. The adjective still agrees with the thing described when it has a changing form.
Barato means inexpensive or cheap, caro means expensive, and tranquilo means quiet or calm. Más barato is a helpful price comparison. Some common comparisons have special forms, such as mejor for better; focus first on the regular pattern in this lesson.
Explain your choice
Porque introduces a reason. It is one word without an accent in a statement: quiero comer aquí porque es tranquilo. The question why? is written ¿Por qué? as two words with an accent. You can recognize the distinction before using every question form.
A practical choice can combine price, size, atmosphere, or location. Keep descriptions factual or clearly your opinion. Practice choosing between two imaginary cafés, then between two books or places to visit. Give one reason and let the other person respond.
Lesson vocabulary
Listen once, say it aloud, and try to recall the Spanish before looking.
| Spanish | English | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| este / esta | this | |
| estos / estas | these | |
| barato / barata | inexpensive | |
| caro / cara | expensive | |
| tranquilo / tranquila | quiet / calm | |
| más… que | more… than | |
| menos… que | less… than | |
| porque | because | |
| la tienda | the shop |
Practice questions
Try every question, then check your answers. Capital letters and punctuation do not affect your score. Accents and ñ do matter.
Showing an answer makes that question a practice item worth zero for this attempt. Retry with the answers hidden when you’re ready. If audio cannot play, use Show answer / text to practice by reading.
Independent practice
These are independent practice tasks. The site does not record your voice, save your writing, or grade open-ended answers. Ask a teacher or conversation partner for feedback when you can.
Speaking practice
Describe two imaginary cafés and choose one. Mention a difference and give a reason for your choice.
Writing practice
Write four sentences comparing two familiar objects or places. Include este or esta, más… que, and porque.
Review the lesson objectives
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