A2.7: As a Tourist in the City

Como turista en la ciudad

Explore cómo pedir información turística en español usando expresiones clave como "Por qué" y "Porque" para preguntar y explicar, aprendiendo vocabulario útil como "oficina de turismo", "direcciones" y "entradas" en un contexto urbano.

Listening & reading materials

Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.

A2.7.1 Diálogo

Descubriendo Madrid

Discovering Madrid


Vocabulary (18)

 Ir de paseo: to go for a walk (Spanish)

Ir de paseo

Show

To go for a walk Show

 Consultar un mapa: Check a map (Spanish)

Consultar un mapa

Show

Check a map Show

 Mirar un plano de metro: To look at a tube map (Spanish)

Mirar un plano de metro

Show

To look at a tube map Show

 Coger un taxi: To get a taxi (Spanish)

Coger un taxi

Show

To get a taxi Show

 El monumento: The monument (Spanish)

El monumento

Show

The monument Show

 Hacer una foto: to take a photo (Spanish)

Hacer una foto

Show

To take a photo Show

 La plaza mayor: The main square (Spanish)

La plaza mayor

Show

The main square Show

 Ver una exposición: Visiting an exhibition (Spanish)

Ver una exposición

Show

Visiting an exhibition Show

 Mandar una postal: To send a postcard (Spanish)

Mandar una postal

Show

To send a postcard Show

 La calle peatonal : The pedestrian street (Spanish)

La calle peatonal

Show

The pedestrian street Show

 El museo nacional: The National Museum (Spanish)

El museo nacional

Show

The national museum Show

 El mercado local: the local market (Spanish)

El mercado local

Show

The local market Show

 El paseo guiado: the guided walk (Spanish)

El paseo guiado

Show

The guided walk Show

 El centro histórico: The historic centre (Spanish)

El centro histórico

Show

The historic centre Show

 La boca de metro: The metro entrance (Spanish)

La boca de metro

Show

The metro entrance Show

 La estatua: The statue (Spanish)

La estatua

Show

The statue Show

 El palacio: The palace (Spanish)

El palacio

Show

The palace Show

 La ciudad cosmopolita: The cosmopolitan city (Spanish)

La ciudad cosmopolita

Show

The cosmopolitan city Show

Exercises

These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.

Exercise 1: Translate and use in a sentence

Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.

1

Ver una exposición


Visiting an exhibition

2

La calle peatonal


The pedestrian street

3

Mandar una postal


To send a postcard

4

El mercado local


The local market

5

El monumento


The monument

Ejercicio 2: Conversation exercise

Instrucción:

  1. Describe what this tourist in Copenhagen is doing in the pictures. (Describe what this tourist in Copenhagen is doing in the pictures.)
  2. What could the person say in any of the situations? (What could the person say in any of the situations?)
  3. Do you still send postcards from your holidays? To whom do you send them? (Do you still send postcards from your holidays? To whom do you send them?)

Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes

Example phrases:

La mujer toma un taxi.

The woman takes a taxi.

Consulté las indicaciones en el mapa.

I looked up the directions on the map.

¿Me puede decir cómo llegar al monumento?

Can you tell me how to get to the monument?

¿Tienes descuento para estudiantes?

Do you have a student discount?

Uso mi teléfono para llegar al museo.

I use my phone to navigate to the museum.

¿Puedes hacerme una foto?

Can you take a picture of me?

Tengo que enviar una postal a mi familia.

I have to send a postcard to my family.

...

Exercise 3: Dialogue Cards

Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.

Exercise 4: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Esta mañana ____ visitado el centro histórico y he aprendido mucho sobre la ciudad.

(This morning ____ visited the historic center and I have learned a lot about the city.)

2. ¿Por qué ____ perdido? ¿No has consultado el plano del metro?

(Why ____ lost your way? Haven’t you checked the subway map?)

3. ____ mucho por las calles peatonales para conocer mejor la ciudad cosmopolita.

(____ a lot through the pedestrian streets to better get to know the cosmopolitan city.)

4. ____ un taxi porque hacía mucho calor y estábamos cansados de caminar.

(____ a taxi because it was very hot and we were tired of walking.)

Exercise 5: As a tourist in the city

Instruction:

El sábado pasado (Visitar - Pretérito perfecto) el centro histórico de la ciudad. Primero, (Coger - Pretérito perfecto) un taxi porque (Perderse - Pretérito perfecto) buscando la plaza mayor. Después, (Caminar - Pretérito perfecto) por la calle peatonal y (Visitar - Pretérito perfecto) el museo nacional. Mi amiga (Hacer - Pretérito perfecto) muchas fotos de las estatuas y los monumentos. Finalmente, (Consultar - Pretérito perfecto) el plano del metro para regresar al hotel porque estaba lejos y queríamos descansar.


Last Saturday we have visited the historic center of the city. First, we have taken a taxi because we got lost looking for the main square. Then, we have walked along the pedestrian street and we have visited the national museum. My friend has taken many photos of the statues and monuments. Finally, we have consulted the metro map to return to the hotel because it was far and we wanted to rest.

Verb Tables

Visitar - To visit

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo he visitado
  • tú has visitado
  • él/ella/usted ha visitado
  • nosotros/nosotras hemos visitado
  • vosotros/vosotras habéis visitado
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes han visitado

Coger - To take

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo he cogido
  • tú has cogido
  • él/ella/usted ha cogido
  • nosotros/nosotras hemos cogido
  • vosotros/vosotras habéis cogido
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes han cogido

Perderse - To get lost

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo me he perdido
  • tú te has perdido
  • él/ella/usted se ha perdido
  • nosotros/nosotras nos hemos perdido
  • vosotros/vosotras os habéis perdido
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes se han perdido

Caminar - To walk

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo he caminado
  • tú has caminado
  • él/ella/usted ha caminado
  • nosotros/nosotras hemos caminado
  • vosotros/vosotras habéis caminado
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes han caminado

Hacer - To do/make

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo he hecho
  • tú has hecho
  • él/ella/usted ha hecho
  • nosotros/nosotras hemos hecho
  • vosotros/vosotras habéis hecho
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes han hecho

Consultar - To consult

Pretérito perfecto

  • yo he consultado
  • tú has consultado
  • él/ella/usted ha consultado
  • nosotros/nosotras hemos consultado
  • vosotros/vosotras habéis consultado
  • ellos/ellas/ustedes han consultado

Exercise 6: La diferencia entre "Por qué" y "Porque"

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Grammar: The difference between "Por qué" and "Porque"

Show translation Show answers

por qué, Por qué, porque

1.
¿... no has consultado el plano de la ciudad?
(Why haven't you checked the city map?)
2.
Visitamos la plaza ... nos gusta su historia.
(We visit the square because we like its history.)
3.
Hemos cogido un taxi ... hemos estado muy cansados.
(We have taken a taxi because we have been very tired.)
4.
¿... no has mandado una postal a tus amigos
(Why haven't you sent a postcard to your friends?)
5.
No sé ... han cerrado la calle peatonal.
(I don't know why they have closed the pedestrian street.)
6.
¿... ver una exposición en esa galería?
(Why see an exhibition at that gallery?)
7.
He caminado mucho ... me he perdido esta mañana.
(I have walked a lot because I got lost this morning.)
8.
¿... no has hecho una foto del monumento?
(Why haven't you taken a photo of the monument?)

Grammar

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A2.7.2 Gramática

La diferencia entre "Por qué" y "Porque"

The difference between "Por qué" and "Porque"


Verb conjugation tables for this lesson

Visitar to visit

Pretérito perfecto

Spanish English
(yo) he visitado I have visited
(tú) has visitado You have visited
(él/ella) ha visitado he/she has visited
(nosotros/nosotras) hemos visitado we have visited
(vosotros/vosotras) habéis visitado you have visited
(ellos/ellas) han visitado they have visited

Exercises and examples phrases

Perderse to get lost

Pretérito perfecto

Spanish English
(yo) me he perdido I have got lost
(tú) te has perdido you have got lost
(él/ella) se ha perdido he/she has got lost
(nosotros/nosotras) nos hemos perdido we have got lost
(vosotros/vosotras) os habéis perdido You have got lost
(ellos/ellas) se han perdido they have gotten lost

Exercises and examples phrases

Caminar to walk

Pretérito perfecto

Spanish English
(yo) he caminado I have walked
(tú) has caminado You have walked
(él/ella) ha caminado he/she has walked
(nosotros/nosotras) hemos caminado we have walked
(vosotros/vosotras) habéis caminado You have walked
(ellos/ellas) han caminado they have walked

Exercises and examples phrases

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Lesson Overview: As a Tourist in the City

This lesson focuses on practical Spanish language skills useful for tourists exploring a city, specifically Madrid. It is designed for A2 level learners and covers commonly used expressions, key verb conjugations, and important distinctions in Spanish grammar that regularly arise in everyday tourist situations.

Key Topics Covered

  • Practical dialogues for common tourist interactions, such as asking for information at the tourism office, requesting directions on the street, and buying tickets for transport or museums.
  • Understanding the difference between "Por qué" and "Porque". This distinction is essential for asking questions and giving explanations effectively.
  • Essential verbs in the present perfect tense (Pretérito perfecto), allowing learners to talk about recent experiences, such as visiting places or buying tickets.
  • Useful vocabulary related to tourism and city navigation, including terms like billete (ticket), catedral (cathedral), and visitas guiadas (guided tours).

Examples and Highlights

Key expressions help you interact naturally when traveling in a Spanish city:

  • Buenos días, ¿me puede ayudar? – Used to politely ask for help at the tourist office.
  • ¿Por qué no hay visitas guiadas hoy? – Asking for reasons (“Why are there no guided tours today?”).
  • Porque hay una fiesta local y están organizando el evento. – Giving explanations (“Because there's a local festival and they're organizing the event.”).
  • Disculpe, ¿por qué no encuentro el mercado central? – Asking for directions with a reason.
  • Porque la ciudad es amplia y hay mucho que ver a pie. – Explaining reasons for walking a lot.

Grammar Focus: "Por qué" vs. "Porque" and Present Perfect Tense

"Por qué" is used to ask questions, equivalent to "why" in English. For example, ¿Por qué está tan lejos? means "Why is it so far?".

"Porque" is used to provide reasons or explanations and is equivalent to "because". For example, Porque la ciudad es grande. means "Because the city is large."

The lesson also emphasizes the use of the present perfect tense, which is formed with the auxiliary verb haber plus the past participle. This tense is commonly used in Spanish to talk about recent actions or experiences.

Examples: He visitado (I have visited), Nos hemos perdido (We have gotten lost), Ha hecho (He/she has taken/made).

Differences Between English and Spanish to Note

In Spanish, the present perfect tense is more commonly used to describe actions that have occurred recently and have a connection to the present moment, compared to English where the simple past is often used. For example, Spanish learners often say He visitado el museo (I have visited the museum) instead of just the simple past.

The distinction between por qué (why) and porque (because) is crucial to avoid confusion in conversation and is explicitly covered in this lesson.

Useful Phrases and Vocabulary

  • billete – ticket
  • museo – museum
  • parque central – central park
  • visitas guiadas – guided tours
  • plaza – square or plaza
  • perderse – to get lost
  • consultar el plano – to consult the map

This study guide provides all the vocabulary and grammar explanations needed to prepare for the dialogues and exercises behind the payment wall, acting as a comprehensive resource for practicing how to navigate the city, ask for information, and talk about your tourist experiences confidently in Spanish.

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