La Biblioteca Nacional de España

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About this article

Level A1 Reading focus

What you'll learn

Vocabulary about libraries, books, and describing places.

A descriptive text about the National Library of Spain, founded in 1712. It explains its location in Madrid, its function of keeping copies of all books in the country, and the use of its reading rooms.

After reading

Article learning block

Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.

16 items

Phrases for training

Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.

la entrada es libre

new

Entry is free

"La entrada es libre" means the entrance is free and open to everyone. "Entrada" = entrance, "libre" = free/open.

Useful for understanding that public services in Spain are often free.

para llevar libros a casa

new

To take books home

The pattern "para + infinitive" expresses purpose. "Para llevar" = to take/carry.

Essential for expressing purpose: "I use X to do Y".

el carné es gratuito

new

The card is free

"Gratuito" means free of charge. Synonym: "gratis". Used to describe services.

Key word for understanding that something costs no money.

es un sistema muy cómodo y fácil

new

It is a very comfortable and easy system

"Cómodo" = comfortable, "fácil" = easy. "Muy" intensifies both adjectives.

Useful for describing systems and services.

hay que estar en silencio

new

One must be silent

"Hay que + infinitive" = it is necessary to do. An obligation rule.

Essential pattern for expressing obligations and rules.

son espacios democráticos y necesarios

new

They are democratic and necessary spaces

"Democrático" = democratic, "necesario" = necessary. Plural "son" matches "espacios".

Useful for describing public places and their importance.

Key words

Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.

Library

biblioteca

Library

A public library in Spain is a place for reading, learning, and culture.

Central topic of the article. High-frequency word.

Library card

carné

Library card

"Carné" = library card for accessing library services.

Important for understanding how to use the library.

Free (of charge)

gratuito

Free (of charge)

"Gratuito" = free of charge. Synonym: "gratis". Antonym: "de pago" (paid).

Useful for describing free services.

Section

sección

Section

"Sección" = part of the library dedicated to a specific topic (children, press, etc.).

For describing different parts of the library.

Childrens room

sala infantil

Childrens room

"Sala infantil" = special space for children with books and activities.

For understanding library structure and children activities.

E-books

libros electrónicos

E-books

"Libros electrónicos" = books in digital format. Modern libraries offer both paper and electronic books.

Reflects the modern context of libraries.

Grammar in context

Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.

The "hay" existence construction

Hay bibliotecas en casi todos los barrios.

There are libraries in every neighborhood

"Hay" = there is/there are. Indefinite form of "haber" for expressing existence. "Hay bibliotecas" = there are libraries.

Core pattern for expressing the existence of things.

Purpose with "para + infinitive"

Para llevar libros a casa necesitas un carné.

To take books home, you need a card

"Para + infinitive" expresses purpose: why an action is done. "Para llevar" = in order to take.

Essential pattern for expressing purpose in Spanish.

"Hoy en día" — nowadays

Hoy en día muchas bibliotecas tienen libros electrónicos.

Now many libraries have e-books

"Hoy en día" = nowadays/now. Time expression for the present.

Useful for describing modern trends.

"Hay que" — one must

En la biblioteca hay que estar en silencio.

In the library one must be silent

"Hay que + infinitive" = it is necessary to do. Impersonal pattern for obligations. "Hay que estar en silencio" = one must be silent.