Fresh air after work, a Spanish A1 story
Marta leaves a smoky street, sits in a small park and breathes through her nose. She plans to return to the same bench.
Respirar aire fresco
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About this article
What you'll learn
Present tense, ir a for a plan, and everyday words for air, nose, smoke, a park and trees.
After work, Marta wants cleaner air than the smoky street outside her shop. She walks to a small park, breathes slowly through her nose, and notices earth and leaves instead of car smoke. She thinks of her brother, who smokes on the balcony, and decides to ask him to smoke away from the kitchen door. The next day she will sit on the same bench again.
After reading
Article learning block
Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.
Phrases for training
Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.
Respirar aire fresco
newBreathe fresh air
"Respirar aire fresco" is the article title and a useful phrase about the importance of clean air.
A short phrase you can use every day.
Traemos aire a los pulmones y expulsamos el aire usado
newWe bring air to the lungs and expel used air
"Traemos aire a los pulmones y expulsamos el aire usado" describes the basic breathing process.
Shows how to use "traemos" and "expulsamos" — present indicative verb forms.
El aire entra por la nariz o la boca
newAir enters through the nose or mouth
"El aire entra por la nariz o la boca" is a simple description of the air path.
Useful for describing processes: entrada por = entrance through.
Los pulmones se expanden como un globo
newThe lungs expand like a balloon
"Los pulmones se expanden como un globo" uses a comparison with "como".
Learn "expandirse como" — useful for body descriptions.
El oxígeno pasa a la sangre
newOxygen passes into the blood
"El oxígeno pasa a la sangre" is the key phrase about gas exchange.
"Pasar a" = to pass into. Useful for describing processes.
Respirar por la nariz es mejor que por la boca
newBreathing through the nose is better than through the mouth
"Respirar por la nariz es mejor que por la boca" uses "mejor que" for comparison.
Learn "por + organ" to indicate breathing method.
Key words
Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.
inhalar — to inhale
inhalar
to inhale
"Inhalar" means to breathe in. Partner verb: "exhalar" (to exhale).
A key breathing verb. Often used in medical and health contexts.
exhalar — to exhale
exhalar
to exhale
"Exhalar" means to breathe out. Partner verb: "inhalar" (to inhale).
Opposite of "inhalar". Useful to learn as a pair.
tráquea — trachea
tráquea
trachea
"Tráquea" is the tube connecting the throat to the lungs. Air passes through it.
An anatomy term. Learn together with "nariz", "boca", "pulmones".
alvéolos — alveoli
alvéolos
alveoli
"Alvéolos" are tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange happens. Always plural in Spanish.
Always plural. Fun fact: millions of them in each lung.
oxígeno — oxygen
oxígeno
oxygen
"Oxígeno" is the gas essential for life. Without it, cells cannot function.
The most important word in the article. Learn with "dióxido de carbono".
dióxido de carbono — carbon dioxide
dióxido de carbono
carbon dioxide
"Dióxido de carbono" is the gas we exhale. It is produced by cells.
Learn together with "oxígeno" — they go together in gas exchange.
Grammar in context
Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.
Infinitive as sentence subject
Respirar es una acción que hacemos todo el tiempo sin pensar.
Respirar es una acción...
In Spanish, an infinitive (respirar) can be the subject of a sentence: "Respirar es una acción."
Useful for definitions and general statements.
Cuando + present to describe simultaneous actions
Cuando inhalamos, el aire entra por la nariz.
Cuando inhalamos, el aire entra...
"Cuando" + present tense describes an action that happens at the same time as another.
Helps describe sequential processes in the present.
Ser for definitions
El oxígeno es un gas que necesitamos para vivir.
El oxígeno es un gas...
"Ser + un/una + noun" is the typical pattern for definitions and classifications.
The basic pattern for definitions: "X es un/una Y".
Estar + participle for passive state
Los pulmones están divididos en partes más pequeñas llamadas bronquios.
Los pulmones están divididos...
"Estar + participle" shows a state, not a process. "Divididos" = divided (state).
For describing the state of things, not the action. Compare with "ser dividido".
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