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Spanish · A1 Bilingual Reader Daily Life Food and Gastronomy

La Cena

Tonight, the Rodríguez family prepares a special dinner. The grandmother makes her famous paella. The grandfather sets the table with white plates and crystal glasses.

Illustration for the A1 story "La Cena": . Setting cues: bakery-cafe, family-call.
Length
120 words
Reading time
~1 min
Vocabulary
9 terms
Comprehension
5 questions
Warm-up

Pre-Reading Vocabulary

Review these key words and phrasing examples before you begin reading.

cena
dinner
"La cena está lista."
abuela
grandmother
"Mi abuela cocina muy bien."
olor
smell
"La paella necesita más azafrán," comenta la abuela con una sonrisa. El olor a azafrán y mariscos llena la cocina."

Your Spanish story — tap highlighted words when you need help

1 min read

Esta noche, la familia Rodríguez prepara una especial. La cocina su famosa paella, llena de mariscos frescos. El abuelo arregla la con platos blancos y vasos de cristal. Los niños ayudan a lavar las verduras, riendo y salpicando agua. " La paella necesita más azafrán," comenta la abuela con una sonrisa. El a azafrán y mariscos llena la cocina. Toda la familia se sienta a la mesa, ansiosa por comer. " Gracias por esta deliciosa comida, abuela," dice el padre con gratitud. Todos disfrutan y hablan sobre su día lleno de aventuras. Los niños historias emocionantes del colegio. La abuela sonríe, escuchando con atención. Esta es su parte favorita del día: la familia , feliz.

Show full English translation

Tonight, the Rodríguez family is preparing a special dinner. Grandmother cooks her famous paella, brimming with fresh seafood. Grandfather arranges the table with white plates and crystal glasses. The children help wash the vegetables, laughing and splashing water. " The paella needs more saffron," grandmother remarks with a smile. The scent of saffron and seafood fills the kitchen. The whole family sits at the table, eager to eat. " Thank you for this delicious meal, grandmother," the father says gratefully. Everyone enjoys and talks about their day full of adventures. The children share exciting stories from school. Grandmother smiles, listening attentively. This is her favorite part of the day: the family together, happy.

Comprehension check

Check what you understood

1. ¿Qué prepara la abuela para la cena?

2. ¿Qué hacen los niños mientras ayudan en la cocina?

3. ¿Qué dice el padre a la abuela durante la cena?

4. ¿Cuál es el ingrediente que la abuela dice que necesita más la paella?

5. ¿Cómo se siente la abuela al final del día?

Notebook

Patterns to reuse

Saying what's happening tonight

Esta noche, la familia Rodríguez prepara una cena especial.

Tonight, the Rodríguez family is preparing a special dinner.

In Spanish, 'esta noche' (tonight) can start a sentence to talk about plans.

Esta noche, [person] [verb] [activity].

  • Esta noche, cenamos juntos.
  • Esta noche, Marta cocina.
  • Esta noche, veo una película.

Use 'esta noche' at the beginning of a sentence to say what will happen tonight.

Expressing what someone is doing (present tense)

El abuelo arregla la mesa con platos blancos y vasos de cristal.

Grandfather arranges the table with white plates and crystal glasses.

The present tense is used to describe actions happening now.

[Person] [verb in present tense] [object or activity].

  • La abuela cocina paella.
  • Los niños ayudan a lavar las verduras.
  • Todos disfrutan y hablan.

Just use the correct present tense form of the verb for each person to say what they are doing.

Giving thanks for something

Gracias por esta deliciosa comida, abuela.

Thank you for this delicious meal, grandmother.

'Gracias por' is used to thank someone for something specific.

Gracias por [thing or action], [person].

  • Gracias por tu ayuda, mamá.
  • Gracias por la cena, papá.
  • Gracias por escucharme, amigo.

Say 'gracias por' plus the thing or action, then the person’s name or title, to show gratitude.

Describing who sits together

Toda la familia se sienta a la mesa, ansiosa por comer.

The whole family sits at the table, eager to eat.

Use 'se sienta(n) a la mesa' to talk about sitting down to eat as a group.

[Group/person] se sienta(n) a la mesa.

  • Mi familia se sienta a la mesa.
  • Los amigos se sientan a la mesa.
  • Ella se sienta a la mesa.

You can use 'se sienta(n) a la mesa' to describe who is sitting at the table.

Insight

Translator's Note

"This story captures the warmth of a family dinner, focusing on simple yet vivid descriptions to engage beginner learners."

Practice in the app

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How to study this story

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Listening & pronunciationSlow & natural-speed audio, Shadow & Speak feedback
Vocabulary acquisitionClick-to-check keywordsContextual review flashcards
Check for understandingComprehension quizInteractive review quizzes

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