Le pied est petit.

The foot is small.

Breakdown of Le pied est petit.

• être: to be
• petit: small
• le pied: the foot

Questions & Answers about Le pied est petit.

What is the overall structure of the sentence "Le pied est petit"?

It follows a classic Subject-Verb-Predicate format. "Le pied" is the subject (with "le" as the masculine singular definite article and "pied" meaning foot), "est" is the third person singular form of the verb être (to be), and "petit" is the predicate adjective describing the subject. This structure directly translates to "The foot is small" in English.

Why is the adjective petit placed after the linking verb est instead of before the noun?

In French, when an adjective is used as a predicate it follows the linking verb to describe the state or condition of the subject. In this sentence, petit functions as a predicate adjective. If you placed it before the noun (e.g., le petit pied), it would be an attributive adjective, which can sometimes carry a slightly different nuance—suggesting an inherent or more permanent quality rather than a stated condition. Though both positions generally describe size, the grammatical function differs.

How does adjective agreement work in this sentence?

French adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Here, pied is a masculine singular noun, so the adjective petit also remains masculine singular. If the noun were feminine or plural, the adjective would need to be modified to match (for example, petite for feminine singular or petits/petites for plural).

What role does the definite article le play in this sentence?

The definite article le signifies that the noun it precedes is specific or generally known. In French, definite articles are typically used even when making general statements. In this context, le pied can be understood either as a reference to a specific foot or to the foot in general, much like how "the" can be used in English. It ensures that the noun is clearly identified as a masculine singular entity.

Could the placement of petit affect its meaning or the nuance of the sentence?

Yes, placement in French can subtly affect meaning. When petit is used as a predicate adjective (after est in "Le pied est petit"), it simply states the condition of the foot as being small. In contrast, if petit were placed directly before the noun ("le petit pied"), it would function as an attributive adjective. This placement might imply that being small is an inherent or defining characteristic of the foot. Although the literal meaning ("small") remains consistent, the nuance between a temporary state and an inherent trait can differ depending on adjective position.