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Questions & Answers about Cachorro é rápido.
What does cachorro mean?
It means dog in English, referring to the animal. This is the basic translation, so when you see the sentence Cachorro é rápido., you know it’s talking about a dog.
Why is there no article before cachorro? Shouldn't it be O cachorro é rápido.?
While many generic statements in Portuguese include the definite article (e.g., O cachorro é rápido.), it’s sometimes omitted to create a more abstract or general statement—similar to saying Dog is fast. in English. In everyday conversation, you’re more likely to see the article, but omitting it can give the sentence a different stylistic nuance, often found in written or poetic contexts.
Why is the adjective rápido in its masculine form?
Adjectives in Portuguese agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Since cachorro is a masculine noun, rápido is also in the masculine form. If you were referring to a female dog, you’d say A cachorra é rápida, with both the noun and adjective in their feminine forms.
How would this sentence change if I wanted to talk about more than one dog?
To express the plural, you need to make changes to the noun, verb, and adjective. The plural form of cachorro is cachorros, the verb é changes to são (the plural form of ser), and rápido becomes rápidos. Thus, the sentence becomes: Cachorros são rápidos.
Is this sentence grammatically complete even though it’s very short?
Yes, Cachorro é rápido. is a complete sentence. It has a subject (cachorro), a linking verb (é), and a predicate adjective (rápido). In Portuguese, as in English, short sentences with a clear subject, verb, and complement are perfectly acceptable and frequently used.