El cachorro pequeño es muy tierno.

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Breakdown of El cachorro pequeño es muy tierno.

• pequeño: small
• muy: very
• tierno: sweet
• el cachorro: the puppy

Questions & Answers about El cachorro pequeño es muy tierno.

Why is the definite article El used instead of La?

Because cachorro is a masculine noun in Spanish, so it needs the masculine article El. If it were a feminine noun (like la mesa), you would use La instead.

Why does the adjective pequeño come after the noun cachorro?

In Spanish, descriptive adjectives commonly follow the noun. Saying el cachorro pequeño emphasizes a literal characteristic ("the puppy that is small"). Some adjectives can go before the noun, but in general descriptive adjectives appear after.

Why do we use es instead of está?

Es (from ser) is used for more permanent or defining characteristics (like being small or tender), while está (from estar) typically expresses temporary states or locations. Because being tender is seen as an inherent quality here, es is used.

How is cachorro different from perro?

Cachorro specifically refers to a young dog (a puppy), while perro is just the general word for "dog" regardless of age. Think of cachorro as "puppy."

What is the difference between muy and mucho?

Muy means "very" and is used before adjectives and adverbs (e.g., muy tierno = "very tender"). Mucho means "much" or "a lot" and is used with nouns or as an adverb expressing quantity (e.g., tengo mucho trabajo = "I have a lot of work").

Does tierno have any synonyms that could also work here?

Yes, you could say dulce (sweet), lindo (cute), or adorable. However, tierno specifically conveys a sense of sweetness or tenderness that fits a small puppy perfectly.