La arruga es pequeña.

to be

Breakdown of La arruga es pequeña.

• pequeño: small
• la arruga: the wrinkle

Questions & Answers about La arruga es pequeña.

Why is the definite article la used with arruga in this sentence?

In Spanish, every noun has a gender. Arruga is a feminine noun, so it takes the feminine definite article la.

What does the verb es mean, and why is the verb ser used here instead of estar?

Es is the third person singular form of ser, which means to be. It’s used to express inherent or defining qualities. Since the smallness of the wrinkle is seen as an intrinsic characteristic rather than a temporary state, ser is appropriate instead of estar.

Why is the adjective pequeña placed after the noun, unlike in English where adjectives typically come before nouns?

In Spanish the usual position for descriptive adjectives is after the noun. Additionally, this placement ensures that the adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun. Here, pequeña follows arruga (a feminine noun) and is in its feminine, singular form.

Why does the adjective end in -a in pequeña?

Adjectives in Spanish must agree with the gender of the noun they modify. Since arruga is feminine, the masculine adjective pequeño becomes pequeña, with the ending changed from -o to -a to match.

What is the grammatical structure of the sentence La arruga es pequeña?

The sentence follows a Subject-Verb-Predicate Adjective structure. La arruga is the subject, es (from ser) acts as a linking verb, and pequeña is the predicate adjective describing the subject.

Could you place the adjective before the noun (e.g., La pequeña arruga) and would that change the meaning?

Yes, you could say La pequeña arruga. Placing the adjective before the noun sometimes adds a slight nuance or emphasis. However, for a neutral descriptive statement, the standard order—noun followed by adjective—is preferred.