Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Spanish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about El camino es peligroso.
What is the meaning and structure of the sentence "El camino es peligroso"?
The sentence translates to "The road is dangerous." It is structured with "El camino" as the subject, "es" as the third person singular form of the verb ser, and "peligroso" as the adjective that describes the inherent characteristic of the road. This structure shows a simple subject-linking verb-predicate adjective arrangement.
Why is the verb ser used instead of estar in this sentence?
Ser is used because the sentence expresses an inherent, defining quality of the road—its dangerous nature. In Spanish, ser is appropriate when describing permanent or essential characteristics, whereas estar is used for temporary states or conditions. Since being dangerous is considered an inherent quality, ser is the correct choice.
How does gender agreement work in "El camino es peligroso"?
In Spanish, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in both gender and number. Here, "camino" is a masculine, singular noun, so "peligroso" is also in the masculine singular form. If the noun were feminine or plural, the adjective would need to change accordingly (for example, "la ruta es peligrosa").
What role does the placement of the adjective peligroso play in the sentence?