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El perro pequeño tiene miedo.

El perro pequeño tiene miedo.
The small dog is afraid.
From Lesson 16:To have (tener)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about El perro pequeño tiene miedo.

Why does the Spanish sentence use tiene (has) instead of a word for 'is'?
In English, we use the verb 'to be' for feelings like being afraid, cold, or hungry. In Spanish, you use tener (to have) for these states. Literally, this sentence says 'The small dog has fear.'
Is miedo an adjective like 'afraid'?
No, miedo is a noun that means 'fear.' Because it is a noun, it goes with the verb tiene (has). You are literally saying the dog possesses fear.
Why is it perro pequeño instead of pequeño perro?
In Spanish, adjectives (describing words) usually come right after the noun they describe. Instead of 'small dog,' you say 'dog small' (perro pequeño).
Why does pequeño end in an 'o'?
Adjectives have to match the gender of the noun they describe. Perro is a masculine noun, so pequeño ends in an 'o'. If the sentence was about a female dog (la perra), it would be la perra pequeña.

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