Breakdown of El ciclo biológico de este animal marino es muy corto.
ser
to be
de
from / of
el animal
the animal
corto
short
muy
very
este
this
el ciclo
the cycle
marino
marine
biológico
biological
Questions & Answers about El ciclo biológico de este animal marino es muy corto.
Why must biológico and marino go directly after their nouns?
Biológico and marino are relational adjectives—they classify the noun into a category (a biological cycle, a marine animal) rather than just describing a trait. A strict rule in Spanish is that relational adjectives must always go after the noun they modify. You cannot say el biológico ciclo.
Why can we say muy corto but we couldn't say something like muy marino?
Corto is a qualifying adjective, meaning it describes a characteristic that can have varying degrees (something can be a little short or very short). Therefore, it accepts degree modifiers like muy. Marino, being a relational adjective, is absolute—an animal is either marine or it isn't. You cannot use muy with relational adjectives.
If I rephrased this to 'a very short biological cycle', what would the Spanish word order be?
I sometimes mix up este and esto. Why is it este animal here?
Este is the masculine singular demonstrative adjective used directly before a masculine noun (este animal). Esto is the neuter pronoun; it is used when referring to an abstract concept, a situation, or an unknown object (like pointing and asking ¿Qué es esto?). Esto is never placed directly in front of a noun.
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