Learn Spanish (Spain): Unos pájaros pequeños son rápidos.

Unos pájaros pequeños son rápidos.

Some small birds are fast.

Breakdown of Unos pájaros pequeños son rápidos.

Questions & Answers about Unos pájaros pequeños son rápidos.

Why does this sentence start with unos?

Unos is the masculine plural indefinite article. Just as un means a or an for a single masculine noun, unos is used for plural masculine nouns like pájaros. It generally translates to some or a few.

Why is the word for small placed after the word for birds (pájaros pequeños)?

In Spanish, descriptive words (adjectives) usually come right after the noun they describe. So instead of saying small birds like we do in English, you say birds small (pájaros pequeños).

Notice how unos, pájaros, pequeños, and rápidos all end in -os. Is that on purpose?

Yes! This is a great example of agreement. Because the main noun pájaros is masculine and plural, the article (unos) and both descriptive words (pequeños and rápidos) must also change to their masculine plural forms to match it.

Why do we use son instead of están for the word are?

We use son (from the verb ser) because being fast is treated as a core characteristic or general fact about these birds. You use ser for basic descriptions and inherent traits, whereas estar is used for temporary states, feelings, or locations.