Breakdown of El perro duerme en la cama.
el perro
the dog
en
in / on / by (means of transport) / about (after pensar)
dormir
to sleep
la cama
the bed
Questions & Answers about El perro duerme en la cama.
Why is the verb duerme instead of dorme?
The dictionary form of the verb is dormir (to sleep). In the present tense, the o in the root of the word changes to ue for most forms, including the he/she/it form used here for the dog.
Would I use duermo if I am the one sleeping?
Yes! The I form also gets the o to ue stem change, making it duermo. The only present tense forms that keep the original o without changing it are we (dormimos) and you all in Spain (dormís).
The English translation says on the bed, but doesn't en mean in?
The preposition en is very flexible in Spanish and can mean in, on, or at depending on the context. Since a dog usually rests on top of the mattress, on is the most natural English translation here.
Learn El perro duerme en la cama and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free