Learn Spanish (Spain): Veo cinco pájaros en el árbol.

In Spanish, numbers from two to ten never change their ending to match the noun they are counting. While most descriptive words change to be plural or feminine, cinco stays exactly the same whether you are counting masculine birds (cinco pájaros) or feminine tables (cinco mesas).

Why does the number cinco come before the noun instead of after?

You might remember that describing words (adjectives) usually come after the noun in Spanish. However, numbers that tell you 'how many' are an exception. They always go directly in front of the noun, just like in English.

Where is the word for 'I' in this sentence?

The word for 'I' is yo, but it is left out here. The verb form veo already means 'I see'. Since only 'I' can be the subject of veo, Spanish speakers usually drop the yo because it is not needed.

Could en el árbol also mean 'on the tree'?

Yes! The Spanish word en is very versatile and can mean 'in', 'on', or 'at' depending on the context. Here, 'in the tree' makes the most sense in English, but Spanish uses the exact same word either way.

Why is there an accent mark on the first 'a' in pájaros?

That accent mark tells you to stress the first syllable when you say it out loud (PA-ja-ros). If it didn't have the mark, the normal rules of Spanish pronunciation would make you naturally stress the second-to-last syllable instead.