El perro doméstico

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About this article

Level A1 Reading focus

What you'll learn

Present tense, the verb querer, and dog words: cola, correa, paseo, ladrar, pienso.

Clara takes Tobi out before night. The dog wags his tail, barks at a neighbor, does not meet another dog, and at home drinks water and eats kibble.

After reading

Article learning block

Phrases, words, grammar, and quick practice from this text.

16 items

Phrases for training

Add useful phrases to SRS or mark them as already known.

el mejor amigo del hombre

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The best friend of man

This phrase describes a dog as a loyal friend. "El mejor amigo" means "the best friend" — amigo is a masculine noun.

Useful for describing dogs and expressing affection toward them.

Son animales muy leales y cariñosos

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They are very loyal and affectionate animals

"Muy leales y cariñosos" — two adjectives after "son". In plural, adjectives agree: leales (masc. pl.), cariñosas (fem. pl.).

Practice adjective-noun agreement in plural.

Hay perros grandes y perros pequeños

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There are big dogs and small dogs

"Hay" is the impersonal form of "haber" (there is/are). Adjectives grandes and pequeños agree with "perros" (plural).

Learn the "Hay + noun" structure for expressing existence.

Usa la cola para mostrar que está contento

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It uses its tail to show that it is happy

The pattern "para + infinitive" expresses purpose (in order to). "Está contento" uses estar for a temporary state, not ser.

Practice "para + infinitive" to express purpose.

Es importante cuidar la salud del perro

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It is important to care for the dog health

"Es importante + infinitive" is an impersonal construction. "La salud del perro" uses the preposition "de" to show possession.

Learn the impersonal "Es importante" pattern and "de" for possession.

Son amigos fieles de la familia

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They are loyal friends of the family

"Amigos fieles" — adjective after noun in plural. "De la familia" — preposition "de" + feminine article "la".

Practice adjective placement and the preposition "de" for possession.

Key words

Vocabulary that carries the school-day topic.

Affectionate

cariñoso

affectionate

"Cariñoso" describes an animal or person who shows love and warmth. Feminine: cariñosa.

Useful for describing the character of animals and people.

Companion

compañero

companion

"Compañero" means someone who shares time and activities with you. "Buen compañero" uses the shortened form "buen" before a masculine singular noun.

Learn the expression "ser buen compañero" — to be a good companion.

The paw

la pata

the paw

"La pata" is feminine in gender, even though it refers to an animal part. Plural: las patas.

Learn animal body parts: la pata (paw), la cola (tail).

To bark

ladrar

to bark

"Ladrar" is a regular -ar verb used only for dogs. Infinitive: ladrar. Present: ladro, ladras, ladra, ladran.

Learn animal sound verbs. Dogs ladran (bark), cats maúllan (meow).

The vet

el veterinario

the vet (veterinarian)

"El veterinario" is the doctor for animals. Feminine: la veterinaria (the profession).

Useful for the topic of pet care and visiting the doctor.

The walk

el paseo

the walk

"El paseo" is a masculine noun from the verb "pasear" (to go for a walk). Expression: "sacar a paseo" — to take for a walk.

Learn noun-verb conversion: pasear → el paseo.

Grammar in context

Patterns from the text worth noticing after reading.

Adjective agreement: plural

perros grandes

perros grandes (plural adjectives)

In Spanish, adjectives follow the noun and agree in gender and number: perros grandes (masc. pl.), gatas pequeñas (fem. pl.).

Practice basic adjective-noun agreement in plural.

Ser vs Estar: permanent vs temporary states

El perro está contento

El perro está contento (temporary state)

Use estar for temporary emotional or physical states. "Contento" (happy) is a mood, not a permanent personality trait. Compare: es simpático (permanent) vs está triste (temporary).

Learn the difference: ser = permanent traits, estar = temporary states.

Impersonal construction: Es importante + infinitive

Es importante cuidar

Es importante cuidar (impersonal)

The pattern "Es importante + infinitive" has no specific subject — it is a general statement. Alternatives: Es necesario, Es bueno, Es malo.

Learn to make general statements without specifying a subject.

Present tense: habitual actions

Los perros ladran

Los perros ladran (present_habitual)

Use the present tense to describe habitual, repeated actions. "Los perros ladran" is third person plural. For -ar verbs: -o, -as, -a, -amos, -an.