"Are the animals Spanish?"

Translation: Les animaux sont-ils espagnols ?

[LudwigXIV]

I know I've been commenting a lot, but why isn't 'Sont les animaux espagnols?' accepted?

[Sitesurf]

No, you have to repeat the subject in the form of a pronoun or use "est-ce que":

• est-ce que les animaux sont espagnols ?

or, rare: sont-ce des animaux espagnols ?

[aurelienche]

Because it's false. You can't translate word by word, unfortunately...

[mwether]

Ça va: Est-ce que les animaux sont espagnols

[Sitesurf]

You missed the verb.

What you propose back translates to "is it that animals from Spain?"

In addition, you should translate an adjective to an adjective: espagnols = Spanish (not 'from Spain').

And unfortunately "they are from Spain" does not translate word to word: "ils sont originaires d'Espagne".

[bobbyfasthands]

why can't we use elles espagnols

[Sitesurf]

"elles" would refer to a feminine noun, whereas "un animal / des animaux" is a masculine noun.

in addition, the feminine of "espagnols" is "espagnoles "

[sandsilos]

What is wrong with "Les animaux sont-ils d'Espagne"?

[Sitesurf]

The animals can come from Spain and not be Spanish; or can be Spanish and not travelling.