"There is a dog under the tree."

Translation: 树下有一只狗。

[xiaobrook3]

It can also be 树下有一只小狗, and this is more natural for Chinese native speakers.

[Keith_APP]

It is certainly not more natural if it is a Great Dane.

[ApolloK]

小狗 contains a size qualitative.

[bennettoft]

Can you explain this? I would of guessed this means small dog, Google Translate says puppy.

[Robbie2111]

小 means small, but Chinese people tend to use 小 along with animals such as 猫 and 狗 to describe them.

[Eresniale]

Can I use 在 here? 在树下有一只狗

[Gaetan339894]

Hi everyone, what is the purpose of the 只 here? Does it mean "only one dog" or is it a specific classifier for pets? Then can we use 个 instead?
Thx!

[BobBowles1]

只 means different things in different contexts. Here it is a measure word, which is used for a lot of animals. 个 is not appropriate.

[Keith_APP]

It is a classifier.
个 is not a good choice.

[Robbie2111]

In words of my Chinese teachers, 个 is something like a universal measure word. In case you do not remember the measure word for animals or wathever else, you can use 个, but it is better to use the appropiate one for each word.

[RobinThor]

Why not 树下有一条狗? I thought dogs are long, flexible objects.

[Keith_APP]

一条狗 is alright but it is not because of the shape of a dog, LOL. It's just a habit to say in that way. You can't say 一条羊 although a lamb is comparable in size and shape to a dog.

[Celticfiddleguy]

树下有狗 should be accepted. - reported 11.1.18

[Matt670776]

Lol. Under the tree. It sounds as if the dog were buried. There must be a better translation. I Think they mean the dog is next to the tree because the dog would be on the ground. Dogs don't climb trees.