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Learn how to use Spanish adverbs of quantity such as mucho, poco, bastante, and nada to express approximate amounts. This A1-level lesson explains their basic forms, agreement with nouns, and practical examples to help you describe quantities naturally in everyday conversations.
  1. "Mucho" y "poco" as adverbs do not change their form.
  2. "Mucho" and "poco" as adjectives adjust to the number and gender of the noun.
  3. The adverb "bastante" does not change its form when combined with adjectives.
  4. The adverb "nada" does not change its form.
Adverbios de cantidad (Adverbs of quantity)Ejemplos (Examples)

Mucho

 

Tengo mucho dinero. (I have a lot of money.)

Tú tienes muchas tarjetas (You have many cards).

Poco

 

Ana tiene poco dinero. (Ana has little money.)

Paco visita pocas tiendas. (Paco visits few shops.)

BastanteEste vino es bastante caro. (This wine is quite expensive.)
NadaNo quiero comprar nada. (I don't want to buy anything.)

Exercise 1: Adverbios de cantidad: "Mucho, poco, bastante,..."

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

poco, muchas, pocos, nada, mucha, mucho, bastante

1.
Tengo ... euros en mi bolsillo.
(I have few euros in my pocket.)
2.
Este precio es ... alto.
(This price is quite high.)
3.
Esto es ... efectivo.
(This is not very effective.)
4.
En esta tienda no hay ... interesante.
(There is nothing interesting in this shop.)
5.
Tengo ... energía.
(I have a lot of energy.)
6.
Pago ... por esta ropa.
(I pay a lot for these clothes.)
7.
Tengo ... amigas.
(I have many friends.)
8.
Esto no cuesta ....
(This costs nothing.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Tengo _____ dinero para comprar esta camisa.

(I have _____ money to buy this shirt.)

2. Esta tienda _____ billetes y monedas antiguas.

(This store _____ old bills and coins.)

3. El vestido _____ poco porque tiene un descuento.

(The dress _____ little because it has a discount.)

4. _____ con tarjeta cuando compro en esta tienda.

(_____ with a card when I shop at this store.)

5. No quiero comprar _____ porque es muy caro.

(I do not want to buy _____ because it is very expensive.)

6. Este euro vale _____ más que una peseta.

(This euro is worth _____ more than a peseta.)

Understanding Spanish Quantity Adverbs

In this lesson, you will learn how to use common Spanish adverbs of quantity: mucho, poco, bastante, and nada. These words help you express approximate amounts and quantities in everyday conversations.

Key Adverbs Explained

  • Mucho means "a lot" or "much." When used as an adverb, it does not change form. However, as an adjective, it agrees in number and gender with the noun it modifies. For example: Tengo mucho dinero (I have a lot of money) and Tú tienes muchas tarjetas (You have many cards).
  • Poco means "little" or "few." Similar to mucho, it stays the same as an adverb but changes form as an adjective to match the noun's gender and number: Ana tiene poco dinero and Paco visita pocas tiendas.
  • Bastante means "enough" or "quite." This adverb does not change its form regardless of the noun or adjective it accompanies: Este vino es bastante caro (This wine is quite expensive).
  • Nada means "nothing" or "not at all," and it remains invariable: No quiero comprar nada (I don’t want to buy anything).

Usage Notes

These adverbs allow you to describe quantity with flexibility. Remember that mucho and poco behave differently when used as adjectives or adverbs. The others do not vary in form, providing simplicity in usage. Mastering these expressions will enhance your ability to talk about amounts, prices, or frequency in Spanish.

Comparing English and Spanish

Unlike English, Spanish often adjusts adjectives like mucho and poco for gender and number when they describe nouns, but keeps them unchanged as adverbs. For example, English uses "much" or "many" depending on countability without gender forms, but Spanish distinguishes forms such as mucho and muchas. Additionally, Spanish frequently places adverbs before adjectives or verbs, similar to English, but the agreement rules are a key difference.

Useful phrases include: Tengo mucho trabajo (I have a lot of work), Tengo muchas ideas (I have many ideas), and No tengo nada (I have nothing).

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