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Learn to express quantities in Spanish with essential words like poco (little), mucho (much), bastante (enough), nada (nothing), and nadie (no one). This lesson focuses on using these quantifiers to describe non-exact amounts and absence, improving everyday communication skills.
  1. "Poco, mucho, bastante, demasiado" indicate an inexact quantity.
  2. "Nada, nadie" refer to the absence of something or someone.
  3. "Todo, otro" refer to the entirety or something additional.
  4. "Tanto" emphasises a large quantity.
Función (Function)Cuantificadores (Quantifiers)Ejemplo (Example)
Cantidad no exacta  (Non-exact quantity)Poco, Mucho, Bastante, Demasiado

Hay poco transporte público en mi barrio.

Hay mucho tráfico por esta zona.

Esperé demasiado tiempo para el tren.

Hay bastante gente en el autobús.

Ausencia (Absence)

Nada

Nadie

No hay nada en el carril bici, está vacío.

Nadie quiere viajar en coche.

Totalidad o Adición (Totality or Addition)

Todo

Otro

Hoy el tráfico está bien, todo va rápido.

Este autobús no llega. Esperamos a otro.

Cantidad grande (Large amount)TantoHay tanto tráfico en la ciudad hoy.

Exercise 1: Usos de "Poco", "Mucho", "Bastante", "Nada", "Nadie"

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

poco, bastante, tanto, Nadie, otro

1. Ausencia:
: ... ha usado el transporte público esta mañana.
(Nobody has used public transport this morning.)
2. Totalidad o adición:
: Voy a tomar ... tren porque el primero está lleno.
(I am going to take another train because the first one is full.)
3. Totalidad o adición:
: Voy a tomar ... taxi, el primero no estaba disponible.
(I am going to take another taxi, the first one was not available.)
4. Cantidad pequeña:
: Hoy hay ... tráfico en la calle. A lo mejor es un día festivo.
(There is little traffic in the street today. Maybe it is a public holiday.)
5. Cantidad grande:
: He esperado ... tiempo para el autobús.
(I have waited so long for the bus.)
6. Cantidad grande:
: Hay ... tráfico hoy, mejor voy en tren.
(There's quite a lot of traffic today, I'd better go by train.)
7. Cantidad pequeña:
: Hay ... espacio en este autobús. Hay mucha gente.
(There is little space on this bus. There are many people.)
8. Ausencia:
: ... usa el carril bici esta mañana.
(Nobody is using the bike lane this morning.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence for each situation, paying attention to the proper use of 'poco,' 'mucho,' 'bastante,' 'nada,' and 'nadie' to talk about quantities in contexts of sustainable and everyday transportation.

1.
'Bastantes' does not agree with 'gente,' which is a singular collective noun; 'bastante' should be used.
The noun 'públicos' is incorrectly pluralized; it should be 'público.'
2.
'Nadie' is used for people, not for traffic, which is an inanimate noun.
'Ningún' is used with countable nouns or individualized countables, but 'tráfico' is uncountable; it is better to use 'nada' to indicate absence.
3.
'Tráfico' is a singular, masculine, uncountable noun; 'muchas' is not used.
'Muchos' is plural, but 'tráfico' is singular.
4.
'Poco' indicates a small but existing amount, not absence, so the sentence is incorrect.
'Nada' indicates absence of things, but here we talk about people; 'nadie' should be used.

Understanding Quantifiers in Spanish: Poco, Mucho, Bastante, Nada, and Nadie

This lesson explores common Spanish quantifiers used to express quantity, absence, and totality. At the A2 level, you will learn how to use these words correctly in everyday contexts, such as talking about transportation, people, and objects.

Quantifiers to Express Non-Exact Amounts

In Spanish, poco, mucho, bastante, and demasiado indicate an indefinite but approximate quantity. For example:

  • Hay poco transporte público en mi barrio.
  • Hay mucho tráfico por esta zona.
  • Esperé demasiado tiempo para el tren.
  • Hay bastante gente en el autobús.

Quantifiers Expressing Absence

The words nada and nadie denote the absence of things or people. Examples include:

  • No hay nada en el carril bici, está vacío.
  • Nadie quiere viajar en coche.

Quantifiers for Totality or Addition

Use todo to talk about the entirety of something, and otro to refer to an additional or different element:

  • Hoy el tráfico está bien, todo va rápido.
  • Este autobús no llega. Esperamos a otro.

Expressing Large Quantities

The quantifier tanto is used to emphasize a large amount:

  • Hay tanto tráfico en la ciudad hoy.

Additional Notes: Differences Between English and Spanish Quantifiers

Unlike English, Spanish uses specific quantifiers depending on whether the noun is countable or uncountable, and whether it refers to people or things. For example, nadie only applies to people, while nada is for things or concepts. Also, agreement in gender and number is important: bastante remains invariable with collective nouns like "gente," while "bastantes" would be incorrect.

Useful phrases and their English equivalents:

  • poco – "a little," "few"
  • mucho – "much," "a lot"
  • bastante – "enough," "quite a bit"
  • nada – "nothing"
  • nadie – "nobody," "no one"

This lesson equips you with the tools to describe quantities accurately and naturally in Spanish, enhancing your communication skills in everyday situations.

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