Quantitative Adjectives in SpanishA2

Quantitative adjectives indicate how much of something there is, whether the quantity is large or small, or whether the measurement is approximate. They accompany a noun and specify its quantity: many books, little water, three afternoons, several options. Without them, the noun names the thing in a general way; with them, the quantity is delimited. They can also express intensity in some cases, as in a lot of heat or little patience.

Basic Uses of Quantitatives

Usage	Explanation
Exact Quantity	It is used to express a precise number of people, objects, or ideas.
Approximate Quantity	It is used to express an inexact amount when giving a specific figure is not important.
Intensity	It is used to show how much intensity a quality or situation has.
Scarcity	It is used to indicate a small or insufficient amount.

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Most quantitative adjectives agree with the noun in number and, when the form allows it, in gender. If the noun is feminine, the quantitative adjective takes the feminine form; if it is plural, it takes the plural form. One says many people, many problems, few hours, so many reasons. When the quantitative adjective has a single form for both genders, it only changes in number: several days, several weeks. If the noun is masculine singular and begins with a stressed a, the masculine form is used: some classroom.

Rules for Agreement of Quantitatives

Idea
Quantitatives agree in gender and number with the noun when their form allows it.
If the quantitative does not change form, it remains invariable even when the noun changes.
The quantitative must agree with the noun it accompanies and not with another nearby word.

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Much, little and so much form masculine and feminine pairs, and also become plural. Much is used for a large quantity, little for a scarce quantity and so much for a quantity equivalent or closely related to another. That is why one says a lot of money, a lot of hurry, few cars, few ideas, so much work and so much responsibility. In the plural they appear as many, many, few, few, so many and so many. When they come before a noun, they retain their value as quantifiers: many people, so many calls, few minutes.

Forms and Agreement of Much Little and So Much

Idea
Much changes to much, many, and many according to the gender and number of the noun.
Little changes to little, few, and few to agree with the noun.
So much changes to so much, so many, and so many to express an equivalent or very large amount.

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Enough expresses a sufficient or relatively large quantity. Its form does not change with gender: one says enough food, enough time, enough excuses, enough students. It only marks the plural when it modifies a plural noun. Before a singular uncountable noun, it indicates that the quantity is sufficient: there is enough water. Before a plural, it means that the number is considerable: there are enough problems. Sufficient expresses that the quantity is enough for a purpose, as in sufficient time, sufficient money or sufficient evidence.

Values of Enough in Quantity

Usage	Explanation
Sufficient Quantity	It is used when something is more than necessary for an action or situation.
Relatively Large Quantity	It is used when an amount is notable or considerable without being exact.
Invariable in Gender	It is always used with the same form in the masculine and feminine singular.
Invariable in Number in Certain Uses	It remains unchanged in number when it modifies a singular noun.

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Several and some refer to an indefinite quantity, but always in the plural. Several indicates more than one without precision and usually suggests a certain number: several days, several people. Some indicates an inexact part of a group: some friends, some doubts. Both forms agree in gender and number with the noun. When the context has already named the group, they can function with a more limited value, as in some houses on the street or several of the guests.

Indefinite Plural Quantifiers

Word	Definition
varios	It means an undetermined number greater than one.
algunos	It means an inexact part of a group.
unas cuantas	It means a small number of things or people.
unos cuantos	It means a small but inexact number.
demás	It means the remaining people or things in the group.
la mayoría	It means the largest part of a group.

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Before a singular masculine noun, some and none lose the -o and become some and no: some problem, no error. Before a singular feminine noun, some and no are used: some answer, no news. In the plural, some, some and none in highly restricted uses appear, because another negative expression is normally used. Any also accompanies the noun and means that it does not matter which one within a group: any day, any person. Before the noun it can vary in the plural as any in formal registers, although it is less frequent.

Special Forms Before the Noun

Idea
Some is used before a singular masculine noun to express indefinite existence.
No is used before a singular masculine noun to deny existence.
Any expresses free choice and is used before a singular noun.
Some and no are used before a singular feminine noun.

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Quantitative adjectives usually come before the noun: many books, few hours, several proposals. That position is the most common when one is simply quantifying. After the noun, the quantitative adjective gains expressive force or a more literary tone: days many, problems few, reasons several. In postposed position, the meaning usually sounds more emphatic, marked or stylized. With some quantitative adjectives, the order after the noun is uncommon in everyday speech and appears mainly in polished texts or fixed expressions.

The Place of the Quantitative in the Sentence

Usage	Explanation
Position Before the Noun	It is placed before the noun in the most common use.
Expressive Emphasis	It can go after the noun to add emphasis or a more literary tone.
Natural Order	It usually appears near the noun it modifies so that the quantity is clear.

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When the noun is omitted because it is already known from the context, the quantitative adjective functions as a pronoun: Many arrived late means that many people arrived late; Few passed means that few people passed. Much and little also appear with verbs, adjectives and adverbs to modify the idea of quantity or intensity: works a lot, is very tired, speaks little, too far, so close. In these uses, much and little do not accompany a noun, but rather the verb, adjective or adverb that they modify.

Quantitatives That Replace the Noun

Idea
A quantitative functions as a pronoun when the noun is omitted because it is already understood.
Much and little can accompany a verb, adjective, or adverb to indicate quantity or degree.
When they replace a noun, they maintain the reference to the context already known.
As pronouns, they can appear alone and answer a question about quantity.

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