Turning it down: algo + adjective
Before an adjective or an adverb, algo means somewhat, a bit. It softens the quality, and it doesn't change form: algo cansada, algo caros.
A softer way to say you are tired:
| Today I am a bit tired. (a woman speaking) | Hoy estoy algo cansada. |
A small complaint after the praise:
| The flat is nice, but somewhat expensive. | El piso es bonito, pero algo caro. |
A bit odd, or something odd?
Don't confuse it with algo = something, which you already know: that algo takes a masculine singular adjective (algo raro, algo nuevo). When the adjective is feminine or plural, algo can only be the softener.
A bit odd: rara agrees with tu amiga:
| Your friend is a bit odd, isn't she? | Tu amiga es algo rara, ¿no? |
Something strange: here algo is the thing that was heard:
| Last night we heard something strange in the garden. | Anoche oímos algo raro en el jardín. |
Adverbs in -mente before an adjective
An adverb in -mente right before an adjective (or a phrase like de acuerdo) says how much: totalmente, absolutamente and realmente turn it up, ligeramente turns it down, especialmente singles it out.
| adverb | example |
|---|---|
| totalmente | totalmente de acuerdo |
| absolutamente | absolutamente necesario |
| ligeramente | ligeramente diferente |
| especialmente | especialmente difícil |
Nothing can wait:
| It is absolutely necessary to finish today. | Es absolutamente necesario terminar hoy. |
Only a small difference:
| This version is slightly different. | Esta versión es ligeramente diferente. |
Saying it twice: alta, alta
In conversation, repeating an adjective makes it stronger, like English really, really tall. The second one can also take -ísimo. In writing, muy or -ísimo alone is the usual choice.
| My sister is really, really tall. | Mi hermana es alta, alta. |
With -ísimo on the repeat:
| He is good-looking, really good-looking. | Es guapo, guapísimo. |
Common mistake
- Estoy alga cansada → algo stays algo: Estoy algo cansada.
