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Spanish (Spain)

### 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:

{{item:1254089}}

A small complaint after the praise:

{{item:1254090}}

### 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**:

{{item:1254093}}

*Something strange*: here **algo** is the thing that was heard:

{{item:1254094}}

### 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:

{{item:1254106}}

Only a small difference:

{{item:1254103}}

### 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.

{{item:1254098}}

With **-ísimo** on the repeat:

{{item:1254100}}

### Common mistake

- *Estoy alga cansada* → **algo** stays **algo**: **Estoy algo cansada**.

Turning the degree up or down (algo caro, ligeramente)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular subjects and 'ser' (yo soy, esto es)

Plural nouns and definite articles (los, las)

Plural pronouns and 'ser' (somos, sois, son)

Adjective agreement (-o, -a, -os, -as)

Indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas)

Simple negation (no)

Yes/no questions

Regular '-ar' verbs (-o, -as, -a...)

Regular '-er' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Regular '-ir' verbs (-o, -es, -e...)

Locative adverbs (aquí, allí)

Question words (quién, cómo)

The verb estar (estoy, estás)

The preposition en (en)

Ser vs. estar

The verb tener (tengo, tienes)

Possessive determiners (mi, tu, su)

Origin and possession (de, del)

The verb ir (voy, vas)

Destination (a, al)

The personal 'a' (a)

Stem-changing verbs: e to ie

Stem-changing verbs: o to ue

Irregular first-person verbs

Reflexive verbs (me, te, se)

Numbers 1 to 10 (uno, dos, tres)

Numbers 11 to 20 (once, doce, trece)

Counting by tens to 100 (treinta, cuarenta, cien)

Compound numbers up to 99 (veintiuno, treinta y uno)

Days of the week (el lunes, el martes)

The family and the personal 'a' (a mi tío, a mi prima)

Months of the year

Telling time (es la, son las)

Verbs of liking (me gusta)

Plural agreement with verbs of liking (gustan)

Degree modifiers (muy, mucho)

Formal address (usted, ustedes)

Direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)

The near future (ir a)

Obligation (tener que)

Present continuous (-ando, -iendo)

Affirmative commands (tú, vosotros)

Basic Food and Drink

The Human Body: Head and Arms

The Human Body: Legs and Health

Wardrobe Essentials

Fresh Produce

Meals and Proteins

Public Transport

Hello and goodbye (hola, ¿qué tal?)

Thank you, sorry, OK (gracias, vale)

There is, there are (hay)

My building (la escalera, el ascensor)

Describing people (moreno, rubio, tímido)

Land and sea (el mar, el río, el norte)

Sightseeing (la plaza, la catedral)

Asking the way (cerca, a la derecha, todo recto)

In class (¿puedes repetir?)

Verb + infinitive (quiero comer, sé leer)

What's your name? (me llamo, encantado)

Phone, computer and email

Hundreds and thousands (doscientos, mil)

What do you do? (¿a qué te dedicas?)

Personal details (la edad, la fecha de nacimiento)

Me neither (también, tampoco, ni)

How much is it? (el precio, la vuelta)

What's the weather like? (hace sol, nieva)

Free time (el concierto, el tenis)

At the bar (¿qué vas a tomar?)

The Natural World

Demonstratives (este, ese, aquel)

Prepositions of place (encima de, debajo de)

Prepositional pronouns (para mí, contigo)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 10th (primero to décimo)

Adverbs of frequency (a veces, nunca)

Exclamations (¡qué...!)

Indefinite pronouns (algo, alguien)

Indefinite determiners (algún, ningún)

Indirect object pronouns (le, les)

Double object pronouns (me lo, te la)

Double object pronouns (se lo, se la)

Verbs of preference (encantar, interesar)

Impersonal obligation (hay que)

Starting and finishing actions (empezar a, terminar de)

Adjective comparatives (más que, menos que)

Comparatives of equality (tan como)

Noun comparatives (tanto como)

Question	Answer
somewhat (before an adjective or adverb)	algo
Today I am a bit tired. (a woman speaking)	Hoy estoy algo cansada.
The flat is nice, but somewhat expensive.	El piso es bonito, pero algo caro.
We arrived a bit late to the wedding.	Llegamos algo tarde a la boda.
Your brother seems a bit nervous.	Tu hermano parece algo nervioso.
Your friend is a bit odd, isn't she?	Tu amiga es algo rara, ¿no?
Last night we heard something strange in the garden.	Anoche oímos algo raro en el jardín.
I totally agree with you.	Estoy totalmente de acuerdo contigo.
This exam is especially difficult.	Este examen es especialmente difícil.
The paella was really good.	La paella estaba realmente buena.
My sister is really, really tall.	Mi hermana es alta, alta.
The seawater was really, really cold.	El agua del mar estaba fría, fría.
He is good-looking, really good-looking.	Es guapo, guapísimo.
My grandparents live far, really far away.	Mis abuelos viven lejos, lejísimos.
slightly	ligeramente
This version is slightly different.	Esta versión es ligeramente diferente.
Prices have gone up slightly this year.	Los precios han subido ligeramente este año.
absolutely	absolutamente
It is absolutely necessary to finish today.	Es absolutamente necesario terminar hoy.
That is absolutely false.	Eso es absolutamente falso.

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