bastante
/bahs-TAHN-teh/
quite
As an adverb, bastante means 'quite' or 'rather', indicating a noticeable degree (e.g., quite large, quite fast).
bastante(Adverb)
quite
?modifying an adjective or another adverb
,rather
?similar to 'quite'
enough
?describing an action done sufficiently
,a lot
?describing an action done to a large extent
📝 In Action
La película es bastante buena.
A2The movie is quite good.
Llegaste bastante tarde.
A2You arrived quite late.
Hemos trabajado bastante hoy.
B1We've worked a lot today.
💡 Grammar Points
The Form That Never Changes
When 'bastante' is used like this (to describe an action or another describing word), it's always 'bastante'. It never changes to 'bastanta' or 'bastantes'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Muy' and 'Bastante' Together
Mistake: "La casa es muy bastante grande."
Correction: La casa es bastante grande. (The house is quite big.) OR La casa es muy grande. (The house is very big.) You only need one of them, as they both describe 'how big'.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Softer 'Very'
Using 'bastante' is a great way to sound more natural. Instead of always saying something is 'muy bueno' (very good), try 'bastante bueno' (quite good). It's a little less intense.
As an adjective, bastante means 'enough' or 'plenty of', describing a sufficient quantity of a noun (e.g., plenty of marbles, enough chairs).
bastante(Adjective)
enough
?a sufficient quantity of something
plenty of
?a large amount of something
,a lot of
?a large amount of something
📝 In Action
Tengo bastante tarea.
A2I have enough homework.
Hay bastantes sillas para todos.
A2There are enough chairs for everyone.
Ella conoce a bastantes personas famosas.
B1She knows plenty of famous people.
💡 Grammar Points
Add an '-s' for Plural Things
When describing things, 'bastante' changes to 'bastantes' if the thing is plural (more than one). For example, 'bastante comida' (one thing) but 'bastantes libros' (many things). It never changes for gender.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the '-s'
Mistake: "Tengo bastante amigos."
Correction: Tengo bastantes amigos. Because 'amigos' is plural, 'bastante' needs an 's' to match.
⭐ Usage Tips
Goes Before the Noun
Unlike many Spanish adjectives that come after the thing they describe, 'bastante' almost always goes before it. You say 'bastante tiempo' (enough time), not 'tiempo bastante'.
As a pronoun, bastante is used alone to mean 'enough' or 'plenty', often in response to a question about needing more of something.
📝 In Action
—¿Quieres más pastel? —No, gracias, ya comí bastante.
B1—Do you want more cake? —No, thanks, I already ate enough.
—¿Necesitas ayuda? —No te preocupes, con esto tengo bastante.
B1—Do you need help? —Don't worry, I have enough with this.
De los libros que me diste, ya leí bastantes.
B2Of the books you gave me, I've already read plenty.
💡 Grammar Points
A Stand-in for a Noun
You can use 'bastante' or 'bastantes' all by itself to replace a noun you just talked about. This avoids repeating the same word over and over.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Matching the Invisible Noun
Mistake: "—¿Has visto las películas? —Sí, he visto bastante."
Correction: —¿Has visto las películas? —Sí, he visto bastantes. Even though you don't say 'películas' again, 'bastantes' needs the '-s' because it's talking about them.
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick and Natural Answers
This is a super common way to answer questions. Someone asks if you want more food, water, or time? A simple 'No, gracias, tengo bastante' is the perfect, natural reply.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: bastante
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'bastante' and 'suficiente'?
They are very similar and often interchangeable! 'Suficiente' strictly means 'enough' (not too much, not too little). 'Bastante' can mean 'enough', but it can also lean towards meaning 'plenty' or 'a lot'. For example, 'Tengo bastante dinero' could mean 'I have enough money' or 'I have quite a lot of money'. 'Tengo suficiente dinero' specifically means 'I have the required amount'.
When do I add an '-s' to make it 'bastantes'?
You only add an '-s' when 'bastante' is describing a plural noun (more than one thing). For example: 'bastantes libros' (plenty of books) or 'bastantes personas' (a lot of people). If it's describing a singular noun ('bastante tiempo') or an action/adjective ('corres bastante rápido'), it always stays as 'bastante'.
Can 'bastante' mean 'too much'?
Not usually. For 'too much', the best word is 'demasiado'. 'Bastante' means 'enough' or 'quite a lot', but it doesn't typically have the negative feeling of 'too much' that 'demasiado' has.