ben + Adjective
Ben as an Intensifier
Before an adjective or an adverb, ben means really or quite: Está ben bo (it is really good), Chegaches ben cedo (you arrived really early).
How It Works
Ben = very, really. Put ben right before an adjective or an adverb: ben bo (really good), ben fría (really cold), ben cedo (really early), ben lonxe (really far). It is common in speech and informal writing and sounds warmer or more emphatic than moi.
Place changes the meaning
- O caldo está ben. The broth is fine (okay).
- O caldo está ben bo. The broth is really good.
- Canta ben. She sings well.
With a verb: a lot. After some verbs, ben means a lot: Onte choveu ben (it rained a lot yesterday).
Before a number: at least. No concerto había ben mil persoas (there were easily a thousand people at the concert).
Ben is not bo. Ben is an adverb, so it cannot describe a noun. Use the adjective bo for that: un xantar moi bo, not un xantar moi ben. For the plain word very, see moi and moito.
Examples (6)
- Este caldo está ben bo.
This broth is really good.
- Chegaches ben cedo hoxe.
You arrived really early today.
- A auga do mar está ben fría.
The sea water is really cold.
- É ben certo o que dis.
What you say is very true.
- Onte choveu ben.
It rained a lot yesterday.
After a verb like chover, ben means a lot.
- No concerto había ben mil persoas.
There were easily a thousand people at the concert.
Before a number, ben means at least.
Common Mistakes
Using the Spanish adjective bueno.
Este caldo está ben bueno.Este caldo está ben bo.The Galician adjective is bo (boa, bos, boas).
Putting ben after the adjective.
A auga está fría ben.A auga está ben fría.To mean really, ben goes right before the adjective.
Using ben to describe a noun.
Foi un xantar moi ben.Foi un xantar moi bo.Ben is an adverb. A noun needs the adjective bo.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ben can intensify a description rather than mean well or fine.
Related Patterns
- -ísimoAbsolute Superlative -ísimo
Another way to make an adjective stronger.
Level 3 - pouco / demasiado / bastante / variosQuantity Words: Pouco, Demasiado and Bastante
Other words that go before adjectives, like bastante.
Level 2 - uns vinte / arredor deApproximate Quantities
Ben before a number means at least, next to other ways of giving approximate amounts.
Level 4 - un home bo / un bo homeAdjective Position and Meaning
Shows how bo, the adjective, works before and after a noun.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice ben + Adjective in Bubblegum
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