moi / moito
Moi vs. Moito
moi + adjective or adverb: moi grande, moi ben. moito everywhere else: Traballa moito, moita xente, moito mellor.
How It Works
moi = very. Put it right before an adjective or an adverb: moi grande (very big), moi cansa (very tired), moi ben (very well), moi cedo (very early). It never changes form.
moito = a lot, much, many. Use it in the other places:
- after a verb, where it does not change: Traballa moito (She works a lot).
- before a noun, where it agrees like an adjective: moito tempo, moita xente, moitos libros, moitas grazas.
- before a comparative: moito máis, moito menos, moito mellor, moito peor (see irregular comparatives).
- on its own, as an answer: —Gústache? —Moito!
Watch the nouns. Some feelings and weather words are nouns in Galician, so they take moito: Teño moita fame (I am very hungry), Fai moito frío (It is very cold). See ter for physical feelings.
Other quantity words such as pouco and demasiado also agree before a noun and stay the same after a verb, but they have no short form like moi (see quantity words).
Examples (6)
- A casa é moi grande.
The house is very big.
Moi comes before the adjective grande.
- Falas moi ben galego.
You speak Galician very well.
Moi comes before the adverb ben.
- O meu irmán traballa moito.
My brother works a lot.
After a verb, use moito.
- Hoxe hai moita xente na praia.
There are a lot of people on the beach today.
Moita agrees with the feminine noun xente.
- Este é moito mellor.
This one is much better.
Before mellor, use moito.
- —Gústache? —Moito!
Do you like it? A lot!
Moito can stand alone. Moi cannot.
Common Mistakes
Using moi before a noun.
Teño moi fame.Teño moita fame.Fame is a noun, so use moita, which agrees with it. Moi only goes before adjectives and adverbs.
Using moi after a verb.
Traballa moi.Traballa moito.Moi must be followed by an adjective or adverb. After a verb, use moito.
Using moi before mellor or máis.
Este é moi mellor.Este é moito mellor.Before comparatives like máis, menos, mellor and peor, use moito.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Moi modifies a description, while moito has quantity and verb-modifying uses.
Related Patterns
- pouco / demasiado / bastante / variosQuantity Words: Pouco, Demasiado and Bastante
Other quantity words that agree with nouns like moito.
Level 2 - ben + AdjectiveBen as an Intensifier
Ben is another way to say really before an adjective.
Level 4 - máis / menos + Adjective + caComparing with Máis and Menos
Moito máis makes a comparison stronger.
Level 2 - mellor / peor / maior / menorIrregular Comparatives
These comparatives take moito, not moi.
Level 2 - ter fame / ter sede / ter fríoTer for Physical Feelings
Feelings expressed with nouns take moita and moito.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice moi / moito in Bubblegum
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