poco/poca - gender

Question

I often struggle with word gender and am a little confused about the word 'poco'.

I know it can be used as an adverb, adj or noun but dont really understand in what circumstances.

For example, the sentence:

(male) Hablo un pocito español = i speak just a little spanish

If a female said this, would it be:

(female) Hablo una pocita español

I am not sure whether poco matches the 'subject' (and is therefore an adj) or is an adverb (which i know doesn't change gender) and matches the verb 'hablar'...... or maybe it matches 'español' lol... oh i am confusing myself :s

ive just had another thought lol - perhaps in this case its a stand-alone noun un pocito - billygoat, Mar 31, 2011

Welcome to the forum, :) - 00494d19, Mar 31, 2011

thank you Heidita :) so just to clarify.... in this instance poquito is an adjective describing the object 'espanol'? - billygoat, Mar 31, 2011

Answer 1

HI billy, well no. It matches the object, not the subject

Tengo poco dinero (masculine)

Tengo poca sangre (feminine)

tengo pocos amigos...etc.

Pocito is not correct, it must be poquito