What is the difference between the use of "un poco de" and "un poco"?
Why can't we say "Es un poco de moreno"(He has a little dark skin.) but "Es un poco moreno."??
Could you please provide some examples to expain?
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Poco can be an adjective, a noun or an adverb. Leaving the adjective use aside:
So I'd say it's like the English "a little + adjective" vs "a little bit of + noun". The Diccionario Panhispánico de Dudas has a more detailed answer So, in your example, "moreno" is an adjective, so it goes with "un poco". |
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"Un poco de" is an "adverb of quantity." E.g. "Un poco de agua" (a little bit of water). "Un poco moreno" (a little brown or dark). Moreno is an intangible quality that is NOT "quantified," and therefore we omit the de. On the other hand, water is quantified, so we use the de. |
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