- Master todo/toda/todos/todas as adjectives with agreement rules
- Use todo as a pronoun (everything/all)
- Understand the difference between todo el (singular) and todos los (plural)
- Learn essential expressions: sobre todo, del todo, todo el mundo
- Master todo lo que (everything that/all that) patterns
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AdjectivesElementary
Todo: Complete Usage Guide
Master all the uses of todo, toda, todos, todas in Spanish
What You'll Learn
Overview
Todo is one of the most versatile words in Spanish, meaning "all", "every", or "everything". It changes form to agree with the noun it modifies (todo/toda/todos/todas), and can function as both an adjective and a pronoun. Understanding its different uses is essential for natural Spanish.
As Adjective (Singular)
Todo el día
All day / The whole day
As Adjective (Plural)
Todos los días
Every day
As Pronoun
Todo está bien
Everything is fine
The key to mastering todo is understanding when it functions as an adjective (modifying a noun and requiring agreement) versus when it functions as a pronoun (standing alone and meaning "everything" or "all").
Structure & Formation
Part 1: Todo as an Adjective - Agreement Forms
When todo functions as an adjective, it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies. It typically appears with the definite article (el, la, los, las).
| Form | Example | Meaning | Gender/Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| todo + el + noun | todo el libro | the whole book | masculine singular |
| toda + la + noun | toda la casa | the whole house | feminine singular |
| todos + los + nouns | todos los días | every day | masculine plural |
| todas + las + nouns | todas las personas | all the people | feminine plural |
Examples with Singular Forms
Trabajé todo el día
I worked all day (the whole day)
Leí todo el libro
I read the whole book
Pasamos toda la semana en Madrid
We spent the whole week in Madrid
Toda la comida estaba deliciosa
All the food was delicious
Examples with Plural Forms
Todos los días voy al gimnasio
Every day I go to the gym
Visito a todos los pacientes
I visit all the patients
Todas las noches leo antes de dormir
Every night I read before sleeping
Todas las ventanas están abiertas
All the windows are open
Key Point
With singular nouns, use todo el/toda la (the whole/all of the). With plural nouns, use todos los/todas las (all/every).
Part 2: Todo as a Pronoun
When todo functions as a pronoun, it stands alone without a noun and typically means "everything" (singular) or "everyone/all" (plural). The pronoun forms also agree in gender and number.
Singular: Todo (everything)
Todo está bien
Everything is fine
Lo sé todo
I know everything
Todo me parece interesante
Everything seems interesting to me
No entiendo todo
I don't understand everything
Plural: Todos/Todas (everyone/all)
Todos vinieron a la fiesta
Everyone came to the party
Todas son profesoras
They are all teachers (feminine)
Todos están de acuerdo
Everyone agrees
Quiero ver a todas
I want to see all of them (feminine)
Important
When using todos/todas as pronouns referring to people, they agree in gender with the group. Use todos for all-male or mixed groups, todas for all-female groups.
Part 3: Common Expressions with Todo
Spanish has many essential expressions using todo. These are fixed phrases that you should learn as complete units.
sobre todo
above all, especially
Me gusta la música, sobre todo el jazz
I like music, especially jazz
Sobre todo, sé honesto
Above all, be honest
del todo
completely, entirely
No estoy del todo seguro
I'm not completely sure
La película no me gustó del todo
I didn't like the film entirely
todo el mundo
everybody, everyone
Todo el mundo sabe eso
Everybody knows that
Todo el mundo está invitado
Everyone is invited
todo lo que
everything that, all that
Hice todo lo que pude
I did everything that I could
Todo lo que necesitas es amor
All you need is love
ante todo
first of all, above all
Ante todo, debemos ser responsables
First of all, we must be responsible
Ante todo, cuida tu salud
Above all, take care of your health
después de todo
after all
Después de todo, tenía razón
After all, he was right
No fue tan difícil, después de todo
It wasn't so difficult after all
a pesar de todo
in spite of everything
A pesar de todo, seguimos adelante
In spite of everything, we keep going
A pesar de todo, soy feliz
In spite of everything, I'm happy
con todo
nevertheless, even so
Con todo, lo intentaré
Nevertheless, I'll try
Es difícil, pero con todo, es posible
It's difficult, but even so, it's possible
Part 4: Todo el vs Todos los - Understanding the Difference
One of the most common questions is when to use todo el/toda la (singular) versus todos los/todas las (plural). The key is understanding what you're emphasizing.
Todo el/Toda la (Singular)
Use with singular nouns to mean "the whole" or "all of the" - emphasizing completeness or entirety.
todo el día
the whole day / all day
toda la noche
the whole night / all night
todo el mundo
the whole world / everybody
toda la ciudad
the whole city
Todos los/Todas las (Plural)
Use with plural nouns to mean "all" or "every" - emphasizing each individual member of a group.
todos los días
every day / all the days
todas las noches
every night / all the nights
todos los estudiantes
all the students
todas las ciudades
all the cities
Key Difference
todo el día = the whole day (emphasis on the entirety, one continuous period)
todos los días = every day (emphasis on each individual day, repeated instances)
Examples
Todo el / Toda la (Singular)
Whole day
Trabajo todo el día
I work all day
Entire book
Leí todo el libro
I read the whole book
Whole week
Pasamos toda la semana en Madrid
We spent the whole week in Madrid
All of the
Toda la comida estaba deliciosa
All the food was delicious
Todos los / Todas las (Plural)
Every day
Todos los días voy al gimnasio
Every day I go to the gym
All (people)
Visito a todos los pacientes
I visit all the patients
Every night
Todas las noches leo antes de dormir
Every night I read before sleeping
All (things)
Todas las ventanas están abiertas
All the windows are open
Todo as Pronoun
Everything
Todo está bien
Everything is fine
Everything
Lo sé todo
I know everything
Everyone
Todos vinieron a la fiesta
Everyone came to the party
All (fem)
Todas son profesoras
They are all teachers (f)
Common Expressions
sobre todo
Sobre todo, sé paciente
Above all, be patient
del todo
No estoy del todo seguro
I'm not completely sure
todo el mundo
Todo el mundo lo sabe
Everybody knows it
todo lo que
Hice todo lo que pude
I did everything I could
Common Mistakes
Most Common Todo Mistakes
Wrong: Trabajo todo día
Correct: Trabajo todo el día
Don't forget the article! Todo + el/la/los/las is required with adjectives
Wrong: Todo el mundo están aquí
Correct: Todo el mundo está aquí
"Todo el mundo" is grammatically SINGULAR, even though it means "everybody"
Wrong: Todas vinieron (mixed group)
Correct: Todos vinieron (mixed group)
Use TODOS for mixed gender groups, TODAS only for all-female groups
Todo el vs Todos los
Todo el (singular)
todo el día
the whole day (one continuous period)
Todos los (plural)
todos los días
every day (repeated instances)
Key Expressions to Remember
sobre todo
especially, above all
del todo
completely, entirely
todo el mundo
everybody (singular verb!)
todo lo que
everything that, all that
Quick Test
Test your knowledge of todo/toda/todos/todas with these questions:
1. Complete: Trabajo _____ día (I work all day)
Atodo
Btodo el
Ctodos
Dtodos los
2. Complete: Voy al gimnasio _____ días (I go to the gym every day)
Atodo el
Btoda la
Ctodos los
Dtodas las
3. Complete: _____ esta bien (Everything is fine)
ATodo
BToda
CTodos
DTodas
4. Complete: _____ vinieron a la fiesta (Everyone came to the party - mixed group)
ATodo
BToda
CTodos
DTodas
5. Which expression means 'especially' or 'above all'?
Adel todo
Bsobre todo
Cante todo
Dcon todo
6. Complete: No estoy _____ seguro (I'm not completely sure)
Atodo
Bdel todo
Csobre todo
Dtodo el
7. Complete: _____ mundo sabe eso (Everybody knows that)
ATodo
BTodo el
CTodos
DTodos los
8. Complete: Hice _____ pude (I did everything I could)
Atodo
Btodo el
Ctodo lo que
Dtodos los