Pronombres indefinidos For Intermediate learners

What are Indefinite Pronouns?

In Spanish, indefinite pronouns (pronombres indefinidos) are words that refer to unspecified or unknown people or things.

Types

Spanish indefinite pronouns can be classified into three groups:

Affirmative Indefinite Pronouns

Negative Indefinite Pronouns

Universal Indefinite Pronouns

Affirmative Indefinite Pronouns

These pronouns refer to an unknown or unspecified person/thing. They are typically used in affirmative and interrogative sentences. This group includes:

alguien → unknown person (somebody)

algo → unknown thing (something)

alguno/a(s) → unspecified member(s) of a group (one/some)

Here are some examples:

Example

Alguien llamó.

Someone called.

Quiero comer algo.

I want to eat something.

Algunos llegaron tarde.

Some arrived late.

Negative Indefinite Pronouns

These refer to an absence of people or things or members of a group. They are always used in negative sentences and can act as negative markers themselves. If they come before the verb, the verb remains affirmative, but if they come after the verb, the verb must be negative as well, creating a double negative. This group includes:

nadie → nobody/not anybody

nada → nothing/not anything

ninguno/ninguna → no member of a group (none/not any)

Here are some examples:

Example

Nadie vino.

Nobody came.

No compré nada.

I didn't buy anything.

No quiero ninguno.

I don't want any.

Universal Indefinite Pronouns

These pronouns refer to the whole group or all its members. They are typically used in affirmative sentences and questions.

todo → all things (everything)

todos/todas → all people (everybody)

ambos/ambas → both members of a pair (both)

Here are some examples:

Example

Todo salió bien.

Everything went well.

Todos llegaron temprano.

Everyone arrived early.

Ambos aceptaron.

Both accepted.

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

As you can see in the examples above, Some indefinite pronouns have invariable forms (such as "algo", "alguin", "nadie", "nada", and "todo"). When these pronouns act as the subject of the clause, the verb is always in third-person singular form. Some other indefinite pronouns, however, have different forms that reflect gender and/or number (such as "alguno", "ninguno", "todos", and "ambos"). When such pronouns serve as the subject, the verb must agree with them in number. Here are some examples: