Spanish Indefinite Words: Algo, Alguien, Nada, Nadie

Say something, someone, nothing and no one in Spanish, and build the double negative.

The main pairs

SpanishEnglish
algosomething
nadanothing
alguiensomeone
nadieno one
algún, algunasome, any
ningún, ningunano, not any
siemprealways
nuncanever

Something and nothing

SpanishEnglish
¿Quieres algo?Do you want something?
No quiero nada.I don't want anything.
Hay algo en la mesa.There is something on the table.
No hay nada en la mesa.There is nothing on the table.

Someone and no one

SpanishEnglish
Alguien llama a la puerta.Someone is knocking at the door.
No llama nadie.No one is knocking.
¿Conoces a alguien aquí?Do you know anyone here?
No conozco a nadie.I don't know anyone.

Some and none

Alguno and ninguno lose the final o before a masculine singular noun and take an accent: algún, ningún.

SpanishEnglish
¿Tienes algún libro en español?Do you have any book in Spanish?
No tengo ningún libro.I don't have any book.
¿Hay alguna pregunta?Is there any question?
No hay ninguna pregunta.There is no question.

The double negative

When a negative word comes after the verb, Spanish needs no before the verb. When the negative word comes first, there is no second no.

SpanishEnglish
No viene nadie.No one is coming.
Nadie viene.No one is coming.
No como carne nunca.I never eat meat.
Nunca como carne.I never eat meat.

Common mistakes to avoid

Use a before alguien and nadie as an object

They refer to people, so the personal a is needed.
Busco a alguien. (I am looking for someone.)
No veo a nadie. (I don't see anyone.)

Ninguno is singular

English says no questions. Spanish says ninguna pregunta.
No tengo ninguna idea. (I have no idea.)
No hay ningún problema. (There is no problem.)

Practice: say it in Spanish

Say each sentence in Spanish, then open it to check your answer.

1. I want something.

Quiero algo.

2. There is nothing here.

No hay nada aquí.

3. Someone called.

Alguien llamó.

4. I don't know anyone.

No conozco a nadie.

5. Do you have any questions?

¿Tienes alguna pregunta?

6. I never arrive late.

Nunca llego tarde.

Quick quiz: Indefinite words

1. "algo" means:

2. The opposite of "alguien" is:

3. No quiero _____.

4. Which sentence is correct?

5. No tengo _____ problema.

6. ¿Hay _____ pregunta?

7. "No conozco a nadie" means:

8. The opposite of "siempre" is:

9. Busco _____ alguien.

10. "Nunca como carne" means:

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