Indefinite and negative words
Like in English, Spanish have indefinite and negative words. The indefinite words, are those that refer to people or objects that are not specific. A good example would be, someone. You are aware that the speaker is talking about a person, but not a specific person. On the other hand, the negative words are those use to contradict the existence of people of object or even to contradict a statement. An example of a negative word would be no one. Each indefinite word has an opposite negative word.
| Indefinite words | Negative words |
| Algo – something, anything | Nada – nothing, not anything |
| Alguien – someone, somebody, anyone | Nadie – on one, nobody, not anyone |
| Alguno/a/s, algún – some, any | Ninguno/a, ningún – no, none, not any |
| o … o – either .. o | Ni … ni – neither … nor |
| Siempre – always | Nunca, Jamás – never, not ever |
| También – also, too | Tampoco – neither, not either |
Note that alguno/a/s, algún, ninguno/a, ningún have to match in gender and in number.
For example, algunas chicas, algunos chicos.
If you are using a singular masculine noun after alguno or ninguno, these forms are reduced to algún or ningún.
For example, algún lápiz, vs alguno lápiz.
Since alguno/a/s, algún, ninguno/a, ningún, alguien, and nadie refer to people they are often used with the personal a before them in a sentence. This happens when they are the direct object of the verb.
For example, ¿Ha visto a alguien en la clase con camiseta negra?