Indefinite words
In lesson negation, we covered how to make negative sentences in Spanish and went through the essential negative words, such as nada, nadie, nunca, jamás, tampoco, ninguno.
Each of these negative words has corresponding affirmative versions. In this lesson, we will concentrate on those positive words.
Let us go through them as first.
nada: nothing -- algo: something, anything
nadie: nobody -- alguien: somebody, anybody
nunca: never -- siempre: always
jamás: never -- siempre: always
ningun: none --- algun: some, any
ni . . . ni: neither . . . nor --- o . . . o: either . . . or
tampoco: neither -- también: also, too
Let us see their uses in example sentences.
algo
In Spanish, as we saw last time in lesson about negation in Spanish, if a negative sentence is to be used with nada, you need to place “no” before the verb. Hence, a sentence like “I don’t need anything” is in Spanish
- no necesito nada
Trying to use “anything”, i.e. “algo” is wrong in this sentence. You should not mix the negative words with affirmative words in a negative sentence in Spanish.
Typical examples
“algo” can be used in questions as well. In that case, you can translate it as “anything” most of the time.
- ¿Deseas algo más? Do you want something else?
- ¿hay algo para mí? Is there anything for me?
alguien
¿Ves a alguien? Do you see anyone?
ningun- algun
Their uses can be confusing and therefore they require further explanations. They have four versions each. Because they need to agree with the gender and the number:
Masculine |
Feminine |
Singular |
|
ninguno |
ninguna |
alguno |
alguna |
Plural |
|
ningunos |
ningunas |
algunos |
algunas |
- ¿Quieres alguno más? (Do you want something?)
In the sentence above, an indefinite singular “thing” is referred; therefore “alguno” is used. In such cases, the masculine form is used.
If “alguno” is used with a masculine and singular noun, you need to drop the “–o”, on the other hand.
- ¿Tienes algun bolígrafo? (Do you have any pen?)
In the above sentence, algun is used. Because bolígrafo is masculine and it is singular.
This holds for ningun(o) as well. In case it is used with a masculine and singular noun, yıu need to drop the “–o”.
- No, no tengo ningún bolígrafo. (No, I don’t have any pen)
The plural forms algunos/-as are generally used if they refer to nouns which are always plural.
- ¿Tienes algunas tijeras? (Do you have any scissors?)
You should use algunas, because this time you refer to something which is feminine and “tiejeras” is always used in plural form.
tampoco – tambien
Two other words tambien and tampoco are used very frequently as well. These mean also/too and neither respectively.
For example;
- Soy estudiante, ¿y a tú? (I’m a student and you?)
- Yo tambien (me too)
Let us have a look at their uses with gustar.
- Me gusta bailar ¿y a ti? (I like dancing, and you?)
- a mí tambien (me too)
In case, you don’t like dancing, you can say
- a mí no.
You should not use “a mí tampoco” here. It’s used only if the first person makes a negative statement. Such as
- No me gusta bailar ¿ y a ti ? (I don't like singing, and you?)
- a mí tampoco (neither me)
In the above case, if you want to say, you like the dancing, you should say:
- a mí sí (I do like singing)
Vocabulary
Learn how to tell directions in Spanish
(el) sur south
al sur to the south
en el sur in the south
(el) este east
el norte north
en el norte in the north
(el) oeste west
perpendicular perpendicular
allí there
aquí here
alrededor near
cerca (de) close
cerquita quite near
la dirección direction
todo recto straight ahead
(la) esquina corner
Learn weather words
(el) tiempo weather
¿Qué tiempo hace? What’s the weather like?
¿Cómo está el clima? How’s the weather?
hace buen tiempo it’s a nice weather
hace mal tiempo it’s a bad weather
el clima climate/weather
climático/-a climatic
caliente hot
el calor heat
hace calor it is hot
hace sol it is sunny
soleado/-a sunny
hace frío it is cold
fresco/-a cool
caluroso/-a warm
llover to rain
la lluvia rain
lluvioso/-a rainy
el viento wind
hace viento it’s windy