Ch 16 · Lesson 9Spanish · Chapter 16 · Lesson 9 · Grammar primer
Algún, ningún and cualquier
and shorten before a masculine noun ( , ); shortens before any noun.
The short version
.
Why?Hide
Directly in front of a masculine singular noun, becomes and becomes , accent and all. The full forms return the moment the word stands alone or follows its noun: . The feminine normally keeps its -a, and Spanish prefers the singular where English pluralises.
.
Why?Hide
Before a noun of either gender, shortens to : , . On its own it keeps the -a and means anyone: . After a noun it shrugs: is a run-of-the-mill job.
Algún and ningún
Straight before a masculine singular noun, and drop the -o and take an accent:
| Form | alguno | ninguno |
|---|---|---|
| before a m. noun | | |
| standing alone (m.) | | |
| feminine | | |
| plural | | (rare) |
.- Some day I'm going to go.¿ ? , .- Have you got a book? No, I haven't got one..- I have no doubt at all.
The feminine normally keeps its -a: (some idea), (no doubt). Where English says no friends, Spanish keeps singular:
.- I haven't got any friends here.
Alguien or alguno?
is any person at all. picks from a group you have in mind, and agrees with it:
| Word | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| ¿ ? | Has anyone called? |
| . | One of these houses is yours. |
| . | No one knows the truth. |
| . | None of my friends came. |
Cualquier and cualquiera
means any at all. Before a noun of either gender it shortens to :
| Position | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| before a noun | | any day |
| before a noun | | any person, anyone |
| alone | . | Anyone can do that. |
| after a noun | | any old job |
.- Call at any time..- Any day is fine.
After a noun it shrugs: is a run-of-the-mill job, while is any job you like.
Otro, todo and mismo
Three more words of this family agree like adjectives. never takes in front:
| Word | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|
| | another coffee |
| | again, another time |
| | all night |
| | every day |
| | the same house |
Mistakes English speakers make
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| no . | . | before the verb, one negative |
| shortens before a m. noun | |
| shortens before a m. noun | |
| the accent is compulsory | |
. | Spanish keeps the singular | |
| shortens before a noun | |
| never takes |
Going further: Indefinites at a glance and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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