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Key points about indefinite adjectives in Spanish

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  • An is one of a small group of adjectives that are used to talk about people or things in a general way without saying exactly who or what they are.

  • In English indefinite adjectives are adjectives such as 'each', 'some', 'other' and 'another'.

  • Some indefinite adjectives add an accent in the masculine singular form.

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What is an indefinite adjective?

An indefinite adjective is one of a small group of adjectives used to talk about people or things in a general way, without saying exactly who or what they are.

Here are some examples of indefinite adjectives used in English:

Do you have any crisps?

I have no crisps.

Is there another song?

Every school is the same.

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Indefinite adjectives in Spanish

In Spanish most indefinite adjectives change depending on the gender of the noun and whether the noun is singular or plural.

Note that cada only exists in the singular form and varios/as only exists in the plual form.

Masculine singularFeminine singularMasculine pluralFeminine pluralMeaning
补濒驳煤苍algunaalgunosalgunasa/an/some/any
mismomismamismosmismassame
苍颈苍驳煤苍ningunaningunosningunasno, not鈥ny
todotodatodostodasall/every
cadacadaeach/every
variosvariasseveral

For example:

础濒驳煤苍 d铆a voy a viajar a Espa帽a. - Some day I鈥檓 going to travel to Spain.

Hago mis deberes a la misma hora cada d铆a. - I do my homework at the same time every day.

Todos mis amigos son graciosos. - All my friends are funny.

Notice what happens when 补濒驳煤苍 and 苍颈苍驳煤苍 are in the masculine singular. There is no o ending and there is an accent on the u.

For example:

No tengo 苍颈苍驳煤苍 amigo espa帽ol. - I do not have any Spanish friends.

Me gustar铆a comprar 补濒驳煤苍 libro interesante. - I would like to buy an interesting book.

Indefinite adjectives - Mini quiz

Icon representing a multiple-choice question with answers A, B and C

Translate the missing indefinite adjective from the following sentence:

En ______ momento tendr茅 que hacer mis deberes.

The indefinite adjective 鈥榦tro鈥

Note that otro (meaning other or another) is never used with un or una.

For example:

驴Me das otra manzana? - Will you give me another apple?

驴Tienes otro jersey? - Have you got another jumper?

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Quiz - Indefinite adjectives

Practise what you've learned about indefinite adjectives with this quiz.

Now you have learned about indefinite adjectives why not explore indefinite pronouns in Spanish?

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