Lesson 7.2: Indefinite and Negative Words

Vocabulary and grammar rules for Spanish indefinite and negative words, including the usage of shortened adjective forms and the distinction between pero and sino.

Indefinite words

Words that refer to people and things that are not specific, such as someone or something.

Negative words

Words that deny the existence of people and things or contradict statements, such as no one or nothing.

algo

something; anything

alguien

someone; somebody; anyone

alguno/a(s), algún

some; any

o… o

either… or

siempre

always

también

also; too

nada

nothing; not anything

nadie

no one; nobody; not anyone

ni… ni

neither… nor

ninguno/a, ningún

no; none; not any

nunca, jamás

never, not ever

tampoco

neither; not either

algún and ningún

The shortened forms of alguno and ninguno used before a masculine, singular noun.

Personal a

A marker used with alguien and nadie, and also before alguno/a(s) and ninguno/a when they refer to people and are the direct object of a verb.

sino

A conjunction meaning 'but rather' or 'on the contrary,' used when the first part of a sentence is negative and the second part contradicts it.

pero

A conjunction meaning 'but' used in cases where the second part of a sentence does not directly contradict a negative first part.