6. Indefinite Adjectives in Spanish

This article is Part 5 of 6 in the Spanish Adjectives series.

1. Intro to Spanish Adjectives: Agreement & Placement
2. Formation and Placement
3. Comparisons and Superlatives
4. Past Participles
5. Todo
6. Indefinite Adjective

Indefinite adjectives in Spanish qualify nouns by expressing an unspecified quality or quantity. They often mean “some,” “any,” or “every,” and they must agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. You will typically find these adjectives before the noun, which is slightly different from many other Spanish adjectives (such as grande or bonito) that follow the noun. Here, you will learn how to recognize and use these adjectives correctly in everyday contexts.

What Are Indefinite Adjectives?

Indefinite adjectives let you talk about a noun in a general or uncertain way. They’re those words we use for “some,” “any,” “every,” or “not one.” We call them “indefinite” because they don’t point to a specific person or thing (like ese coche or este libro would). Instead, they’re more open-ended. Think of it as the difference between “this one right here” and “some random one out there.”

Below is a helpful table summarizing some of the most frequently used indefinite adjectives in Spanish:

Placement Before the Noun

Spanish is famous for placing adjectives after the noun, but indefinite adjectives are special. They typically come before the noun. That’s why you say things like:

• ¿Tienes algún problema? (Do you have any problem?)
• No tengo ninguna idea. (I don’t have a single idea.)

You’ll notice these little words show up at the start, which can feel different if you’re used to something like problema grande (big problem). With indefinite adjectives, it’s algún problema, ningún problema, or varios problemas.

Matching Gender and Number

Just like regular adjectives, these words change form depending on whether the noun is masculine or feminine, singular or plural:

• ningún (masculine singular) → ningún libro
• ninguna (feminine singular) → ninguna excusa
• varios (masculine plural) → varios amigos
• varias (feminine plural) → varias amigas

One trick: Spanish speakers don’t usually say ningunos or ningunas unless it’s a very specific context (like ningunas ganas, no desire at all). In most cases, you’ll stick to the singular form.

When They Act as Pronouns

Sometimes these adjectives step up and become indefinite pronouns, replacing the noun. This is like saying “I don’t have any” in English. Spanish often does this by dropping the noun:

• ¿Tienes algunos lápices? (Do you have some pencils?)
Sí, tengo algunos. (Yes, I have some.)
• No encontré ningún marcador, así que pedí ninguno prestado. (I didn’t find a single marker, so I borrowed none.)

Notice how the word still changes form to agree with whatever it stands for.

Why They Matter

Indefinite adjectives add flexibility and nuance to your Spanish. Instead of always pointing to a specific object (este libro), you can talk about things in a broader sense:

• Tengo varias preguntas sobre la gramática.
  (I have several questions about the grammar.)
• Cada estudiante tiene su propio ritmo de aprendizaje.
  (Each student has their own learning pace.)

Indefinite adjectives also help you emphasize the lack of something:

• No encuentro ningún café abierto a esta hora.
  (I can’t find a single café open at this hour.)

That phrase is much more direct than just saying No encuentro un café abierto because it captures your frustration about “not a single one” being open.

Quick Practice

Exercise A: Fill in the Blank

Pick the correct indefinite adjective (algún, alguna, ningún, ninguna, varios, varias, cada) to complete each sentence.

1. ¿Tienes ____ pregunta?
2. No veo ____ perro en el patio.
3. ____ persona necesita dormir ocho horas.
4. Leí ____ artículos muy interesantes.
5. No tengo ____ excusa para llegar tarde.

Exercise B: Rewrite the Sentence

Place the indefinite adjective before the noun and fix any agreement errors.

1. Conocí amigos varios en la fiesta.
2. Necesito consejos pocos sobre cómo estudiar mejor.
3. Tengo problema algún con mi computadora.

AI Prompts for Continued Learning

If you’re looking to keep practicing, try these prompts:

1. “Adopt a role of a Grammar Tutor and teach me how indefinite adjectives agree in gender and number. Give me a step-by-step explanation and a clear example so I can see exactly how algún or ningún changes.” [Open in ChatGPT]
2. “Adopt a role of a Vocabulary Guide and show me a concise list of common Spanish indefinite adjectives. Add some brief examples that highlight how each adjective shifts forms for masculine/feminine nouns.” [Open in ChatGPT]
3. “Adopt a role of a Conversation Partner and walk me through a short, interactive practice. Let me attempt a few sentences with indefinite adjectives, then provide a quick correction or tip after each one so I can fine-tune my usage.” [Open in ChatGPT]

Keep an eye (and ear) out for indefinite adjectives in your favorite Spanish shows, music, or when chatting with friends. They pop up all the time, and you’ll quickly get a feel for when to use them. Remember: short words, big impact!

Attribution

Adapted from Indefinite Adjectives under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.