(5) Indefinite and Negative Expressions

Question 1

Indefinite expressions are generally used in everyday Spanish to refer to an unspecified quantity of objects, people, places or time. Negative expressions allow you to negate the existence or availability of someone or something.

Answer 1

En el invierno, mi familia no va nunca a ninguna parte, pero siempre nos visita alguien, los abuelos o algunos tíos y primos. En la primavera, mis padres tampoco viajan porque no tienen vacaciones. En cambio, yo siempre tengo una semana de vacaciones y siempre hago algún viaje con mis amigos. En el verano también viajo, pero con mi familia. Algunas veces vamos a un lago pero generalmente preferimos algún lugar en la costa.

In winter, my family never goes anywhere but there is always someone that visits us, our grandparents or some (of our) uncles, aunts, and cousins. In the spring, my parents do not travel either because they do not have vacation time. However, I always have a week of vacation and always go on a/some trip with my friends. In the summer, I also travel but with my family. Sometimes we go to a lake but generally we prefer a/some place on the coast.

Question 2

[Noun]

• *Indefinite**: Something, anything
• *Negative**: Nothing, not anything

Answer 2

• *Indefinite**: Algo
• *Negative**: Nada

Question 3

[Noun]

• *Indefinite**: Someone, anyone
• *Negative**: No one, nobody

Answer 3

• *Indefinite**: Alguien
• *Negative**: Nadie

Question 4

[Adjective]

• *Indefinite**: Someone, anyone, one
• *Negative**: Not any, none

Answer 4

• *Indefinite**: Alguno/alguna
• *Negative**: Ninguno/ninguna

Question 5

[Adjective]

• *Indefinite**: Any, some
• *Negative**: Not any, none

Answer 5

• *Indefinite**: Algunos/algunas
• *Negative**: Ninguno

Question 6

[Adverb]

• *Indefinite**: Also
• *Negative**: Neither, either

Answer 6

• *Indefinite**: También
• *Negative**: Tampoco

Question 7

[Adverb]

• *Indefinite**: Always
• *Negative**: Never

Answer 7

• *Indefinite**: Siempre
• *Negative**: Nunca

Question 8

[Adverb]

• *Indefinite**: Ever, sometime
• *Negative**: Never

Answer 8

• *Indefinite**: Alguna vez
• *Negative**: Nunca/ninguna vez

Question 9

[Adverb]

• *Indefinite**: Sometimes
• *Negative**: Never

Answer 9

• *Indefinite**: Algunas veces/a veces
• *Negative**: Nunca

Question 10

Negative expressions are often placed after the verb and require the use of the word no before the verb

Answer 10

• Esta Nocheviaja no vamos a ninguna fiesta [This New Year’s Eve we aren’t going to any parties]
• En Nochebuena no viene ningún amigo a cenar a mi casa [This Christmas Eve, no friend(s) (is/are) coming to eat at my house]
• No viene nadie a nuestra casa en Navidades [Nobody comes to our house during Christmas]
• No bailo nunca en Nochevieja [I never dance on New Year’s Eve]

Question 11

However, when the word no is not used, nadie, nunca, and tampoco can also be placed before the verb:

Answer 11

• Nadie viene a nuestra casa en Navidades [Nobody comes to our house during Christmas]
• Nunca bailo en Nochenieja [I never dance on New Year’s Eve]
• Tampoco bailo en Carnaval [Nor/Neither do I dance during Carnival]

Question 12

The words nadie and alguien require the use of the personal a when they function as direct objects of the verb, but not when they are subjects

Answer 12

• As Direct Objects: ¿Conoces a alguien en Puerto Rico? – No, no conozco a nadie.
• As Subjects: ¿Alguien sabe la hora? – No, nadie tiene reloj.

Question 13

The words alguno and ninguno drop the final –o when placed before a noun and add an accent to the u: algún, ningún. The feminine gender words alguna and ninguna never lose their final vowel.

Answer 13

• Mariceli: ¿Conoces a algún puertorriqueño? [Do you know any Puerto Rican(s)?]
• Marcos: No, no conozco a ninguno. [No, I do not know any(body) (from PR)]