Italiano — Indefinite adjectives
Indefinite adjectives express indefinite quantity or identity. Some are invariable and take a singular noun (ogni, qualche), others agree in gender and number (alcuni, tutto). Compare ogni giorno with tutti i giorni: both mean "every day".
How it works
Ogni (every) and qualche (some) are invariable and always take a singular noun, even when the meaning is plural: qualche amico means "a few friends". Alcuni/alcune (some, a few) agree and take a plural noun: alcuni libri. Tutto agrees and is normally followed by the article: tutto il giorno, tutti i libri. Qualsiasi/qualunque (any, whatever) are invariable and precede a singular noun: qualsiasi domanda. Nessun/nessuna (no, not any) takes a singular noun with a negative meaning: non c'è nessun problema.
Examples
| Adjective | Use / meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ogni | invariable, + singular noun — every, each | ogni giorno, ogni studente |
| qualche | invariable, + singular noun, plural sense — some, a few | qualche amico, qualche volta |
| alcuni / alcune | agrees, + plural noun — some, a few | alcuni libri, alcune idee |
| tutto / tutta / tutti / tutte | agrees, usually + article — all, the whole | tutto il giorno, tutti i giorni |
| qualsiasi / qualunque | invariable, + singular noun — any, whatever | qualsiasi cosa, qualunque libro |
| nessun / nessuna | + singular noun, negative — no, not any | nessun problema, nessuna idea |
Good to know
When nessun is placed after the verb, the sentence still needs non: non ho nessun dubbio. If nessuno opens the sentence, non drops: nessuno studente è venuto. Note also that ogni cannot stand alone as a pronoun — use ognuno instead (ognuno lo sa, "everyone knows it").