Language/Portuguese/Grammar/Indefinite-Pronouns

◀️ Transportation Customs — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Prepositions ▶️

Portuguese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Indefinite Pronouns

Welcome to the lesson on Indefinite Pronouns in Portuguese! As we venture into this exciting topic, you'll discover how these pronouns add flexibility and nuance to your conversations. Indefinite pronouns allow us to refer to people or things in a non-specific way, which can be incredibly useful in everyday communication.

Understanding indefinite pronouns is essential for anyone looking to grasp the Portuguese language, as they differ notably from definite articles. While definite articles (like "o" and "a") specify a particular noun, indefinite pronouns are more about generalities – they help us express things like "someone," "something," "anyone," or "everything."

This lesson will be structured as follows:

Overview of Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns help to express ideas without pinpointing a specific subject. They are essential in conversations where details are either unknown or irrelevant. In Portuguese, these pronouns serve to make your communication more fluid and natural.

What Are Indefinite Pronouns?

Indefinite pronouns are words used to refer to people, places, or things in a non-specific manner. In Portuguese, some common indefinite pronouns include:

• alguém (someone)

• ninguém (no one)

• algo (something)

• nada (nothing)

• tudo (everything)

• cada um (each one)

• algum (some)

• nenhum (none)

These pronouns typically do not refer to a particular noun but rather to an unspecified one.

Common Indefinite Pronouns in Portuguese

Here's a detailed table showcasing some of the most common indefinite pronouns in Portuguese, along with their pronunciation and English translations:

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
alguém	awɡɛ̃	someone
ninguém	niɡẽj	no one
algo	ˈawɡu	something
nada	ˈnadɐ	nothing
tudo	ˈtudu	everything
cada um	ˈkada ũ	each one
algum	awˈɡũ	some
nenhum	neˈɲũ	none

These pronouns can be used in various contexts, and understanding their use is crucial for effective communication.

Differences Between Indefinite Pronouns and Definite Articles

To clarify further, let's look at how indefinite pronouns differ from definite articles:

• Definite Articles: Specify a particular item (e.g., "o carro" means "the car").

• Indefinite Pronouns: Refer to non-specific items (e.g., "algum carro" means "some car" or "any car").

This distinction is significant in both written and spoken Portuguese.

Examples of Indefinite Pronouns in Sentences

Here are 20 examples illustrating the use of indefinite pronouns in sentences. Each example demonstrates how these pronouns operate within different contexts.

Portuguese	Pronunciation	English
Alguém viu meu livro?	awɡɛ̃ viu meu ˈlivɾu?	Did someone see my book?
Ninguém sabe a resposta.	niɡẽj ˈsabɨ a ʁesˈpɔstə.	No one knows the answer.
Eu quero algo para comer.	ew ˈkɛɾu ˈawɡu ˈpaɾɐ koˈmeɾ.	I want something to eat.
Não há nada aqui.	nɐ̃w a ˈnadɐ aˈki.	There is nothing here.
Tudo está bem.	ˈtudu esˈta bẽj.	Everything is fine.
Cada um trouxe um presente.	ˈkada ũ ˈtɾoʊsɨ ũ pɾeˈzẽtɨ.	Each one brought a gift.
Algum dia eu vou viajar.	awˈɡũ ˈdʒiɐ ew ˈvo viɐˈʒaʁ.	Some day I will travel.
Nenhum aluno faltou à aula.	neˈɲũ aˈlunu falˈtoʊ a ˈawla.	None of the students missed class.
Alguém pode me ajudar?	awɡɛ̃ ˈpɔdʒi mi aʒuˈdaʁ?	Can someone help me?
Ninguém quer ir ao cinema.	niɡẽj ˈkɛʁ iʁ aw siˈnɛmɐ.	No one wants to go to the cinema.
Eu não vejo nada.	ew nɐ̃w ˈveʒu ˈnadɐ.	I see nothing.
Tudo foi uma surpresa.	ˈtudu foj ˈumɐ suʁˈpɾeza.	Everything was a surprise.
Cada um deve trazer seu lanche.	ˈkada ũ ˈdɛvɨ tɾaˈzeʁ ˈseu ˈlɐ̃ʃɨ.	Each one must bring their lunch.
Eu preciso de algo para escrever.	ew pɾeˈzizu dʒi ˈawɡu ˈpaɾɐ eskeˈveʁ.	I need something to write.
Ninguém gosta de frio.	niɡẽj ˈɡɔstɐ dʒi ˈfɾiu.	No one likes the cold.
Algum problema pode acontecer.	awˈɡũ pɾoˈblema ˈpɔdʒi aɨkɔnˈteʁ.	Some problem may occur.
Nenhum livro foi encontrado.	neˈɲũ ˈlivɾu foj ẽkɾonˈtɾadʊ.	No book was found.
Alguém me ligou ontem.	awɡɛ̃ mi liˈɡoʊ ˈɒ̃tẽ.	Someone called me yesterday.
Ninguém pode entrar aqui.	niɡẽj ˈpɔdʒi ẽˈtɾaʁ aˈki.	No one can enter here.
Eu não quero nada.	ew nɐ̃w ˈkɛɾu ˈnadɐ.	I want nothing.
Tudo vai ficar bem.	ˈtudu vaj fiˈkaʁ bẽj.	Everything will be alright.

This array of examples shows how versatile and essential indefinite pronouns are in daily communication.

Practice Exercises

To solidify your understanding of indefinite pronouns, let's engage in some practice exercises. These will help you apply what you've learned about using indefinite pronouns in various contexts.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate indefinite pronoun from the word bank below:

Word Bank: alguém, ninguém, algo, nada, tudo

1. Eu não vi _________ na festa.

2. _________ sabe onde está meu celular?

3. Preciso de _________ para escrever meu relatório.

4. Não há _________ para comer.

5. _________ está acontecendo aqui.

Solutions:

1. ninguém

2. Alguém

3. algo

4. nada

5. Tudo

Exercise 2: Match the Pronouns

Match the Portuguese indefinite pronouns on the left with their English translations on the right.

1. algum a. nothing

2. tudo b. someone

3. nada c. some

4. ninguém d. no one

5. algo e. something

Solutions:

1 - c (algum - some)

2 - a (tudo - everything)

3 - e (nada - nothing)

4 - d (ninguém - no one)

5 - b (algo - something)

Exercise 3: Identify the Indefinite Pronouns

Read the following sentences and underline the indefinite pronouns.

1. Alguém está na porta.

2. Ninguém viu o que aconteceu.

3. Não há nada na geladeira.

4. Eu preciso de algo diferente.

5. Tudo o que eu quero é paz.

Solutions:

1. Alguém

2. Ninguém

3. nada

4. algo

5. Tudo

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Using the indefinite pronouns provided, create your own sentences.

1. alguém

2. nada

3. tudo

4. cada um

5. nenhum

Solutions:

1. Alguém quer assistir a um filme.

2. Não tenho nada para fazer.

3. Tudo vai dar certo.

4. Cada um trouxe algo diferente.

5. Nenhum dos alunos faltou.

Exercise 5: Translation Exercise

Translate the following sentences into Portuguese using the appropriate indefinite pronouns.

1. Someone left their bag here.

2. No one knows how to fix this.

3. I need something to drink.

4. Everything will be alright.

5. Did anyone call while I was out?

Solutions:

1. Alguém deixou a bolsa aqui.

2. Ninguém sabe como consertar isso.

3. Eu preciso de algo para beber.

4. Tudo ficará bem.

5. Alguém ligou enquanto eu estava fora?

Exercise 6: Rewrite Using Indefinite Pronouns

Rewrite the sentences below using indefinite pronouns.

1. Maria trouxe um livro. (someone)

2. Ele não viu o carro. (no one)

3. Eu não quero o bolo. (nothing)

4. A professora falou com os alunos. (each one)

5. João não trouxe o presente. (none)

Solutions:

1. Alguém trouxe um livro.

2. Ninguém viu o carro.

3. Eu não quero nada.

4. Cada um falou com a professora.

5. Nenhum trouxe o presente.

Exercise 7: Indefinite Pronoun Quiz

Choose the correct indefinite pronoun to complete the sentences.

1. _________ está aqui? (someone/no one)

2. Não há _________ para comer. (something/nothing)

3. _________ trouxe flores para a festa. (everyone/anyone)

4. _________ sabe onde está o banheiro? (someone/nothing)

5. _________ quer dançar comigo? (someone/no one)

Solutions:

1. Alguém

2. nada

3. Todo mundo

4. Alguém

5. Alguém

Exercise 8: Role Play

In pairs, create a short dialogue using at least five different indefinite pronouns.

Example Dialogue:

A: Alguém sabe onde está o restaurante?

B: Ninguém sabe, mas eu posso procurar.

A: Tudo bem, espero que você encontre algo.

B: Vamos perguntar a cada um que passar.

Exercise 9: Indefinite Pronouns in Context

Write a short paragraph about your day using at least three indefinite pronouns.

Example Solution:

Hoje, alguém me ligou para contar uma novidade. Ninguém sabia que eu tinha um novo emprego. Eu espero que tudo aconteça como planejei.

Exercise 10: Group Discussion

Discuss with your classmates the importance of using indefinite pronouns in everyday conversations. Share examples from your own experiences.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve completed the lesson on Indefinite Pronouns in Portuguese. You now have the tools to express general ideas and refer to unspecified people or things in your conversations. Remember, the more you practice using these pronouns, the more natural your Portuguese will sound. Keep exploring, practicing, and using these pronouns in your daily interactions.

As you continue your journey in learning Portuguese, keep an eye out for opportunities to incorporate what you've learned about indefinite pronouns into your speech. It’ll not only enhance your communication skills but also make your conversations more engaging and fluid!

Table of Contents - Portuguese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Unit 1: Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Greetings
• Basic Phrases

  ---

Unit 2: Verbs - Present Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Ser and Estar

  ---

Unit 3: Family and Descriptions

• Family Members
• Physical Descriptions
• Personality Descriptions

  ---

Unit 4: Verbs - Future and Conditional Tenses

• Future Tense
• Conditional Tense

  ---

Unit 5: Portuguese-Speaking Countries and Cultures

• Brazil
• Portugal
• Cape Verde
• Angola

  ---

Unit 6: Food and Drink

• Food
• Drink
• Eating Customs

  ---

Unit 7: Verbs - Past Tense

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Unit 8: Travel and Transportation

• Air Travel
• Ground Transportation
• Transportation Customs

  ---

Unit 9: Indefinite Pronouns and Prepositions

• Indefinite Pronouns
• Prepositions

  ---

Unit 10: Health and Emergencies

• Medical Vocabulary
• Emergency Services

Sources

• Portuguese Pronouns: A Comprehensive Guide for Learners ...
• Indefinite Portuguese Pronouns: Talking about Nothing and Everything
• Portuguese grammar - Wikipedia

Other Lessons

• Porquê VS Porque
• Future Tense
• Plural
• Adjectives
• Time
• Ser and Estar
• Plurals
• Regular Verbs
• How to Use Have

◀️ Transportation Customs — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Prepositions ▶️