Indefinite adjectives in Italian (some, any...)

Indefinite adjectives (aggettivi indefiniti) refer to someone or something without specifying any quantity or any quality accurately.

The meaning of indefinite adjectives in Italian

Depending on its meaning, an indefinite adjective belongs to one of the following categories:

• Adjectives expressing an indefinite unit (every, any...)
• Adjectives expressing an indefinite quantity (a lot, some, a few...)

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Adjectives expressing an indefinite unit (every, any...)

Dovrò consegnare un premio a ciascuno studente.
I will have to deliver a prize to each student.

Potresti guarire con qualunque medicina.
You will heal with any medicine.

Adjectives expressing an indefinite quantity (a lot, some, a few...)

È una ragazza che ha molta pazienza.
She is a girl with a lot of patience.

Hai poche possibilità di passare l'esame.
You don't have many chances to pass the exam.

Indefinite adjectives form in Italian

An indefinite adjective can follow the regular declension or have only some forms for gender and number.
You have to learn them by heart.

Regular declension

Some adjectives have masculine, feminine, singular and plural forms.

Only singular form

Some adjectives have the singular form only (masculine and feminine).

Invariable adjectives

Some adjectives have one invariable form only.

Use of indefinite adjectives in Italian

Pay attention to some rules to use indefinite adjectives.

No article

• In general, indefinite adjectives do not require articles.

Ho visto parecchi film al cinema.
I saw a lot of movies at the cinema.

• Only poco, molto, tanto, troppo accept the article in some cases.

La poca voglia di alzarsi la mattina è normale.
It is normal not to want to get up in the morning.

Before other adjectives

• If there are other adjectives in the same sentence, the indefinite adjective has to precede them.

Alcune di queste mie care amiche vanno a scuola insieme.
Some of these dear friends of mine go to school together.

Certo e diverso (some/sure, a lot of/different)

• If certo and diverso precede the noun, they are indefinite.

Certe persone sono davvero cattive.
Some people are really bad.

Ho diversi programmi.
I have a lot of plans.

• If they follow the noun, they become qualifying adjectives.

Ho delle risposte certe.
I have definite answers.

Abbiamo programmi diversi.
We have different plans.

Altro (different, new, another one...)

Altro can have several meanings.

Nessuno (no/any)

Nessuno always has a negative meaning.

• If it precedes the verb, no other negation is needed.

Nessun dubbio ci preoccupa.
No doubt worries us.

• If it follows the verb, it always requires a negation.

Non ho nessun dubbio.
I have no doubt.

Molto, poco and tanto (a lot of/many/much/few/little)

Molto, poco and tanto are the only adjectives (besides the qualifying adjectives) with a comparative and superlative form.

• molto

Ho più penne di te / Ho moltissime penne.
I have more pens than you / I have so many pens.

• poco

Ho meno forza di te / Ho pochissima forza.
I have less strenght than you / I have very little strength.

• tanto

Abbiamo visto tantissime marmotte.
We saw so many groundhogs.

Alcuno (no/any)

• In negative sentences, alcuno has the meaning of nessuno.

Non vi è alcuna (=nessuna) fretta.
There is no hurry.