Spanish · A2 · Everyday language
Little Daily Mysteries in Spanish
Learn how to talk about small daily mysteries using indefinite pronouns like 'someone', 'nobody', 'something', and 'nothing' in Spanish. This helps you communicate even when you don't know the specific name of a person or object.
What you'll learn
- Identify unknown people using 'alguien' (someone) and 'nadie' (nobody).
- Refer to unknown objects using 'algo' (something) and 'nada' (nothing).
- Use these pronouns correctly as both subjects and objects in sentences.
Spanish phrases for little daily mysteries
Alguien te está esperando en la puerta de la escuela.
Someone is waiting for you at the school gate.
'Alguien' is the subject and remains the same regardless of gender.
Alguien ha dejado una lonchera en este banco.
Someone has left a lunchbox on this bench.
'Lonchera' is a common word for lunchbox in Latin American Spanish.
Nadie está jugando en los columpios.
Nobody is playing on the swings.
When 'nadie' comes before the verb, no extra negative is needed.
Nadie ha encontrado tu lápiz rojo todavía.
Nobody has found your red pencil yet.
'Todavía' is placed at the end to mean 'yet'.
Algo se está moviendo dentro de tu mochila.
Something is moving inside your school bag.
'Algo' is the subject here, referring to an unknown object.
Nada falta en tu estuche.
Nothing is missing from your pencil case.
'Estuche' is the word for a pencil case.
¿Quieres algo de comer antes del fútbol?
Would you like something to eat before football?
We use 'algo de' when followed by an infinitive verb like 'comer'.
No encontré nada debajo de tu escritorio.
I found nothing under your desk.
In Spanish, if 'nada' comes after the verb, you must use 'no' before the verb.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Alguien
Someone / Somebody
Always refers to people and is invariable.
Nadie
Nobody / No one
Used for people; requires a double negative if placed after the verb.
Algo
Something / Anything
Used for objects or abstract ideas.
Nada
Nothing / Anything
Used for objects; requires a double negative if placed after the verb.
Indefinite Pronouns
In Spanish, these pronouns do not change for gender or number. A key rule is the 'Double Negative': if 'nadie' or 'nada' follows the verb, you must put 'no' before the verb. If they are the subject at the start of the sentence, 'no' is not used.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subject (Person) | Alguien / Nadie | Alguien llama a la puerta. |
| Subject (Thing) | Algo / Nada | Nada es imposible. |
| Object (Double Negative) | No + Verb + Nada/Nadie | No veo a nadie. |
More examples
¿Hay alguien en casa?
Is anyone home?
Simple question using 'alguien'.
No hay nada en la caja.
There is nothing in the box.
Example of the double negative rule.
Algo huele muy bien.
Something smells very good.
Using 'algo' as a subject.