Indefinite Pronouns / Pronomes Indefinidos

What is an indefinite pronoun?

Indefinite pronouns are words that replace nouns; they refer to an identifiable but not specified person or thing, expressing the idea of all, none, any or some.

Everything – Tudo

“Tudo” means everything.

Example:

Ele sabe tudo sobre filmes. He knows everything about movies.

Nothing / Anything - Nada

“Nada” means both nothing and anything. The word can be used in the affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

Examples:

Nada é impossível. Nothing is impossible
Ele não limpou nada. He didn’t clean anything.

More, less – Mais, menos

“Mais” means more and “menos” means less.

Examples:

Quero comer mais bolo. I want to eat more cake.
Ele está menos preocupado com a situação. He is less worried about the situation.

Somebody/Anybody and Nobody/No one – Alguém / Ninguém

“Alguém” means somebody and anybody and it is used in both affirmative and interrogative sentences:

Examples:

• Você viu alguém no parque? Have you seen anybody in the park? Alguém comeu meu bolo! Somebody ate my cake!

“Ninguém” means nobody and no one and it is used in negative, affirmative and interrogative sentences

Examples:

Não vi ninguém no parque. I haven’t seen anybody in the park.
Ninguém comeu meu bolo. Nobody ate my cake.
Você não viu ninguém no parque? Haven’t you seen anybody in the park?

Some/Any and None – Algum/Alguns e Nenhum (masculine)

“Algum/Alguns” mean some or any. They are used in both affirmative and interrogative sentences. “Algum” is used along with masculine / singular nouns and “alguns” with masculine / plural nouns.

Examples:

Você viu algum livro em cima da mesa? Have you seen any book on the table?
Comprei alguns livros. I bought some books

“Nenhum” means any or none and it is used in both negative and affirmative sentences.

Eu não vi nenhum livro. I haven’t seen any book.

Some/Any and None – Alguma/Algumas e Nenhuma (feminine)

“Alguma/Algumas” mean some and any. They are used in both affirmative and interrogative sentences. “Alguma” is used along with feminine / singular nouns and “algumas” with feminine / plural nouns.

Examples:

Você viu alguma chave em cima da mesa? Have you seen any key on the table?
Comprei algumas revistas. I bought some magazines

“Nenhuma” means any or none and it is used in negative and affirmative sentences.

Eu não vi nenhuma revista. I haven’t seen any magazine
Eu vi revista nenhuma revista em cima da mesa. I’ve seen no magazine on the table.

So much and so many – Tanto/Tanta e Tantos/Tantas

These pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.

Tanto / tanta mean so much. “Tanto” is used along with singular / masculine words and “tanta” with singular / feminine words. Study the examples:

Examples:

Ele gastou tanto dinheiro! – He spent so much money!
Ela cozinha tanta comida. She cooks so much food.

Tantos / tantas mean so many. “Tantos” is used along with plural / masculine words and “tantas” with plural / feminine words. Study the examples:

Examples:

Ele tem tantos amigos. – He has so many friends.
Minha mãe me ajudou tantas vezes – My mother helped me so many times!

Few and many – poucos/poucas e muitos/muitas

In Portuguese these pronouns must agree in gender and number with the word they’re referring to.

Few means poucos / poucas. “Poucos” is used along with plural / masculine words and “poucas” with plural / feminine words. Study the examples:

Examples:

Poucos estudantes foram à apresentação. Few students went to the presentation.
Poucas pessoas estavam na festa. – Few people were in the party.

Many means muitos / muitas. “Muitos” is used along with plural / masculine words and “muitas” with plural / feminine words. Study the examples:

Examples

Muitas pessoas estavam na festa – Many people were in the party
Muitos estudantes foram à apresentação. – Many students went to the presentation

Little and a lot – pouco/pouca e muito/muita

In Portuguese these pronouns must agree in gender and number with the word they’re referring to.

Little in Portuguese is pouco / pouca. “Pouco” is used along with singular / masculine words and “pouca” with singular / feminine words. Study the examples:

Examples:

Ele tem pouco dinheiro. – He has little money.
Há pouca comida na geladeira. – There is little food in the refrigerator

Much or a lot in Portuguese is muito / muita. “Muito” is used along with singular / masculine words and “muita” with singular / feminine words. Study the examples:

Examples:

Ele tem muito dinheiro. – He has much money.
Há muita comida na geladeira. – There is much food in the refrigerator

Several – Várias/Vários

These pronouns are used in the plural form and they must agree in gender with the noun they refer to.“Vários” is used along with plural / masculine words and “várias” with plural / feminine words. Study the examples:

Examples:

Eu tenho vários amigos na Europa. I have several friends in Europe.
Ela gosta de várias canções diferentes. She likes severeal different songs.

Whole or Entire – Todo/Toda

When “todo” and “toda” mean “each” or “all”, is not necessary to use a definite article. But when they mean “entire” you do have to use the definite article before the noun. Study the examples below and observe that they agree in gender with the noun they accompany.

Examples:

Eu estava fora todo o dia. I was out the entire day
Todo dia telefono para ela. Every day I call her.
Toda pessoa precisa de amor. Each person needs love.

Every or All – Todos / Todas

These pronouns are always used with article. Study the examples below and observe that they agree in gender with the noun they accompany. “Todos” is used along with plural / masculine words and “todas” along with plural / feminine words

Examples:

Todos os dias telefono para ela. Every day I call her.
Todas as pessoas precisam de amor. All people need love.