Indefinite pronouns include a large number of forms, different from each other in meaning and use, but all united by a main characteristic, that of indicating in a generic and indeterminate way the people, things, and quantities to which they refer:
- Ho incontrato uno che ti conosce.
- I met someone who knows you.
- Ognuno deve fare il proprio dovere.
- Everyone must do their duty.
- Chiunque abbia buon senso lo capirebbe.
- Anyone with common sense would understand this.
- Bisogna avere amici, almeno qualcuno.
- You have to have friends, at least some.
| Uno | One, Someone, A person |
| Qualcuno | Someone, Somebody, Anyone |
| Ognuno | Everyone, Each One, Everybody |
| Chiunque | Anyone, Whoever, Anybody |
1. UNO/A
Refers to a single, generic, unspecified person. It is the most neutral and impersonal of the group. It often corresponds to the English impersonal “one,” “a person,” or “someone.” It can also have the feminine “una“.
Grammar rules for uno/a
- Always singular (masculine form, but refers to people in general, including women).
- It cannot be followed by a noun (that would be the indefinite article un). As a pronoun, it stands alone.
- It can be used with adjectives, which take the masculine singular agreement.
Uses & Examples:
- As an impersonal “one” (like English formal “one”):
- Uno non sa mai cosa fare. (One never knows what to do.)
- In questi casi, uno si sente perso. (In these cases, a person feels lost.)
- Meaning “someone” (interchangeable with qualcuno in some contexts):
- Se uno ti chiama, rispondi. (If someone calls you, answer.)
- C’è uno che ti cerca. (There’s someone looking for you.) [Slightly more specific than qualcuno, implies “a (specific but unknown) man”]
- With adjectives (meaning “a… one”):
- Ne ho visto uno stanco. (I saw a tired one [a person who was tired].)
[l’uno/l’una in correlation with l’altro/l’altra]. [gli uni/le une in correlation with gli altri/le altre]. The phrases [l’un l’altro] [l’uno con l’altro] have a meaning of reciprocity.
- L’uno teneva la lampada, l’altro cercava i funghi tra le foglie.
- One held the lamp, the other looked for mushrooms among the leaves.
- Gli uni mi correvano avanti, gli altri mi seguivano urlando.
- Some ran ahead of me, others followed me screaming.
- Si aiutavano molto l’un con l’altro / l’un l’altro.
- They helped each other a lot.
- Si dicevano l’un l’altra cose gentili.
- They said kind things to each other.
Nuance: Uno is more generic and philosophical than qualcuno. It feels like “people in general” or “a person in that situation.”
2. QUALCUNO/A
Refers to an unspecified person, but with a slightly more concrete implication than uno. It implies “there exists at least one person, but I don’t know who.” It is the go-to word for “someone.”
Grammar rules for Qualcuno/a
- Always singular (masculine form by default, but refers to both genders).
- Can be followed by the preposition “di” + definite article to mean “some of” + plural noun.
- Can be used with adjectives (masculine singular agreement).
Uses & Examples:
- Basic meaning “someone/somebody”:
- C’è qualcuno in casa? (Is there anyone home?)
- Qualcuno ti ha cercato. (Someone looked for you.)
- Devo parlare con qualcuno. (I need to talk to someone.)
- Meaning “some of them” (with di + article):
- Qualcuno di loro arriverà tardi. (Some of them will arrive late.)
- Qualcuna di queste ragazze parla inglese? (Does any of these girls speak English?) [Note: Qualcuna is used because the group is feminine.]
- In negative sentences (with non), it means “no one/anyone”:
- Non c’è qualcuno che possa aiutarmi? (Isn’t there anyone who can help me?) [This is technically a question; in a statement, you’d use nessuno: “Non c’è nessuno.“]
Quncuno always comes in front of altro (something else): qualcun altro faccia (someone else does it), and it elides in front of altra (something else):Qualcun’altra lo faccia (someone else does it).
Nuance: Qualcuno is more about existence (“there is at least one person”), whereas uno is more about type (“a person in this category”).
3. OGNUNO/A
Refers to all members of a group, considered individually. It emphasizes the individuality within the group. It means “each one.”
Grammar rules for ognuno/a
- Always singular (masculine by default, but can be feminine ognuna when referring to an all-female group).
- It is never followed directly by a noun (the adjective ogni is used before nouns: ogni persona).
- Often used with the preposition “di” + definite article to specify the group.
Uses & Examples:
- Meaning “everyone/each one”:
- Ognuno deve fare la sua parte. (Everyone must do their part.)
- Siamo liberi: ognuno vada per la sua strada. (We are free: each one go their own way.)
- Specifying the group (with di + article):
- Ognuno di noi ha un sogno. (Each one of us has a dream.)
- Ognuna di loro è talentuosa. (Each one of them [female group] is talented.)
- In proverbs and general truths:
- Ognuno per sé e Dio per tutti. (Every man for himself and God for us all.)
Nuance: Ognuno focuses on the distribution of something to every single member of a defined or implied group. It is stronger and more distributive than tutti (everyone as a collective).
4. CHIUNQUE
Refers to any person at all, without exception. It emphasizes the open possibility. It can mean “anyone” (in the sense of “it doesn’t matter who”) or “whoever” (as a relative pronoun).
Grammar rules for chiunque
- Always singular and invariable (one form for both genders).
- It can stand alone or be followed immediately by a verb (chiunque + subjunctive is common).
- It can be followed by the relative pronoun che (chiunque che is redundant and incorrect; use chiunque + verb or chiunque + altro).
Uses & Examples:
- Meaning “anyone at all” (no restrictions):
- Chiunque può imparare l’italiano. (Anyone can learn Italian.)
- Lo sa chiunque. (Anybody knows that / Everyone knows that.)
- Meaning “whoever” (introducing a clause, often with subjunctive):
- Chiunque tu sia, esci! (Whoever you are, come out!)
- Chiunque abbia fatto questo, sarà punito. (Whoever did this will be punished.)
- With adjectives or altro:
- Chiunque altro al mio posto farebbe lo stesso. (Anyone else in my place would do the same.)
- Puoi invitare chiunque. (You can invite anyone.)
Nuance: Chiunque is the most open and inclusive. It implies “no exceptions, no selection.” It has no plural and no gender distinction.
Next lesson:
I pronomi indefiniti 2 / Indefinite pronouns 2.