I pronomi indefiniti 1 / Indefinite pronouns 1.

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
Qualcuno	Someone
Ognuno	Every one
Chiunque	Whoever

1. UNO/A

Indicates an impersonal subject, of unidentified identity (it can also have the feminine “una”).

• C’è uno di là che ti cerca.
• There’s someone over there looking for you.
• A scuola ho conosciuto una che ti somiglia.
• At school I met someone who looks like you.

[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.

2. QUALCUNO/A

Indicates a small number of people or things. Corresponds to the adjective “some”.

• Qualcuno riuscirà sicuramente a trovarlo.
• Someone will surely find it.
• Qualcuna di voi vuoi prendere il suo posto?
• Do any of you want to take his place?

It can also indicate a single person.

• C’è qualcuno che ha preso la mia borsa?
• Is there someone who took my bag?

Also in other verbal phrases such as:

• Quali credersi qualcuno, diventare qualcuno.
• Such as believing yourself to be someone, becoming someone.

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).

3. OGNUNO/A

Corresponds to the adjective ogni (every) and the adjective-pronoun ciascuno (each). It’s only singular.

• Carlo ha scritto ad ognuna di voi.
• Carlo wrote to each of you.
• Ognuno risponda quando è interrogato.
• Ognuno risponda quando è interrogato.
• Ognuno era in grado di dare la risposta giusta.
• Everyone was able to give the right answer.

4. CHIUNQUE

Masculine and feminine singular, invariable, with the meaning of ogni, qualunque, qualsiasi persona (every, any person).

• Chiunque alzi la mano, sarà ascoltato.
• Anyone who raises their hand will be heard.
• Mi rivolgerò a chiunque dimostrerà di volermi aiutare.
• I will contact anyone who shows they want to help me.
• Ero così bravo da poter superare chiunque.
• I was so good that I could surpass anyone.

---