Spanish words: “Alguien…”, “algún…”, “alguno…”

In Spanish, “alguien“, “algún“, and “alguno” are three words that seem similar. However, they have different uses and many Spanish learners get confused when it’s time to add them to a sentence.

We use the word “alguno” for people, things, or animals, as opposed to “alguien”, which we only use to refer to people. On the other side, we have “algún”, which is different from the other two. “Algún” is the suppression of “alguno”. We use it before masculine nouns, for example, “algún día seré rico” = “someday I will be rich”.

If you want to know more about how to use these words and when to use them, you are in the right place as you can’t miss reading this article.

How to use “alguien”

“Alguien” is the Spanish word for “someone”. We use this word when we want to refer to one or more people but, generally, we use it in singular sentences. To build sentences using “alguien”, we can use the following formula:

Alguien + verb + noun + adjective.

You can see the examples we have put below for a better understanding.

Of course, it’s not mandatory to use always the same formula. In some situations, depending on the context and what we want to express, we might change the way the sentence is written.

Here is another example.

“Alguien” is an indefinite pronoun in Spanish. We use it to refer to unknown and undetermined people. But, when it comes to asking questions while using this word, its translation might change from someone to anybody.

Let’s look at the examples below.

We can also use “alguien” to make assumptions. It’s a great alternative if you have something in mind and want to express it in a “question” way.

Look at the examples below and learn how to do it.

“Alguien” is also a good tool when it comes to making a request. Please, look at the following examples.

In this case, you can’t forget to use the word “podría” as it will help you to change your speaking tone. Otherwise, it might not sound like a request.

How to use “algún”

We use “algún” before a masculine singular noun. The origin of “algún” comes from the word “alguno”. With “algún”, we can build basic phrases and common expressions like, for example, “¿algún problema?” = “any problem?”. Most of the time, we use “algún” when we want to refer to a particular thing. We do not use it in plural sentences.

Another way to use “algún” in Spanish is when we want to ask a question about a specific situation.

Let’s see a few examples.

As you may realize, we can put algún in almost any place within the sentence. It will only depend on what we are trying to ask. Even so, we have to be careful how to use this word since we can confuse it with “algunos“.

The formula for “algún” would be something like this:

Algún + verb + noun.

Here are some other examples to give you a clear picture.

Please note that “algún”’s translation may vary depending on what we try to express. “De algún modo” and “en algún momento” are two Spanish phrases we use very often. So, if you want to blend with native speakers, don’t hesitate to add them to your toolbox.

We can use “algún” when we want to refer to a specific moment, not moments/events of our life, but moments in general.

How to use “alguno”

“Alguno” has a similar meaning to “anybody” or “any” in English. This indicates a small and indeterminate number of people or things designated by the noun it modifies. In some situations, “alguno” is followed by a plural object introduced by the preposition /de/.

Let’s see an example.

Likewise, we can use the following structure.

Alguno + pronoun + verb + noun.

We have to put “alguno” before a complement with “nosotros” or “ustedes”. The agreement of the verb goes between the singular and plural forms.

Let’s see a few examples.

Please note that these two ways are valid even though we use “alguno” in a different way. If we use “alguno” in a negative sentence, it will keep the meaning of “none”.

An example of this can be:

The first one is when we do not have a problem doing the action. Thus, the second one is about when we have a problem executing the action.

Is “algún”, “alguno”, “alguien” out there?

As shown above, we can use these indefinite pronouns to replace other words. Doing that will help us improve our fluency when speaking. Once we master this lesson, it will become easier to communicate and express our ideas without unnecessary pauses.

In Spanish, we do have other alternatives to refer to things, animals, or objects without having to name them. However, “alguien”, “algún”, and “alguno” are one of the most common.

If we want to correct the handling of these pronouns, we have to be careful with the structures. Remember how to build sentences in the singular and plural forms. For example, when using “alguno”, we can either use the structure “alguno + de” or “algunos”. In both situations, the meaning will be the same but the sentence’s structure will change a bit.