Ningún, algún, ninguno and alguno

Algún / alguno (some, any, a, one) is the opposite of ningún / ninguno (no, none).

—¿Hay algún médico en la sala? —No, no hay ningún médico.

‑Is there a doctor in the room? ‑No, there is no doctor.

  • We use algún and ningún immediately before a singular masculine noun.

¿Tienen algún bocadillo vegetariano?

Do you have any kind of vegetarian sandwich?

Ningún amigo me llama.

Not a single friend is calling me.

  • We use alguno and ninguno to refer back to a masculine noun and avoid repeating it.

¿Has visto un plato que te guste en el menú? —Sí, he visto alguno.

‑Have you seen a dish on the menu which you like? ‑Yes, I've seen one.

—¿Cuántos chupitos has bebido? —No he bebido ninguno.

‑How many shots have you drunk? ‑I haven't drunk any.

Note: ningún/ninguno can be used at the start of the sentence. However, if used later, it must be preceded by no (not). This may sound like a double negative to English ears, but it is essential in Spanish.

Ningún gato se ha bañado en la piscina.

Not a single cat has swum in the pool.

No se ha bañado ningún gato en la piscina.

Not a single cat has swum in the pool (both sentences have the same meaning).


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