Indefinite adjectives: 'ogni', 'qualche', 'troppo', etc...

1. What are these adjectives for?

In this unit you see Italian indefinite adjectives of quantity:

• ogni
• qualche
• troppo / troppa / troppi / troppe
• altro / altra / altri / altre
• alcuni / alcune (and sometimes alcuno / alcuna)

They answer questions like:

• “How often?” → ogni
• “How many? How much?” → qualche, alcuni, troppo…
• “Another one? More?” → altro

Below you find the key rules and the typical mistakes to avoid.

2. “Ogni”: every, each (always singular)

• Form: ogni + singular noun. It never changes form.
• Meaning: “every / each”, it talks about the whole group.

Self-check

1. After ogni, is my noun singular? (mattina, giorno, autobus, collega…)
2. Can I say “every” in English? If yes, ogni + singular is usually right.

3. “Qualche” and “alcuni / alcune”: a few, some

Both talk about a small / limited quantity, but they work differently.

3.1 “Qualche”: a few (always invariable)

• Form: qualche + singular noun (in grammar, the noun is singular).
• Meaning: “a few / some (not many)”.
• Gender: qualche does not change.

Typical mistake

• qualche autobusi → never add plural endings after qualche.

Quick rule: if in English you say “a few” and the Italian noun is countable, you can often use qualche + singular.

3.2 “Alcuni / alcune”: some, several (plural)

• Form: alcuni / alcune + plural noun.
• Meaning: “some / several / a few”. Often a bit more neutral or slightly more than qualche.
• Agreement:
  • alcuni → masculine plural
  • alcune → feminine plural

Self-check: qualche vs alcuni/alcune

1. Do I want a singular noun after the adjective? → use qualche.
2. Do I want a plural noun and clear agreement? → use alcuni / alcune.
3. Is the noun masculine plural? → alcuni. Feminine plural? → alcune.

Very often both choices are possible in meaning. For example:

• Prendo qualche autobus…
• Prendo alcuni autobus…

Both are understandable. In everyday speech, qualche is very common.

4. “Troppo / troppa / troppi / troppe”: too much / too many

These forms express an excess (more than is good or necessary).

• Form: troppo changes with the noun.
  • troppo + masculine singular noun
  • troppa + feminine singular noun
  • troppi + masculine plural noun
  • troppe + feminine plural noun

Typical problems

• Check agreement with the noun, not with the verb:
  • C’è troppa gente. (feminine singular)
  • Ci sono troppi autobus. (masculine plural)
• Remember: gente is feminine singular in Italian → troppa gente, not troppi gente.

Self-check

1. Is the idea “too much / too many”? If yes, use a form of troppo.
2. Look only at the noun: masculine? feminine? singular? plural? Choose the matching form.

5. “Altro / altra / altri / altre”: another, other, more

Altro adds something to what already exists: “one more”, “another”, “other”.

• Form:
  • altro – masculine singular
  • altra – feminine singular
  • altri – masculine plural
  • altre – feminine plural

Note on the apostrophe

• un altro (no apostrophe) before masculine nouns: un altro treno.
• un’altra (with apostrophe) before feminine nouns: un’altra bici.

Self-check

1. Am I adding “one more / another / other”? → use a form of altro.
2. Check the noun: masculine / feminine, singular / plural → choose altro / altra / altri / altre.
3. Before feminine singular with un, write un’altra (with apostrophe).

6. “Alcuno” in the negative: no, not any

In modern Italian, alcuno and alcuna in the singular are mostly used in negative sentences and sound a bit formal.

• Form: usually non + verbo + alcun / alcuno / alcuna + noun.
• Meaning: similar to nessun / nessuno / nessuna = “no, not any”.

Tip: at A2 level, it is enough to recognise this form. In your own speaking, nessuno / nessuna is more frequent and simpler.

7. Mini decision map: which word should I choose?

Use this simple step-by-step check when you speak or write:

1. Do you mean “every / each”?
   • Yes → use ogni + singular.
     • ogni mattina, ogni giorno, ogni autobus…
2. Do you mean “a few / some” (small quantity)?
   • I want the noun singular → qualche + singular.
   • I want the noun plural → alcuni / alcune + plural.
3. Do you mean “too much / too many” (excess)?
   • Look at the noun and choose troppo / troppa / troppi / troppe.
4. Do you mean “another / other / more (extra)”?
   • Use altro / altra / altri / altre matching the noun.
5. Do you want to say “no / not any” in a negative sentence?
   • You will often see nessun / nessuna or the more formal alcun / alcuna.

8. Quick practice: can you spot the form?

Check yourself with these short questions. Just answer mentally before looking at the hint.

1. “_____ sera prendo il tram per tornare a casa.” (every evening)

   • Answer: Ogni sera…

2. “In centro ci sono _____ turisti, è difficile parcheggiare.” (too many tourists)

   • Answer: ci sono troppi turisti… (masculine plural)

3. “Prendo _____ caffè prima di uscire di casa.” (a few coffees)

   • More natural: prendo qualche caffè.

4. “Ho comprato _____ biglietti per il treno.” (some tickets, plural, masculine)

   • Answer: ho comprato alcuni biglietti.

5. “Possiamo prendere un’_____ linea di metro, è più veloce.” (another line, feminine)

   • Answer: un’altra linea.

If you can choose the right word and make it agree with the noun, you are using these adjectives correctly and are ready to apply them in conversation.