Grammar Review: Something/Someone

Posted by Rachel

Today we’re going to do a little review of the “some” words in Portuguese.

something = algo

Você tem algo nos dentes. You have something in your teeth.

Ela queria algo mais barato. She wants something cheaper.

some = algum/alguma

Eles compraram algum tipo de madeira, mas não sei qual. They bought some type of wood, but I don’t know which.

Você tem algumas fotas da festa, não tem? You have some pictures from the party, right?

someone = alguém

Alguém pode me emprestar cinco reais? Can someone lend me five reais?

Por favor, conte a piada para alguém que acha graça. Please tell the joke to someone who thinks it’s funny.

no one = ninguém

Ninguém consegiu subir a montanha. Nobody was able to climb the mountain.

Vi ninguém na sala. I didn’t see anyone in the room.

nothing = nada*

*In English, we sometimes translate nada as anything. See the examples below.

Ele não queria comer nada porque estava passando mal. He didn’t want to eat anything because he felt sick.

Pare de me olhar–eu falei nada! Stop looking at me–I didn’t say anything!

Temos nada à dizer. We have nothing to say.

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2 Comments

  • malice commented on July 15, 2009 at 5:15 pm |Permalink

    I always have trouble understnanding when to use ‘algo’ and ‘alguma coisa’. Por exemplo. Aqui vc escreviu: vc tem ALGO nos dentes. would ‘Voce tem ALGUMA COISA nos dentes? Is there rule I can apply to understand the difference here?

    Obrigado! amo o seu site!

  • Rafael Ferreira de Freitas commented on August 13, 2009 at 11:13 am |Permalink

    hey everyone!

    i’m brazilian and i live in rio de janeiro. i’m an english learner. well if you want to talk in english to practice. i can help :)

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