alguna
/al-GOO-nah/
some
As an adjective, alguna means 'some' or 'any' singular feminine item. The hand is touching one unspecified rose out of the whole group.
alguna(Adjective)
some
?to talk about an unspecified person or thing
,any
?used in questions or 'if' statements
📝 In Action
¿Hay alguna farmacia abierta a esta hora?
A1Is there any pharmacy open at this hour?
Tengo alguna idea de lo que quieres decir.
A2I have some idea of what you mean.
Si tienes alguna pregunta, no dudes en llamar.
A2If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call.
💡 Grammar Points
Matches Feminine Nouns
alguna is used with singular feminine nouns. Notice how both alguna and the noun often end in '-a', like in alguna casa (some house) or alguna persona (some person).
'Some' or 'Any'?
In English, you have to choose between 'some' and 'any'. In Spanish, alguna can work for both. It usually means 'some' in a statement and 'any' in a question. Context is key!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Mismatch
Mistake: "Quiero comprar *alguno* falda."
Correction: Quiero comprar *alguna* falda. Because 'falda' (skirt) is a feminine word, you need to use the matching feminine word `alguna`.
⭐ Usage Tips
Always Before the Noun
As an adjective, alguna almost always comes right before the feminine noun it's describing. For example, alguna chica (some girl), alguna razón (some reason).
Used as a pronoun, alguna stands in for a singular feminine noun, meaning 'one of them.' The illuminated hat is the specific 'one' being referred to.
alguna(Pronoun)
some
?referring to one of a group
,any
?in questions, referring to one of a group
,one of them
?when the group is already known
📝 In Action
De todas estas camisas, ¿te gusta alguna?
A2Of all these shirts, do you like any (of them)?
No me gustan todas sus canciones, pero alguna es buena.
B1I don't like all her songs, but some (one) of them are good.
Necesito una voluntaria. ¿Alguna?
B1I need a volunteer. Any (one)?
💡 Grammar Points
Stands In for a Noun
You use alguna by itself when everyone knows you're talking about a singular feminine noun. It's a shortcut to avoid saying the noun again.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using it for Masculine Nouns
Mistake: "De los pasteles, quiero *alguna*."
Correction: De los pasteles, quiero *alguno*. You have to use `alguno` to stand in for a masculine noun like 'pastel' (cake). `Alguna` is only for feminine ones.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sound More Natural
Using alguna as a pronoun makes your Spanish flow better. Instead of repeating manzana in '¿Quieres una manzana? Sí, quiero una manzana', you can simply say 'Sí, quiero alguna'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: alguna
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between `alguna` and `una`?
`alguna` means 'some' or 'any' and is more indefinite or vague. `una` means 'a/an' or the number 'one'. Compare: `Tengo alguna pregunta` (I have *some* question) vs. `Tengo una pregunta` (I have *a* question).
Why does `alguno` sometimes become `algún` but `alguna` never changes?
That's a special rule for Spanish! The masculine form `alguno` shortens to `algún` before a masculine singular noun (like `algún día`). The feminine form `alguna` is consistent and never changes its form before a noun.
Can I use `alguna` in negative sentences?
Generally, no. For negative sentences, you should use its opposite, `ninguna`. For example, instead of saying `No tengo alguna idea`, the correct way is `No tengo ninguna idea` (I don't have any idea).