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Overview of Indefinite Adjectives and Pronouns

The indefinite adjectives: Qualche, Qualsiasi, and Qualunque

The indefinite adjectives: Ogni, and Ciascuno

The indefinite adjectives: Alcuni, Parecchio, and Certo

The indefinite adjectives: Nessuno and Tutto

The indefinite adjectives: Poco, Molto, and Troppo

The indefinite pronouns: Ognuno, Qualcuno, and Chiunque

The indefinite pronouns: Qualcosa, Niente, and Nulla

The indefinite pronouns: Alcuni and Altri

The indefinite pronouns: Tutti

The indefinite adjectives ogni and ciascuno

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  1. Ogni

    2. Ogni is an indefinite adjective that means every or each. Ogni is invariable, meaning that it doesn’t change its form at all. Ogni is used in front of singular nouns.

    Mi saluta ogni volta che la vedo.
    She greets me each time I see her.

    Ogni cosa ha un motivo.
    Everything has a motive. [Everything happens for a reason.]

    Ogni viaggiatore deve avere il proprio passaporto.
    Every traveler must have his/her own passport.

    Accettiamo ogni soluzione logica.
    We will accept every logical solution.

    Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’intrate!
    Abandon all hope, you who enter here!
    Inferno by Dante Alighieri. Ogne is “old Italian”. Ogne=Ogni.

    Ogni may also be used in front of plural nouns if those nouns are preceded by a number higher than one.

    Il bimbo deve mangiare ogni tre ore.
    The baby must eat every three hours.

    C’è un distributore ogni 40 chilometri.
    There is a gas station every 40 kilometers.

  2. Ciascuno/a

    3. Ciascuno can be an indefinite adjective or an indefinite pronoun. Here we will see how it is used as an adjective. As an adjective, it means each or each one.

    Unlike ogni, ciascuno/a is variable. It has a feminine form: ciascuna; and it has a masculine form: ciascuno or ciascun. It has no plural form, and as such it cannot be used with plural nouns. You use ciascun(o) the same way you use the indefinite articles: ciascun uomo; ciascun cane; ciascuna donna; ciascun’anima; ciascuno studente.

    A ciascun impiegato, sarà offerto un bonus.
    Each employee will be offered a bonus.

    Ciascuna ragazza deve fare la sua parte.
    Each girl must do her part.

    NB: Ciascuno is more frequently used as a pronoun than as an adjective.

    To help yourself differentiate between ciascuno and ogni, keep in mind that ogni is generally used to express every, whereas with ciascuno the emphasis is more on each, bringing attention to a particular thing/person.

    Il calendario offre brevi meditazioni per ciascun giorno del mese.
    The calendar offers brief meditations for each day of the month.

    Ogni giorno c’è una breve meditazione.
    Everyday there is a brief meditation.

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