The aim of this post is to introduce the “markers” which indicate that they are indefinite. What matters is being able to recognise these in order to identify them and to give an appropriate translation
“The use of the
indefinites is very various, and must be learned from the Lexicon and from
practice. The choice among them may depend merely on the point of view of the
speaker, so that they are often practically interchangeable.” (Allen and
Greenough)
While that comment
is true, and translations of them often differ or there are ‘overlaps’ in terms
of usage, it is better, at the early stage at least, to keep very specific
translations in mind. Therefore, I have dealt with each of them separately.
aliquis: someone (also: quispiam, and quis
alone)
quīdam: a
certain
quīcumque:
whoever
quisque:
each (one)
quisquam:
anyone
quīvīs / quīlibet:
whoever / whatever you please; any one; any thing whatever
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