Cualquier v. Cualquiera v. Cualesquiera

Armando B.C1Kwiziq community member

Cualquier v. Cualquiera v. Cualesquiera

    I am sure that I am missing something that is right before my eyes, but I am going to ask for clarification anyway.

    The lesson states that "cualquier is used BEFORE a singular noun."

    Further it indicates Cualquiera must be preceded by un or una + and comes AFTER a singlular noun.

    Lastly it references the plural of Cualqiera: cualesquiera. This has no requisite precedent (un/una). 

    Therefore, please explain if there is an exception as apparent in the following:

"La Unión estará de CUALESQUIERA derechos de aduana." This test question has no article precedent (un/una) and CUALESQUIERA appears BEFORE the noun (derechos de aduana); that is, it appears to act more in line with the singular CUALQUIER. So the question is: Is CUALESQUIERA the plural of Cualquier and not the plural of Cualquiera. Thank in advance for your help and response.

Asked 2 years ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Armando

The plural "cualesquiera" is the plural for both cualquier and cualquiera, it doesn't mind if you place it before or after the noun. (The form cualesquier used to exist but not anymore) 

You don't need un/una because it is the plural, not the singular, so in your sentence (which was missing an important bit):

La Unión estará exenta de cualesquiera derechos de aduana.

The Union will be exempt from any customs duties.

You have the plural cualesquiera in front of the plural noun "derechos".

I hope this clarified it.

Inma

Lucio F.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

LOL, I had the exact same problem - I got locked into before and after noun and completely forgot there is a plural version.

I came into the discussion upset and then had to laugh at myself :)

Lucio F.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

LOL, I had the exact same problem - I got locked into before and after noun and completely forgot there is a plural version.

I came into the discussion upset and then had to laugh at myself :)

Armando B. asked:

Cualquier v. Cualquiera v. Cualesquiera

    I am sure that I am missing something that is right before my eyes, but I am going to ask for clarification anyway.

    The lesson states that "cualquier is used BEFORE a singular noun."

    Further it indicates Cualquiera must be preceded by un or una + and comes AFTER a singlular noun.

    Lastly it references the plural of Cualqiera: cualesquiera. This has no requisite precedent (un/una). 

    Therefore, please explain if there is an exception as apparent in the following:

"La Unión estará de CUALESQUIERA derechos de aduana." This test question has no article precedent (un/una) and CUALESQUIERA appears BEFORE the noun (derechos de aduana); that is, it appears to act more in line with the singular CUALQUIER. So the question is: Is CUALESQUIERA the plural of Cualquier and not the plural of Cualquiera. Thank in advance for your help and response.

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