Italian 5.1. The Pronouns “Ci” and “Ne”

In this lesson, we will cover the pronouns “ci” and “ne” in Italian.

The two pronouns “ci” and “ne” are a constant source of confusion to many learners of Italian. We will look at the most common uses of these pronominal particles in different contexts.

Uses of “Ci”

Here we discuss two important uses of the pronoun “ci”:

1. Meaning “there” when referring to a place.

For example, in the sentence: “Vado in quella caffetteria tutte le mattine” (I go to that coffee shop every morning), we can eliminate “in quella caffetteria” (to that coffee shop) and say: “Ci vado tutte le mattine” (I go there every morning).

Notice that “ci” is placed before the verb. Here are more examples:

Vado sempre al mare d’estate. Ci vado sempre d’estate.	I always go to the beach in summer. I always go there in summer.
Vivremo a Napoli per due anni. Ci vivremo per due anni.	We will live in Naples for two years. We will live there for two years.
Sei stato a Roma? Ci sei stato?	Have you been to Rome? Have you been there?

2. Some verbs are usually followed by the preposition “a,” “in,” or “su,” such as: “pensare a” (to think about), “credere in” (to believe in), “contare su” (to count on), etc.

For example, in the sentence “Stai pensando al lavoro?” (Are you thinking about work?), we can replace “al lavoro” (about work) with “ci” and place it before the verb, that is, “Ci stai pensando?” (Are you thinking about it?). Notice that “ci” here is placed before the verb and is translated as “about it.”

Here are some more examples:

Penserò a questo problema. Ci penserò.	I will think about that problem. I will think about it.
Puoi contare sul loro aiuto. Ci puoi contare.	You can count on their help. You can count on it.
Credo in ciò di cui è capace. Ci credo.	I believe in what he is capable of. I believe in it.

Notice that “ci” is always placed before the verb, unless the verb is in the infinitive or the imperative. For example:

È importante pensare al futuro. È importante pensarci.	It is important to think about the future. It is important to think about it.
Non contare sul loro aiuto. Non contarci.	Don’t count on their help. Don’t count on it.
Pensa all’offerta. Pensaci.	Think about the offer. Think about it.

3. The pronoun “ci” is used in the expressions “c’è” (there is) and “ci sono” (there are), as we have encountered in Level III, Lesson 7.

For example:

C’è solo un modo per risolvere questo problema.	There is only one way to solve this problem.
Ci sono molti modi per risolvere questo problema.	There are many ways to solve this problem.
Non c’è nessuno qui.	There is no one here.
Non ci sono abbastanza sedie nella stanza.	There aren’t enough chairs in the room.

Uses of “Ne”

The pronoun “ne” has some similar functions to the pronoun “ci.” It often precedes the verb unless the verb is in the infinitive or the imperative. The pronoun “ne” has the following uses in Italian:

1. Meaning “from here” or “from there” when referring to a place.

For example, in the sentence: “È appena arrivato da Milano” (He has just arrived from Milan), we can eliminate “da Milano” (from Milan) and say: “Ne è appena arrivato” (He has just arrived from there).

Notice that “ne” is placed before the verb. It is also common to use “ne” with the verb “andare.” Here are more examples:

Me ne vado domani.	I am leaving (from here) tomorrow.
Se n’è andato.	He’s gone (from here).
Devo andarmene.	I must get out (of here).
È uscito salvo dall’incidente. Ne è uscito salvo.	He got out of the accident safely. He got out (of there) safely.

2. Some verbs and expressions are followed by the preposition “di,” such as: “parlare di” (to talk about), “avere bisogno di” (to need), “felice di” (happy about), “sicuro di” (sure of), etc. In these expressions, “ne” can replace “of it” or “about it.”

For example, in the sentence “Sono felice del risultato” (I am happy about the result), we can replace “del risultato” (about the result) with “ne” and place it before the verb, that is, “Ne sono felice” (I am happy about it). Notice that “ne” here is placed before the verb and is translated as “about it.”

Here are some more examples:

Sta parlando del nuovo progetto. Ne sta parlando.	He is talking about the new project. He is talking about it.
Ho bisogno di soldi per uscire. Ne ho bisogno per uscire.	I need the money to go out. I need it to go out.
Sei sicuro della risposta? Ne sei sicuro?	Are you sure of the answer? Are you sure of it?

There are also some idiomatic expressions that use the pronoun “ne,” even though it may sometimes seem redundant. For example:

Ne vale la pena.	It is worth it.
Chi se ne importa di …?	Who cares about …?
Non me ne importa niente.	I don’t care at all (about it).
Non ne posso più.	I can’t stand it anymore.

3. The pronoun “ne” is used with quantities and amounts, and is often translated as “of it” or “of them.” It usually replaces a number or a partitive such as “some” or “a little.”

For example, in the sentence “Voglio del latte” (I want some milk), we can replace “del latte” (some milk) with “ne” and place it before the verb, that is, “Ne voglio” (I want some of it). Notice that “ne” here is placed before the verb and is translated as “some of it.”

Similarly, in the sentence “Ho due biscotti” (I have two cookies), we can replace “biscotti” (cookies) with “ne” and place it before the verb, that is, “Ne ho due” (I have two “of them”). Notice that “ne” here is placed before the verb and is translated as “of them.”

Here are some more examples:

Vuoi un po’ d’acqua? Ne vuoi?	Do you want some water? Do you want some?
Ho preso la metà dello zucchero. Ne ho preso la metà.	I took half the sugar. I took half of it.
Ci sono tre mele sul tavolo. Ce ne sono tre sul tavolo.	There are three apples on the table. There are three of them on the table.

Notice that in the last example “ci sono” (there are) is changed to “ce ne sono” (there are “of them”) because “ci” is often changed to “ce” when followed by another pronoun. Also, notice that the noun that “ne” replaces can be countable or uncountable.

In case there is a reflexive or indirect pronoun in the sentence, we place the reflexive or indirect pronoun before “ne.” For example:

Ti darò due libri. Ti ne darò due.	I will give you two books. I will give you two (of them).
Gli darò due libri. Gliene darò due.	I will give him two books. I will give him two (of them).

“gli” + “ne” = “gliene”

Notice that, in the last example, the indirect pronoun “gli” is combined with “ne” to form the contraction “gliene.”

gli         +         ne

=

gliene

The pronoun “ne” can also attach to the verb in the infinitive or the imperative. This is more common with pronominal verbs covered in Level VI, Lesson 7.

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