The particle ci
As is the case with pronouns, ci (mostly translated as either “us” or “there”) generally comes before the verb. It can be used as follows:
- To replace the pronouns noi (us) and a noi (to us):
Lucia ha salutato noi. → Lucia ci ha salutati.
Lucia greeted us.
Tua madre ha regalato a noi un cane. → Tua madre ci ha regalato un cane.
Your mother gave us a dog.
- To replace a complement of place (in which case it usually means “there”):
– Sei andato in piscina? – Sì, ci sono andato questa mattina.
–Did you go to the swimming pool? –Yes, I went there this morning.
– Vittorio è dal dottore? – No, ci è stato ieri.
–Is Vittorio at the doctor's? –No, he was there yesterday.
- With verbs followed by the prepositions a (about), su (on) and con (with):
– Pensi a Giacomo? – Sì, ci penso sempre!
–Do you think about Giacomo? –Yes, I think about him all the time!
– Scherzi sempre su questo argomento. – Vero, ci scherzo spesso!
–You always joke about that issue. –You're right, I often joke about it!
– Non vuoi giocare con il pallone? – No, non ci voglio più giocare.
–Don't you want to play with the ball? –No, I don't want to play with it any more.
A few common expressions that use ci:
– Ci sei? – Ci sono!
–Are you there? –I'm here!
Ecco, ci risiamo.
Here we go again (literally, “here we are again”).
Non ci arrivo.
I can't manage it.
Non ci vuole tanto.
It doesn't take much.
Non ci pensare.
Don't think about it.
Notes:
- Ci can be attached to the end of an infinitive verb (-are, -ere or -ire), in which case the last vowel of the verb is dropped:
Non ci posso fare niente. → Non posso farci niente.
I can't do anything about it.
- Ci can also be placed at the end of an imperative verb (used to give commands); in that case, we add an extra -c- after sta' (be) and va' (go):
Non voglio andare al supermercato... Vacci tu!
I don't want to go to the supermarket... You go (there)!
- Ci can be accompanied by a pronoun, in which case it comes before the pronoun with si or after the pronoun with mi, ti and gli.
Ci si impegna per raggiungere l'obiettivo.
Efforts are being made to achieve the goal.
– Mi ci vedi in quel ruolo? – No, non ti ci vedo.
-Can you see me in that role? -No, I don't see you in it.
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