How to use CI in Italian

Hi, everybody, this is Luca. Welcome to my channel!

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In this Italian language lesson for non-native speakers, I'm going to explain how to use the word CI. In other words, I'll explain what CI means in Italian.

Specifically, I'm gonna give you practical examples showing the different functions that the particle "ci" can have in a sentence. Moreover, I'm gonna explain the phrases with CI that are most frequently used by Italians.

We Italians use some of these phrases several times a day. So this is a lesson that you shouldn't miss.

By watching this video lesson, you will learn the main uses of the particle CI. If you learned Italian as a foreign language, you've come to the right place!

I've decided to make a lesson about "ci" because I've noticed that many non-native speakers have difficulty with this particle.

If Italian is not your first language, and you learned it automatically, semi automatically or manually, chances are, you too have difficulty in using the particle "ci".

That's because "ci" has several meanings and can be used in different ways. Among other things, it can be used as both a pronoun and an adverb.

I'm gonna provide an overview of the main uses of "ci" starting from practical sentences.

What weird intonation was that?!

Ok. I'm going to provid... This is the fourth time I repeat this. Alright.

I'm going to provide an overview of the main uses of CI in Italian starting from some real-world sentences.

But let's not waste our time and let's jump straight into our first example!

The first example with CI could be this: "Federica ci aiuta sempre".

What does ci mean in this sentence?In this sentence, "ci" is a pronoun and stands for "us". So "Federica ci aiuta" means Federica helps us. So the first meaning of "ci" is accusative case of the first-person-plural personal pronoun. Specifically, CI is the unstressed form of this pronoun.

Another example could be: "Marta ci chiama ogni giorno".

Again, in this case "ci" is a pronoun. What does "Marta ci chiama" mean? It means: Marta calls us. We have the verb "chiamare", and next we have "ci", which is the direct object.

Another example with "ci" used in this way could be: "Se non lo facciamo, ci licenziano".

In this case too "ci" is a pronoun pointing to a direct object. So we have the verb "licenziare", which requires a direct object, and we use CI. "CI" is the accusative of the pronoun "noi". In particular, it is the unstressed form of this pronoun.

Let's go to the second meaning of "CI"!

Let's consider the sentence: "Quando è arrivato, ci ha mandato un messaggio".

What does ci mean in this case? In this case, the word CI is used as a pronoun and, specifically, "ci ha mandato" means "ha mandato A NOI". So in this case "ci" is not "complemento oggetto" but "complemento di termine".

So it essentially replies to the question "a chi?". "A noi". We have the verb "mandare", which takes two arguments: mandare che cosa (what) e a chi (to whom). In this case, in this example, "ci" specifies the individual to whom the message has been sent.

Another example could be: "Marco ci ha regalato un dizionario".

Well, you could say: Wait a minute Luca, sorry, but what example is that?! Who on earth gives a dictionary as a gift?! Well, I just wanted to do an example!

What does "ci ha regalato" mean? "Ha regalato a noi".

Well, keep in mind that, even if it's spelled "ci ha regalato", in speaking people tend to pronounce this word combination like so: c'ha regalato.

Another example could be: "Ci sembra che vada bene". What does it mean? It seems to us that everything is fine. Again, "ci" is used as a pronoun for "complemento di termine".

But let's move on to the third use of CI!

Let's consider the sentence:

- "Vai spesso in biblioteca"?

- "Sì, ci vado spesso".

What does CI mean in this case? In this case the particle CI is not a pronoun, is an adverb. In this case CI means: to that place (there). Therefore the phrase "ci vado spesso" could be rephrased like so: I often go there. Since we were talking about the library: I often go to the library.

Incidentally, in this type of sentence I could also say: "Sì, vado spesso" without CI, but, if I add the word "ci", it means: there, to that place.

Another example sentence could be:

- "Quante volte vai in palestra"?

- "Ci vado tre volte alla settimana"?

What does CI mean in this case? CI means there (to that place). Therefore, since we were talking about the gym, our sentence could be rephrased like so: I go to the gym three times per week.

Another example could be: "Quel ristorante lo conosco bene, ci sono andato tante volte".

What does "ci" mean in this case? In this case too "ci" is an adverb and means there (to that place). Therefore, given that we were talking about that restaurant, "ci" means: to that place, to that restaurant.

So, as you can see from the examples I gave you, "ci" is an adverb specifying what we call "complemento di moto a luogo", that is, it is used with motion verbs and it essentially means there, to that place. The reference is to the place people were talking about.

Alright! Let's move on to the fourth meaning of the particle CI!

Let's consider the sentence: "L'entrata è molto larga, ci passano anche i camion".

What does "ci passano" mean in this case? It means through there (through that place). So, given that people were talking about an entrance, "ci passano" means: through the entrance can pass.

In this case "ci" has a function similar to the previous one, but what's the difference? In the cases we examined earlier, "ci" referred to a direction, whereas in this case "ci" refers to a place through which you can pass.

Another example could be this: "Conosco molto bene quella via, ci passo ogni giorno".

What does "ci passo" mean? It means I pass through there. And, given that we were talking about a street, I pass through that street. That is, in other words, I pass by that street, I go through that street.

Another example could be: "È un paesino piccolo, ma ci passa la ferrovia".

What does "ci passa la ferrovia" mean? It means that the railway passes through there too, it passes through that place.

Alright. Let's move on to the fifth meaning of "ci"!

For example, let's consider the sentence: "Rimango qui perché ci sto benissimo".

What does this sentence mean? I stay here because here I feel great. So, in this case too, CI is an adverb and specifically it means: in this place, in the place we were talking about. So it doesn't point to a direction, but to a state, that is, to being somewhere.

Another example could be: "Finalmente ci siamo!"

What does it mean? We are finally there, in that place. In particular, this sentence is typically used to mean: we are finally where we wanted to be.

Another example with "ci" could be: "Preparati, ci siamo quasi!"

What does it mean? Get ready, we are almost there. The reference is to a place people were talking about.

With this meaning, the word CI also appears in several idiomatic phrases.

For example: "Ci sei? Ci sei?" What does "Ci sei?" mean? This question is asked to ask someone if they understood what we have said or if they are ready.

Therefore, depending on the situation, the question "ci sei?" can mean "Hai capito?" or "Sei pronto?", or "Sei pronta?". In the first case, it's used to ask someone if they understood. In the second case, it's used to ask someone if they are ready, that is, if they finished preparing.

Or, another idiom with "ci" used in this way is: "Non ci siamo proprio!". What does it mean? We are off the track. In this case, "ci" refers to the place where we should be.

In particular, this idiom is often used to point to the fact that certain people did something completely different from what they should have done.

For example: "Mi hanno fatto una proposta ridicola. Non ci siamo proprio!" What does "Non ci siamo proprio" mean? We are not where we should be, we are very far from where we should be.

Alright. Let's move on to the sixth meaning of the word CI!

For example, let's consider the sentence: "In biblioteca ci sono molte persone".

Especially on saturday mornings. Yeah, sure! Well, I just said that for the sake of saying something!

I don't think that this sentence needs to be explained, because you surely know the phrase "c'è", "ci sono". I believe this is one of the first phrases which are taught in Italian courses. In this case, the particle CI is used to point to the existence of certain things or people, or to the fact that these are in certain place.

Another example could be: "Online ci sono un sacco di lezioni di italiano". Or: "C'è ancora tempo".

Like I said, you surely know the phrase "c'è", "ci sono", so there's really no need to delve into that.

However, there are some idiomatic phrases that you might not know.

For example: "C'è modo e modo". What does it mean? It means: there are many ways to do that. Specifically, this phrase is used to point out that someone acted somewhat impolitely.

For example, if someone says something in a brutal manner, to this person you can say: "Sì ok, però c'è modo e modo di dire le cose". What does it mean? There are many ways to explain things, one doesn't have to be brutal. One can be honest without being brutal.

Another phrases is: "non c'è modo". It can be used like so, just "non c'è modo", or you can say, for instance: "Non c'è modo di convincerlo". What does it mean? It's impossible to persuade him.

A synonym of "non c'è modo" is "non c'è verso". So for example I could say: "Non c'è verso di convincerlo". What does it mean? There's no way to persuade him. In this case too you can just say "non c'è verso", or "non c'è verso di fare qualcosa".

Let's move on to the seventh fuction of the particle CI!

For example, let's consider this sentence: "Non ci credo". What does it mean? I don't believe that.

Or let's consider this sentence: "Va bene, ci penserò". What does it mean? Alright, I will think about that.

Another example could be: "Non ci pensare, se no è peggio". What does it mean "Non ci pensare"? It means: don't think about that.

Or let's consider the sentence: "Ci puoi contare". What does it mean? You can count on that.

Another example could be: "Non ci ho capito niente". What does it mean? I didn't understand anything of that.

So, well, as you have seen in these examples, the word "ci" can also be used as a demonstrative pronoun, that is, it can mean "questo, questa cosa". In this case, though, it will always be an indirect complement introduced by a preposition.

Alright. Let's move on to the eight use of "ci"!

For example, let's consider the question: "Quanto tempo ci vuole?" Well, in this case "ci" doesn't have a specific meaning, but, thing is, the phrase "ci vuole", from the verb "volerci", means is needed. Quinti.... Therefore the question "Quanto tempo ci vuole?" means: how much time is needed? (how long will it take?) In this case it's difficult to pinpoint a specific meaning of the particle CI.

Another example could be: "Ci vogliono altre cose". What does it mean? Other things are needed.

So, well, there's the verb "volerci", specifically the third-person of this verb, which means is needed, are needed.

Next, we have the verb "starci", which means agreeing to take part in a given endeavor. So, if someone says "io ci sto", it means that they agree to take part in a common endeavor.

The verb "starci" can also have different meanings.

Some time ago I made a video lesson entirely dedicated to this verb. Up here I'm gonna add a card to that lesson. Check it out!

Next, we have the verb "andarci", specifically the forms "ci va" or "ci vanno". For example, let's take the sentence: "Qui ci va una virgola". What does it mean? Here you should add a comma.

Another example could be: "Con le fragole ci va la panna". Or: "Con il tè ci va il limone". What do these sentences mean? They mean respectively: on strawberries you are supposed to pour cream; and: to tea you should add lemon.

Next, we have the verb "entrarci", specifically the form "c'entra", especially the negative form, that is, "non c'entra". This phrase is used to point out that something is not relevant.

When I was young, I made a video about the phrase "non c'entra" too. Im gonna add a card up here.

Next, we have the verb "metterci", which means taking in reference to time. For example, if someone says "Ci ho messo tre ore", what does it mean? It took me three hours.

Similarly, if someone asks "Quanto ci metterai?", they want to know how long will it take the other person.

Similarly, if someone asks "Ci stai mettendo troppo", what does it mean? It means: it's taking you too long.

Well, I hope everything is clear!

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In the meanwhile, I'm gonna add a video you might wanna watch, if you want to learn... - sweet Christmas, I can't speak!

In the meanwhile, I'm gonna add up here a video that you might wanna watch, if your goal is to speak Italian naturally!

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