Ci

Question 1

Particle “ci” – uses

Answer 1

(1) to mean “there”, replacing a place/location usually introduced by “a” (also “in” or “da” when they mean “to”, as in “in Italian”, “in banca”, “da Marco”, “dal dottore”).
(2) to replace a prepositional or verb phrase usually introduced by “a” (when it refers to a thing or action, not a person)**; but also “in” or “su” (when they refer to a thing, action, or person).
(3) part of idiomatic verbs.

*(In other uses, “ci” is a direct, indirect, and reflexive pronoun (“us”, “to us”, “ourselves”.)

**(When “a” refers to a person, the i.o. pronoun must be used).
.

Question 2

Ci –place/location

Answer 2

(1) “Ci” can mean “there”(though not often translated in English), referring to a place/location previously mentioned. (2) The prior reference is usually introduced by “a”, and often being in a place or refers to movement to the place. (3) It can also be introduced by “in” when it means “to” (“in città”, “in Francia”), or by “da” when it means “to” (“da Marco”, “dal dottore”).

Question 3

Quando vai a Roma? (reply)

Answer 3

Ci vado domani.

Question 4

Perchè hai la borsa? (reply)

Answer 4

Per metterci i soldi!

Question 5

I went to Florence last year, and I would like to return there. (using ci)

Answer 5

Sono andato a Firenze l’anno scorso, e vorrei ritornarci.

Question 6

I’m returning to the city tomorrow. Are you coming (there) too? (using ci)

Answer 6

Ritornerò alla città domani. Ci vieni anche tu?

Question 7

When are you going to your grandmother’s house? I’m going (there) at 8:00. (using ci)

Answer 7

A che ora vai da tua nonna? Ci vado alle otto.

Question 8

The doctor is in the office today, and will be there tomorrow also. (using ci)

Answer 8

L dottoressa è in ufficio (studio) oggi, e ci sarà anche domani.

Question 9

If you look behind the sofa, (there) you will find the shoes.

Answer 9

Se cercai dietro il divano, ci troverai le scarpe.

Question 10

“ci” as there – commonly with these verbs

Answer 10

“Ci” is often used with these verbs, because they are often linked with prepositional phrases designating locations using “a”: andare, venire, stare, rimanere, restare

Question 11

“Ci” – replacing a phrase

Answer 11

(1) “Ci” can replace a previous prepositional or verb phrase introduced by “a” (when it refers to a thing or action, not a person), or “in” or “su” (when they refer to a thing, action, or person).

Note: When “a” refers to a person, the i.o. pronoun, not “ci”, must be used for most verbs, but pensare takes the d.o. pronoun or “a lei”, “a lui”, etc.

Question 12

“Ci” replacing a phrase – common verbs

Answer 12

“Ci” replacing a prepositional phrase often occurs with these verbs: (1) pensare a, (2) credere in/a, (3) riuscire a,(4) contare su

Question 13

Can I count on your help. Of course, you can count on it. (using ci)

Answer 13

Posso contare su tuo aiuto? Certo, puoi contarci.

Question 14

Did you manage to do the exercises? No, I didn’t (manage to do them). (using ci)

Answer 14

Sei riuscito a fare gli esercizi? No, non ci sono riuscito.

Question 15

Are you thinking about your vacation? Yes, I’m thinking about it. (using ci)

Answer 15

Pensai alla tua vacanza? Si, ci penso.

Question 16

Are you going to dance . Yes, I’m going (to dance). (using ci)

Answer 16

Vai a ballare? Si, ci vado.

Question 17

Did you manage to finish? Yes, I managed (to finish). (using ci)

Answer 17

Sei riuscito a finire? Si, ci sono riuscito.

Question 18

Did you respond to Giula? Yes, I responded to her.
vs.
Did you respond to the letter? Yes, I responded (to it).

Answer 18

Hai risposto a Giula? Si, le ho risposto.
vs.
Hai risposto alla lettere? Si c’ho risposto.

Question 19

to believe in something

Answer 19

crederci

Credi ai fantasmi? No, no ci credo.

Question 20

to think about it/take care of it

Answer 20

pensarci

Chi prepara la cena? Ci penso.

Question 21

to take, in terms of how long it takes the subject person to do something

Answer 21

metterci

Quanto ci metti per arrivare? Ci metto un’ora.

Question 22

to take (as in it takes this long in time, impersonal;) or to be necessary (as in it is needed, impersonal)

Answer 22

volerci
Ci vuole un ora.
Ci vogliono due ore.

Ci vuole un’altra forchetta.

Question 23

To manage to do something (colloquial)

Answer 23

farcela
Ce la fai venire alla festa.
Non ce faccio più.

Question 24

to be angry with (colloquial)

Answer 24

avercela con

Marco ce l’ha con me.

Question 25

to hear well (physical ability)

Answer 25

sentirci

No ci sento da quell’orecchio.

Question 26

to do one’s best

Answer 26

mettercela tutta

Ce l’ho messa tutta. (Note: feminine)

Question 27

to have a way with, be good at something (colloquial)

Answer 27

saperci fare con
Ci so fare.
Ci so fare con gli animali.

Question 28

to care about, mean a lot (colloquial)

Answer 28

tenerci a
Ci tengo a te.
Ci tengo molto a vedere quel film.

Question 29

to have to do with

Answer 29

entrarci
Quello che dici non c’entra (niente) (what you say has nothing to do with it)
Tu non c’entri in questa faccenda. (this is none of your business)
Io non c’entro. (it’s got nothing to do with me)
Cosa c’entra?

Question 30

to fall for it

Answer 30

cascarci
Ci sei cascato.
Eppure, ci sono cascato di nuovo.

Question 31

to develop a taste for

Answer 31

prenderci gusto a

Ci prendi gusto adesso?

Question 32

to be able to see

Answer 32

vederci

Non ci vede dalla nascita = She’s blind from birth

Question 33

Are you going downtown? Yes, we’re going (there) soon.

Answer 33

Andate in centro? Si, ci andiamo fra poco.

Question 34

Did you go to the pharmacist’s? Yes, went (there) this morning.

Answer 34

Sei andato da farmacista? Si, ci sono andato (ci sono passato) stamattina.

Question 35

Did you go to see Liliana? Yes, I went there yesterday.

Answer 35

Sei andato a trovare Liliana? Si, ci sono andato ieri.

Question 36

When is it that you are going to shop? I’m going now.

Answer 36

Quand’è che vai a fare la spesa? Ci vado adesso.

Question 37

I take an hour to get to the university.

Answer 37

Ci metto un’ora per arrivare all’università.

Question 38

It takes an hour to get downtown.

Answer 38

Ci vuole un’ora per arrivare in centro.

Question 39

How long to they take to go to Genoa?

Answer 39

Quanto ci mettono per andare a Genova?

Question 40

It takes three quarters of an hour if you take a car.

Answer 40

Ci vogliono tre quarti d’ora se prendi la macchina.

Question 41

Are you used to the cold? Yes, I’m used to it.

Answer 41

Sei abituato al freddo? Si, ci sono abituato,

Question 42

Did you manage to do it? Yes, we managed (to do it).

Answer 42

Siete riusciti a farlo? Si, ci siamo riusciti.

Question 43

Have you (pl.) thought about what you want to do? Yes, we’ve thought about it.

Answer 43

Avete pensato a quello che volete fare? Si, ci abbiamo pensato.

Question 44

Have you thought about your two brothers? Yes, I’ve thought about them. (no ci)

Answer 44

Hai pensato ai due fratelli? Si, ho pensato a loro.