28

I know that 'ci' can mean 'us' and 'there', but it appears it can also mean 'it'. For example:

ci penso su - I'll think about it

I've heard that it means kind of "it, in general" but I find the rules for it confusing. Are there any hard and fast rules? When and where can 'ci' be used in this way, e.g.

ci leggo
ci parlo
ci dico
ci metto

Also, in the case when it can mean 'it', how could you say whether it means 'it' or 'us' in a phrase such as, for example:

ci parliamo

april
  • 961
  • 4
  • 12
  • 23
Groky
  • 1,031
  • 2
  • 12
  • 19

2 Answers2

27

Ci is indeed a tricky italian word, has it has several different uses and I'm afraid there are no fast rules, as its meaning greatly dependends on the context.

I'll try to go through some of the most common uses

It can be

direct personal pronoun

Il professore ci ha visto copiare.

which corresponds to

Il professore ha visto noi copiare

The professor saw us copying

indirect personal pronoun

Il professore ci ha detto di non copiare

which corresponds to

Il professore ha detto a noi di non copiare

The professor told us not to copy

reciprocal pronoun

Ci vediamo spesso

We see each other often

adverb

Ci sono stato

which corresponds to

Sono stato lì

I've been there

redundant use as adverb

Ci sto proprio comodo qui

I'm really comfortable here

verb compounds

In some cases ci can be incorporated in a verb, some notable examples being: esserci (to be there/here), volerci (to be needed/required), and metterci (take).

Ci sono I'm here

or

C'è qualcuno? Is there anybody?

and

Ci vuole una laurea per fare quel lavoro

A degree is needed to do that job

and

Ci si mette un'ora per tornare a casa

It takes an hour to get home

And really, many many other uses, especially in combinations with verbs.

Community
  • 1
Gabriele Petronella
  • 3,735
  • 1
  • 21
  • 33
  • 1
    This is very useful in general, but it doesn't address the usage of 'ci' to mean 'it', such as with 'ci penso' and I believe, 'ci parlo'. – Groky Nov 06 '13 at 01:58
  • @Groky ‘Ci penso’ is in the same class as ‘ci metto‘; usually ‘ci parlo‘ is regional ‘incorrect‘ usage for ‘I talk to him/her‘. – egreg Nov 06 '13 at 09:13
  • 1
    @Groky Yes, it does: "ci penso" is equal to "penso a questo/quello", i.e., falls in the category of the indirect pronoun. "Ci parlo" is the same: "parlo a lui/lei". That indirect pronoun is a demonstrative one in the first case and a personal one in the second, but the idea is the same. – martina.physics Nov 06 '13 at 09:13
  • @martina: indirect pronoun? Sorry, I still don't follow. From what I understand 'ci' as an indirect pronoun means 'us'. You mean it changes its meaning according to the verb? – Groky Nov 06 '13 at 13:09
  • 1
    Indirect pronoun: when the pronoun is accompanied by a preposition. So, "ci penso" (penso A questo/quello) is "I think ABOUT this"; "ci parlo" (parlo A lui/lei oppure CON lui/lei) is "I talk TO him/her". – martina.physics Nov 06 '13 at 13:35
  • @Groky it means “ci” can be used in any grammatical case without variation – Agos Nov 06 '13 at 15:32
  • @martina Ahhhh! Yes, I think I may be starting to understand! Thanks for all the help! – Groky Nov 06 '13 at 15:35
3

If we had to read those examples as you listed them, verbatim, the only one that makes sense is the second one: ci parlo?

The other ones don't convey any meaning. If you take a look, all of them require Direct Objects, except parlare which in Italian requires an Indirect Object (parlare a chi?).

As far as I know there are no hard rules, except for those cases that you listed, but if I find something I'll make sure to edit my answer.

Alenanno
  • 1,249
  • 10
  • 18