Italian Pronoun CI

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In this video I’m going to explain how to use the Italian pronoun CI.

What do you need to remember with this:

CI refers to a PLACE so you will use it to refer to a place a location that you have already mentioned in your conversation.

Let me give you an example…

• Quando vieni a Milano? (when will you come to Milan?)
• Ci vengo sabato. (I will come on Saturday)

CI refers to Milano.

Instead of repeating and saying "Vengo a Milano sabato", you can substitute Milano with CI so your sentence will be "CI vengo sabato".

So remember CI = a place, it means HERE (QUI), in this place (in questo luogo) or over there in that place (là, in quel luogo) and it answers the question DOVE? where?

For example look at the example that we have used before…. 

• Quando vieni a Milano?
• Ci vengo sabato.

If you simply focus on the second sentence…. CI VENGO SABATO…and ask yourself…. DOVE? WHERE?… the answer will be MILANO… so this is to show you once again that CI replaces a place… in this case MILANO.

CI usually goes before the VERB

• Andate al ristorante stasera?
• Sì, ci andiamo.

You have the verb ANDARE = andiamo… and right before it you have CI

Be careful! When you have a verb in the infinitive form….that has a modal verb before it CI usually goes before the verb or AFTER the infinite verb but you need to eliminate the E of that verb.

Let me show you the two options:

• Devi andare in farmacia?
• Sì, ci devo andare per comprare l’aspirina.

In this case you have the modal verb DOVERE in the form of DEVO… you can choose this option and but Ci right before the modal verb…. or you have a second option

• Sì, devo andarci per comprare l’aspirina.

In this case you have the modal ver DEVO + the infinitive ANDARE… you eliminate the final E in the verb ANDARE and you add CI….it becomes ANDARCI.

Be very careful with the verb ESSERE… when you have CI + ESSERE CI turns into C’E'

• Lara è stata in farmacia?
• Sì, c’è stata ieri.

Here is a quick 5 question quiz for you! Watch the video for the answers!

How does the exercise work?

Insert the CI and the verb correctly in the sentence. Please notice that you will also need to conjugate the verb correctly! I will read the correct sentence for you!

1. Vai spesso al cinema? sì______ _________ spesso!
2. Ritorniamo a fare una passeggiata nel parco domani? Domani non posso _______ ______ sabato?
3. Signora Bianchi, vive bene a Varese? sì, ______  ______ molto bene!
4. Andavi spesso al mare da piccola? Sì, _____ _____ ogni estate.
5. Ritornerete in questo ristorante? Sicuramente _____ _______ nel fine settimana!