Usi di né

1. You have already learned that direct- and indirect- objects pronouns replace direct- and indirect-object nouns. The object pronoun ne replaces phrases. It can replace a di (of, about) + noun phrase. Ne is also used to replace a di + infinitive phrase following such expressions as avere bisogno (di), avere paura (di), and avere voglia (di).

- Luigi parla degli amici? - Does Luigi talk about his friends?- Certo, ne parla sempre. - Sure, he talks about them all the time.

- Hai paura dei topi? - Are you afraid of mice?- Sì, ne ho paura. - Yes, I’m afraid of them.

- Hai bisogno di fare la spesa? - Do you need to go to the grocery store.- No, non ne ho bisogno. - No, I don’t need to.

2. Ne corresponds to the English some or any when it replaces a noun used in the partitive sense (with or without the partitive article, di + article)

- Ha del parmigiano? - Do you have any Parmesan cheese?- Sì, ne ho. - Yes, I have some.

- Compri dell’agnello? - Will you buy some lamb?- No, non ne compro. - No, I won’t buy any.

3. Ne can also replace nouns accompanied by a number or an expression of quantity, such as quanto, molto, troppo, una chilo di, and un litro di. In this context, ne then expresses of it, of them.

- Quanta pasta mangiare? - How much pasta do you eat?- Mangiamo molta pasta! - We eat a lot of pasta!

Ne mangiamo molta! We eat a lot (of it)!

- Quanti fratelli hai? - How many brothers do you have?- Ho tre fratelli. -I have three brothers.

Ne ho tre. I have three (of them)

- I miei genitori hanno - My parents have a lot of cars.molte macchine.

- Quante ne hanno? - How many (of them) do they have?- Ne hanno cinque! - They have five (of them)!

Note that the phrases of it and of them are optional in English, but ne must be used in Italian.

4. Like other object pronouns, ne precedes a conjugated verb or is attached to the end of an infinitive.

- Perchè parli sempre di moda? - Why do you always talk about fashion?- Ne parlo sempre perchè mi - I always talk about it because I like

Piace parlarne. to talk about it.

5. When ne is used with an expression of quantity in the passato prossimo or any other compound tense, the past principle must agree in gender and number with the expression ne is replacing.

- Quante pizze avete ordinate? - How many pizzas did you order?- Ne abbiamo ordinate Quattro. - We ordered four.

When it replaces expressions meaning of or about, however, there is no agreement.

Abbiamo parlato dei negozi; We talked about the stores; we talkedNe abbiamo parlato. about them.

Usi di ci

1. Like né, the pronoun ci replaces phrases. Ci replaces phrases with a/in + noun that refer to places. It can also replace da + person. In these constructions, its English equivalent is there or here. Ci also replaces a + infinitive. You have already used ci in this way in the expressions c’è and ci sono.

- Vai al mercato? - Are you going to the market?- No, non ci vado oggi. - No, I’m not going (there) today.

- Andate in Italia quest’estate? - Are you going to Italy this summer?- Sì, ci andiamo in giugno. - Yes, we’re going (there) in June.

- Maria va dal lattaio oggi? - Is Maria going to the milkman’s today?- Sì, ci va per comprare lo yogurt. - Yes, she’s going (there) to buy yogurt.

- Quando andate a fare la spesa? - When do you go grocery shopping?- Ci andiamo il sabato pomeriggio. - We go (to do it) on Saturday afternoons.

Note that the use of ci is required, whereas there and to do it are optional in English.

2. Ci can also replace a + noun (referring to things and ideas) in expressions such as credere a + noun (to believe in something) and pensare a + noun (to think about something).

- Lei crede agli UFO? - Do you believe in UFOs?- Sì, ci credo. -Yes, I believe in them.

- Pensate all’inflazione? - Do you think about inflation?- No, non ci pensiamo. - No, we don’t (think about it).

3. Ci follows the rules for placement of object pronouns

Mi hanno invitato a quello They invited me to that party, butFesta, ma non ci vado. Non I’m not going (there). I don’tho voglia di andarci! Feel like going (there)!

Pronomi doppi

You already know how to use direct- and indirect-object pronouns.

Scrivo la lettera. La scrivo. (oggetto diretto)Scrivo a te. Ti scrivo. (oggetto indiretto)

It is also possible to use indirect and diret objects together with the same verb, forming double object pronouns (pronomi doppi).

I write it (the letter) to you: Te la scrivo.

1. To form pronomi doppi, follow these rules, which are illustrated in the chart.

a.) The indirect-object pronoun precedes the direct-object pronoun or né.b.) The indirect-object pronouns mi, ti, ci, and vi change their final i to e.c.) The indirect-object pronouns gli, le, and Le all become glie-, and they

combine with the direct-objects pronoun or né to form one word.

Note: All other pronomi doppi are separate words.

Pronomi indiretti +

lo la li le né

mi me lo me la me li me le me néti te lo te la te li te le te négli, le, Le glielo gliela glieli gliele glienéci ce lo ce la ce li ce le ce névi ve lo ve la ve li ve le ve né…loro lo… loro la… loro li… loro le… loro né… loro

Remember that the indirect-object pronoun loro follows a conjugated verb. For this reason, as you can see in the preceding chart, it does not combiné like other object pronouns: Dai/Darai la macchina a loro? Non, non la do/darò loro.

2. Double object pronouns (like single pronouns) precede conjugated verbs. They follow and are attached to infinitives to form one word.

La cintura? Non te la vendo, The belt? I’m not going to sell itpreferisco regarlartela! to you; I prefer to give it to you.

La giaca? Non gliela vendo, The jacket? I’m not going to sell it preferisco regalargliela. to them; I prefer to give it to them.

When the infinitive is preceded by dovere, potere, or volere, the pronouns may attach to the infinitive or precede the conjugated verb.

Ti voglio presentare un’amica. I want to introduce a friend to you. Voglio presentartela. / Te la. I want to introduce her to you.

Voglio presentare.

3. When the verb is in the passato prossimo or in another compound tense, the past participles agrees in gender and number with the preceding direct-object pronoun, even when it is combinéd with an indirect-object pronoun.

Hai comprato i guanti a Giulia? Did you buy the gloves for Giulia?Li hai comprati a Giulia? Did you buy them for Giulia?Glieli hai comprati? Did you buy them for her?

Hai preso due matite per Maria? Did you get two pencils for Maria?Né hai prese due per Maria? Did you get two of them for Maria?Gliené hai prese due? Did you get her two of them?

4. Reflexive pronous can also combiné with direct-object pronouns. The forms are identical to those in point 1c, with the exception of the third-person singular and plural forms. The pronoun si changes to se (just as mi, ti… change to me, te…): se lo, se la, se li, se le and se né.

Mi metto le scarpe. I put my shoes on.Me le metto. I put them on.

Mauro si mette la cravatta. Mauro puts his tie on.Se la mette. He puts it on.Deve mettersela. He has to put it on.

In this context, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the direct-object pronoun.

Anna, ti sei messa le scarpe? Anna, did you put your shoes on?Te le sei messe? Did you put them on?

5. The word ci (presented in section B in this chapter) can combiné with direct-object pronouns, changing to ce.

- Metti il limoné nél tè? - Do you put lemon in your tea?- Sì, ce lo metto. - Yes, I put it there (in it)?- Avete lasciato le chiavi a casa? - Did you leave the keys at home?- No, non ce le abbiamo lasciate. - No, we didn’t leave them there.

Imperativo – tu, noi, voi

1. The imperative is used to give orders, advice, and exhorations: be good, stay home, let’s go. The affirmative imperative forms for tu, noi, and voi are identical to the present-tense forms, with one exception: the tu imperative of regular –are verbs ends in –a.

parlare scrivere dormire finiretu Parla! Scrivi! Dormi! Finisci!noi Parliamo! Scriviamo! Dormano! Finiscano!voi Parlate! Scrivete! Dormite! Finite!

Note that the noi imperatice forms correspond to the English let’s: Andiamo!

2. The negative imperative for tu in all ocnjugations is formed with non + infinitive. The negative noi and voi forms are identical to the affirmative commands.

parlare scrivere dormire finiretu Non parlare! Non scrivere! Non dormire! Non finire!noi Non parliamo! Non scriviamo! Non dormano! Non finiscano!voi Non parlate! Non scrivete! Non dormite! Non finite!

Paga in contain, Luciano! Pay cash Luciano! Non pagare con un assegno! Don’t pay with a check!

Partiamo oggi! Non partiamo domain! Let’s leave today! Let’s not leave tomorrow!

Correte, ragazzi! Non correte, ragazze! Run, guys! Don’t run, girls!

3. The verbs avere and essere have some irregular imperative forms.

avere esseretu abbi, non avere sii, non esserenoi abbiamo siamovoi abbiate siate

Abbi pazienza! Be patient!Siate pronti alle otto! Be ready at eight!

4. Andare, dare, fare, and stare have irregular tu affirmative imperatives that are frequently used instead of the present-tense form.

Andare: va’ or vai Va’ (Vai) ad aprire la porta!Dare: da’ or dai Da’ (Dai) una mano a Luca!

Fare: fa’ or fai Fa’ (Fai) colazione!Stare: sta’ or stai Sta’ (Stai) zitta un momento!Dire has only one imperative tu form in the affirmative: di’.

Di’ la verità. = Tell the truth.

Remember that the negative imperative for tu is formed with non + infinitiveNon andare via adesso!Non dare una festa stasera!Non fare questi errori!Non stare a casa!Non dire bugie!

5. When used with the affirmative imperative, object and reflexive pronouns are attached to the end of the verb to form one word.

Marco alzati subito e vestiti! Marco, get up right now and get dressed!Se vedete Cinzia, invitatela! If you see Cinzia, invite her!Il giornale? Sì compramelo! The newspaper? Yes, buy it for me!

Note that the stressed syllable remains the same: Vestiti! COmpramelo! Non rispondergli!

6. When a pronoun is attached to the short (affirmative) forms of the tu imperative of andare, dare, dire, fare, and stare, the apostrophe disappears and the first consonant of the pronoun is doubled, exceot in the case of gli.

Fammi un favore! Fammelo! Do me a favor! Do it for me!Ti hanno invitato a casa loro e They’ve invited you to their house and you non ci vuoi andare? Vacci! don’t want to go there? Go there!Dille la verità! Digliela! Tell her the truth! Tell it to her!

7. In the negative imperative, pronouns usually follow the verb but they may also precede it.

Ivano vuole le paste? Non Does Ivano want the pasties? Don’t give dargliele (Non gliele dare)! them to him!

Aggettivi indefiniti

ogni + singular noun each, every

tutto/a/i/e + definite article + noun all, every, the whole

qualche + singular noun

alcuni / alcune + plural noun

some, any, a few

un po’ di + singular noun

di + definite article + noun

some, any, a little

Pronomi Indefiniti

As you know, pronouns take the place of nouns. Indefinite pronouns (i pronomi indefiniti) do not refer to a particular person or thing. For example: Someone turned off the lights. I hear something. I bought everything we need. Indefinite pronouns can also refer to a person or thing previously mentioned: All the apartments are furnished, and some (of the apartments) have balconies. In the following explanation, these two groups of pronouns are presented in two sections.

1. Here are some of the most commonly used pronomi indefiniti. They are invariable.tutto everythingqualcosa something

Ho portato tutto. I brought everything.Il bambino ha mangiato qualcosa. The child ate something.

2. Here are the indefinite pronouns that refer to a person or thing previously mentioned. Note that their forms are identical to or resemble those of the indefinite adjectives you learned in Grammatica A in this chapter. All of them agree with the noun they replace, except for un po’, which Is invariable.

AGGETIVI PRONOMIOgni studente trasloca. Ognuno trasloca. (each one)Ogni casa ha tre camere. Ognuna ha tre camere. (each one)

Qualche studente è straniero. Qualcuno è straniero. (each one)Qualche ragazza canta. Qualcuna canta. (each one)

Tutti i ragazzi traslocano. Tutti traslocano. (all [of them])Tutte le camere sono piccole. Tutte sono piccole. (all [of them])

Alcuni appartamenti sono liberi. Alcuni sono liberi. (some, a few)Alcune camere sono grandi. Alcune sono grandi. (some, a few)

Un po’ di zucchero va bene, grazie. Un po’ va bene, grazie. (some, a little)

NEGATIVI

As you already know, an Italian sentence is usually made negative by inserting non in front of the verb. Only object pronouns are placed between non and the verb.

Questa casa ha troppi scalini. This house has too many steps.Quella casa non ha troppi scalini. That house does not have too many steps.Quella casa non ne ha troppi. That house doesn’t have too many (of them).

Many other negative words and expressions are used in conjunction with non. The following chart shows the most important ones, along with their affirmative equivalents. You already know many of these words.

qualcosatutto

somethingeverything

niente, nulla nothing

qualcuno/atutti/e

someoneeveryone

nessuno/a no one, nobody

semprequalche voltamai

alwayssometimesever

non… mai never

già already non… ancora not yetancora still non… piú no longere, o and, or né, né neither… nor

1. When the negative expression follows the conjugated verb, non must precede the verb.

ESPRESSIONI AFFERMATIVE ESPRESSIONI NEGATIVEHai comprato qualcosa? No, non ho comprato niente/nulla.Hai comprato tutto?

Hai visto qualcuno alla festa? No, non ho visto nessuno.Hai visto tutti alla festa?

Canti sempre nella doccia?Canti qualche volta nella doccia? No, non canto mai.Canti mai nella doccia?

Hai già preparato la cena? No, non ho ancora preparato la cena.

ESPRESSIONI AFFERMATIVE ESPRESSIONI NEGATIVE

Abiti ancora in Via Roma? No, non abito piú in Via Roma.

Studi l’italiano e/o la chimica? No, non studio né l’italiano né la chimica.

2. When niente or nessuno precedes the verb, non is omitted.

Niente era facile. Nothing was easy.Nessuno lo farà. No one will do it.

Similarly, when a construction with né…né precedes the verb, non is omitted. Note the plural verb is used in Italian.

Né Mario né Carlo hanno una Neither Marion nor Carlo has a cellar.cantina.

3. Just like qulcoa, niente (nulla) takes di in front of an adjective and da before an infinitive.

Non c’è niente di economico There’s nothing cheap to rent. da affitare.

I bambini non hanno niente The kids don’t have anything to do today.(nulla) da fare oggi.

Imperativo (Lei, Loro)

You learned the tu, noi, and voi (informal imperatives (commands) in Capitolo 11. Here are the imperative forms for Lei and Loro (formal commands). Non is used to make the command negative.

1. The Lei commandsof –are verbs are formed by adding –i to the infinitive stem. The Loro commands are formed by adding –ino to the same stem. All present-tense spelling irregularities are reflected in these commands.

Parlare (parl-)

Cominciare (cominc-)

Dimenticare (dimentich-)

Pagare (pagh-)

Lei parli cominci dimentichi paghi

Loro parlino comincino dimentichino paghino

Signora, aspetti! Non entri ancora. Ma’am, wait! Don’t come in yet!

Signori, paghino alla casa! Gentlemen, pay at the register!

2. The Lei and Loro commands of –ere and –ire verbs are formed by adding –a and –ano respectively to the infinitive stem. Third-conjugation verbs that insert –isc- in the formal imperative.

scrivere (scriv-) dormire (dorm-) finire (finisc-)

Lei scriva dorma finisca

Loro scrivano dormano finiscano

Signori, finiscano di mangiare! Gentlemen, finish eating.

Signora, non scriva molto! Ma’am, don’t write a lot.

3. The Lei and Loro commands of most irregular verbs reflect the irregularity of the first person (io) present tense form. In addition, the verb andare (an –are verb) uses the endings for –ere and –ire verbs.

bere

bevobev-

dire

dicodic-

venire

vengoveng-

uscire

escoesc-

andare

vadovad-

Lei beva dica venga esca vada

Loro bevano dicano vengano escano vadano

Signora Bianchi, beva questa medicina e poi venga da me!

Mrs. Bianchi, drink this medicine and then come see me!

Signor Salvini, esca subito dal mio ufficio!

Mr. Salvini, leave my office at once!

4. Several verbs have irregular Lei and Loro imperatives.

Le telefoni subito! Call her immediately!

Non gli dica quello che abbiamo deciso! Don’t tell him what we’ve decided!

Non si preoccupi, professore! Don’t worry, professor!