45

Adverbs ci and vi

The adverbs ci and vi (both meaning “there”) are used when the place for which they stand has already been mentioned and when no emphasis is desired.

Ci is more common in modern spoken Italian, while vi is found most often in more formal or literary Italian. They are interchangeable.

Se vai al cinema, ci vado anch’io. — If you go to the movies, I’ll go [there] too.

 

Ci and vi precede or follow the verb according to the rules governing the personal pronouns. The change in spelling is the same.

Translate the sentences below, and note the usage of ci and vi.

  1. Siete andati al cinema a vedere questo film? —Sì, ci siamo andati ieri.
  2. Ci sono buoni ristoranti in questa città? —Ce n’è uno (ce ne sono molti).
  3. Lei si è divertito al concerto? —Sì, grazie, mi sono divertito molto. —Vi è andato anche Carlo? —No, non voleva andarvi.

VOCABULARY

accostare
to approach, to bring near
assunse
assumed (3d sing. past abs., assumere)
impossessarsi
to take possession of
influsso
influence
mescolare
to mix
pianta
plant
rimase
remained (3d sing. past abs., rimanere)
si sparse
spread (3d sing. past abs., spargersi)
verrà
will come (3d sing. fut., venire)
visse
lived (3d sing. past abs., vivere)

 

License

Italian for Reading & Translation Copyright © by Lauren Surovi and Carleton W. Carroll. All Rights Reserved.

Share This Book