What ci replaces
When you mention a place a second time, Italian does not name it again. Vado a Roma domani becomes Ci vado domani in the reply: I'm going there tomorrow.
From the place phrase to ci
ci replaces the preposition and the place together: a Roma, in centro, da mia nonna, al mare. With verbs of movement it means to that place, after essere, stare or restare in that place; English says "there" for both. It never stands for a person: "I call her" is Le telefono.
Four place phrases, one word
| Full phrase | With ci | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vado a Firenze. | Ci vado. | I'm going there. |
| Lavoro in centro. | Ci lavoro. | I work there. |
| Ceno da mia nonna. | Ci ceno. | I have dinner there. |
| Resto al mare una settimana. | Ci resto una settimana. | I'm staying there for a week. |
Ci in conversation
Vai a Milano questo weekend? – Sì, ci vado sabato.
Are you going to Milan this weekend? – Yes, I'm going on Saturday.
Vai ancora in palestra? – No, non ci vado più.
Do you still go to the gym? – No, I don't go there anymore.
D'estate andiamo al mare e ci restiamo tre settimane.
In summer we go to the seaside and stay there for three weeks.
Where ci goes
English puts "there" after the verb; ci goes in front of it, like the other unstressed pronouns, and after non in negatives. On an infinitive it attaches to the end and the -e drops: andare becomes andarci. With a modal verb you can choose, but only one place: Ci devo andare or Devo andarci, not Ci devo andarci.
Non ci vado mai.
I never go there.
Vorrei andarci domani.
I'd like to go there tomorrow.
Ci devo andare. / Devo andarci.
I have to go there.
Mi piace Genova, potrei restarci un mese.
I like Genoa, I could stay there for a month.
Ci in the passato prossimo
In the passato prossimo ci goes before the auxiliary: Ci sono stato, ci siamo rimasti. When someone asks whether you know a place or have ever been there, you answer Ci sono stato – literally "I have been there". The participle agrees with the subject: a woman says Ci sono stata.
Conosci Napoli? – Sì, ci sono stato due volte.
Do you know Naples? – Yes, I've been there twice.
Sei mai stata in Sicilia? – No, non ci sono mai stata.
Have you ever been to Sicily? – No, I've never been there.
Siamo andati a Bologna e ci siamo rimasti fino a lunedì.
We went to Bologna and stayed there until Monday.
