{"id":16976,"date":"2018-08-29T18:28:52","date_gmt":"2018-08-29T16:28:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/?p=16976"},"modified":"2018-08-29T18:28:52","modified_gmt":"2018-08-29T16:28:52","slug":"idiomatic-verbs-using-ci","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/italian\/idiomatic-verbs-using-ci\/","title":{"rendered":"Idiomatic Verbs Using ‘Ci’"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my previous article about ‘ci<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>‘, we looked at its use as the personal pronoun \u2018us\u2019, \u2018each other\u2019, or \u2018we\u2019, and as the adverb ‘there’ or ‘here’. Today, things get a bit more complex as we move into the mystic realm of idioms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ci<\/strong> is used in a number of important idiomatic verbs that can be difficult to pick up if you’re not regularly speaking and listening to colloquial Italian. In fact, many of these idiomatic verbs merit a blog in their own right.
\nNB: the use of ci<\/strong> in the following verbs is idiomatic, so don’t try and translate it literally as it will not usually make any sense.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Quanto ci metti per arrivare a Equi Terme?<\/strong> How long does it take you to get to Equi Terme?<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

1. Volerci<\/strong> (to need).<\/span> Volerci<\/strong> is constructed from the verb volere<\/strong> (to want) and ci<\/strong>. The singular form is ci vuole<\/strong>, and the plural ci vogliono<\/strong>:
\nci vuole circa un’ora per arrivare a Parma da casa nostra<\/strong> = you need about an hour to get to Parma from our house
\nci vogliono scarponi robusti per fare una passeggiata in montagna<\/strong> = you need strong hiking boots to go walking in the mountains<\/p>\n

2. M<\/strong>etterci<\/strong> (to take, when talking about time<\/em>).<\/span> Metterci<\/strong> is constructed from the verb mettere<\/strong> (to put) + ci<\/strong>.
\nci metto circa un’ora<\/strong> per arrivare a Parma da casa nostra<\/strong> = it takes me about an hour to get to Parma from my house
\nquanto ci metti per scrivere un articolo?<\/strong> = how long does it take you to write an article?
\nl\u2019aereo ci mette due ore da Pisa a Londra\u00a0<\/strong>= the plane takes two hours from Pisa to London
\nci abbiamo messo due giorni per imbiancare il salotto!<\/strong> = it took us two days to paint the living room!<\/p>\n

3. Tenerci<\/strong> (to care about something, to say that something is important to you).<\/span> Tenerci<\/strong> is constructed from the verb tenere<\/strong> (to hold) + ci<\/strong>.
\nci tengo molto a questo lavoro<\/strong> = I really care about this job, or<\/em> this job is very important to me
\nci tengo a chiedergli scusa<\/strong> = it’s important to me that I say sorry to him
\nperch\u00e9 ci tieni a quella vecchia macchina?<\/strong> = why is that old car so important to you?<\/p>\n

4. Arrivarci <\/strong>(to get it, to understand something).<\/span> Arrivarci<\/strong> is constructed from the verb arrivare<\/strong> (to arrive) + ci<\/strong>.
\nquesto problema di matematica \u00e8 troppo difficile, non ci arrivo proprio <\/strong>= this maths problem is too difficult, I really can\u2019t understand it
\nah, finalmente ci sono arrivato\/a! <\/strong>= ah, I finally get it!<\/p>\n

5. <\/strong>Esserci<\/strong> (to get it, to understand something).<\/span> Esserci<\/strong> is constructed from the verb essere<\/strong> (to be) + ci<\/strong>.
\nci sono! Ho capito finalmente come funziona <\/strong>= I\u2019ve got it! I\u2019ve finally understood how it works
\nallora, ci siete? Avete capito la differenza fra i due? = <\/strong>So, do you get it? Do you understand the difference between the two?<\/p>\n

6. <\/strong>Cascarci<\/strong> (to fall for it, or \u2018to swallow the bait\u2019).<\/span> Cascarci<\/strong> is constructed from the verb cascare<\/strong> (to fall) + ci<\/strong>.
\nmannaggia, ci sono cascato\/a! <\/strong>= damn, I fell for it!
\nvediamo se Giovanni ci casca! <\/strong>= let\u2019s see if Giovanni will swallow the bait!<\/p>\n

7. Contarci<\/strong> (to count on, to rely).<\/span> Contarci<\/strong> is constructed from the verb contare<\/strong> (to count) + ci<\/strong>.
\nmi raccomando, mandami subito il pacco, ci conto, ok?<\/strong> = please, send me the packet straight away, I’m counting on it, o.k.?
\nlui ha promesso di aiutarti? … non ci conterei! <\/strong>= has he promised to help you? … I wouldn’t count on it!
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

8. <\/strong>Entrarci <\/strong>(to have something to do with something).<\/span> Entrarci <\/strong>is constructed from the verb entrare<\/strong> (to enter) + ci<\/strong>.
\nio non c\u2019entro niente!<\/strong> = I haven’t got anything to do with it!
\nma cosa c\u2019entra?<\/strong> = but what\u2019s that got to do with it?<\/p>\n

9.<\/strong> Starci<\/strong> (to agree with, to join in).<\/span> Starci<\/strong> is constructed from the verb stare<\/strong> (to be\/stay) + ci<\/strong>.
\nvogliamo comprare il regalo di nozze per Maria tutti insieme, ci state? <\/strong>= we all want to get Maria\u2019s wedding present together, are you in\/do you agree? (state<\/strong> = you plural)
\nse stasera andate in pizzeria, io ci sto <\/strong>= if you\u2019re going to the pizzeria this evening, I’m in\/I\u2019ll join you.<\/p>\n

So many ci<\/strong>‘s … and that’s not the end of it!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

In my previous article about ‘ci‘, we looked at its use as the personal pronoun \u2018us\u2019, \u2018each other\u2019, or \u2018we\u2019, and as the adverb ‘there’ or ‘here’. Today, things get a bit more complex as we move into the mystic realm of idioms. Ci is used in a number of important idiomatic verbs that can…<\/p>\n

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