The role of pronouns is to replace a "noun", a word, or a phrase, in order to avoid repetitions in the text.

Pronouns are very used in the Italian language as they make the language "alive", allowing to express opinions and emotions in a more direct and effective way.

Direct pronouns answer the questions "Chi? Che cosa?" (whom? what?)"

-"Guardo la televisione." (I watch TV.)

-"Cosa guardi?" (What do you watch?)

-"Guardo la televisione. La guardo tutti i giorni." (I watch TV. I watch it every day.)

Indirect object pronouns answer the questions "A chi? A che cosa?" (to whom? to what?)"

-"Io parlo." (I talk)

-"A chi parli?" (To whom are you talking?)

-"Parlo a Mario. Gli parlo tutti i giorni." (I talk to Mario. I talk to him every day.)

Many students are still struggling with the use of pronouns.

Remember that PRACTICE is the best solution to the problem!

"Ne" (of it, of them, some of it, some of them, any) replaces:

1) a noun that implies quantity.

Example: Ho molto cioccolato. Ne vuoi un po'?
(I have lots of chocolate. Do you want some?)

2) a noun preceded by a numeral, an adjective of quantity or a partitive construction

Example: - Quanti libri hai? - Ne ho 50.
(- How many books do you have? - I have 50 books)

Ho due penne. Ne vuoi una?
(I have two pens. Do you want one?)

Ecco dieci mele. Eccone dieci!
(Here are ten apples. Here are ten of them!)

- Compro della frutta. - Ne mangi molta?
(- I buy some fruit. - Do you eat a lot of it?)

3) an indirect pronoun (of him, of her, of it, from him, from her, from it)

Example: Mi parli sempre di questo. Me ne parli sempre. (You always talk about this. You always talk about it.)

Da lui non riceverai mai un saluto. Non ne riceverai mai niente.
(From him you'll never receive a greeting. You'll never receive anything from him.)

Da questo puoi dedurre che è onesto. Ne puoi dedurre che è onesto.
(From this you can deduce that he is honest. It can be inferred from it that he is honest.)

4) a complete sentence introduced by di + infinitive.

Example: - Hai voglia di mangiare al ristorante? - Sì, ne ho voglia, andiamo!
(- Do you feel like eating at the restaurant? - Yes, I feel like it, let's go!)

Mi chiedi di parlarti ma non ne ho voglia.
(You ask me to talk to you but I do not feel like it.)

5) a previous concept, implying verbs followed by "di".

Example: Hai detto che sono antipatico. Ne sono consapevole [di questo] ma non posso farne a meno [di essere antipatico].
(You said I am obnoxious. I'm aware of it but I can not help it.)

6) the name of a place, a town, a country or a locality previously mentioned, implying "departure".

Example: Sono stato a Palermo. Ne sono tornato ieri sera. (I have been to Palermo, I just came back from it yesterday evening).

"Ci" (or "vi", more formal but less used) replaces:

1) the name of a place, a town, a country or a locality previously mentioned.

Example: Abito a Parigi. Ci abito da due anni. Vi abito da due anni.
(I live in Paris. I've been living there for two years.)

Stasera vado al cinema. Ci vado con la mia amica.
(This evening I'm going to the movie theatre. I'm going there with my friend.)

Vado da mia mamma. Vuoi venirci?
(I'm going at my mother's place. Do you want to come?)

2) a previous concept, implying verbs followed by "a" or "su" or "con".

Example: Pensi ancora alla tua ex-fidanzata? Si, ci penso sempre [a lei]. Posso contarci [su lei] come amica, ma non posso uscirci [con lei].

(Do you still think about your ex-girlfriend? Yes, I always think [of her]. I can count [on her] as a friend, but I can't go out [with her].

Pronouns are often used because they "speed-up" the conversation and create emphasis in the sentence.