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Particella ne
The adverbial pronoun ne can replace a quantity, a noun, or the object of the prepositions di or da. This little word has many possible translations:
- any
- one
- some
- about it / them
- from it / them / there
- of it / them
Per esempio…
| Vuoi un’arancia? Ne mangerò una. | Do you want an orange? I’m going to eat one. | |
| – Quanti figli ha? – Non ne ho. |
– How many kids do you have? – I don’t have any. |
Using ne
Ne most commonly replaces di or da plus a noun, though in certain constructions it can replace just a noun or even a phrase.
1) Ne with indefinite and partitive articles
Ne replaces an indefinite or partitive article plus a noun.
Per esempio…
Ho comprato delle mele. Ne ho comprato alcune.Ne ho già alcune. |
I bought some apples. I bought some (of them). I already have some. |
|
| Stai mangiando gli spinaci? Ne stai mangiando? Ne voglio un po’ anch’io. |
Are you eating spinach? Are you eating some (of it) / (some of) it? I want some too. |
While the words (in parentheses) are optional in English, ne is required in Italian: Ho comprato and Voglio un po’ are not complete sentences. The person you’re talking to would be left wondering "I bought what?" or "you want what?" despite the seemingly obvious answers. Ne provides an essential link to the noun it refers back to.
2) Ne with numbers
Ne replaces the noun after a number. Note that the number itself is maintained at the end of the sentence.
Per esempio…
| Compro cinque bottiglie. Ne compro cinque. |
I’m buying five bottles. I’m buying five (of them). |
|
| Ho due figlie. Ne ho due. |
I have two daughters. I have two. |
3) Ne with quantities
Ne replaces the noun after an indefinite adjective or adverb of quantity. Again, the adjective/adverb itself is tacked on to the end of the sentence.
Per esempio…
| Ho diverse giacche nere. Ne ho diverse. |
I have several black jackets. I have several (of them). |
|
| L’hotel ha molto fascino. L’hotel ne ha molto. |
The hotel has a lot of charm. The hotel has a lot (of it). |
4) Ne with places
Ne can replace da + a place or an adverb of place.
Per esempio…
| Torno da Milano. Ne torno. |
I’m returning from Milan. I’m returning from there. |
|
| Il treno parte da lì. Il treno ne parte. |
The train leaves from there. |
5) Ne with verbs that need di
With Italian verbs and expressions that must be followed by di plus a noun, ne can replace that preposition + noun combo.
Per esempio…
| Ha bisogno di una penna. Ne ha bisogno. Ecco, ne ho una. |
He needs a pen. He needs one (of them). Here, I have one (of them). |
|
| Cosa pensate di questa decisione? Cosa ne pensate? |
What do you think about this decision? What do you think (about this)? |
|
| Stiamo parlando di vino. Ne stiamo parlando. |
We’re talking about wine. We’re talking about it. |
6) Ne with clauses
Ne can also refer back to a preceding sentence or clause.
Per esempio…
| È incinta. Ne sono certa. | She’s pregnant. I’m certain of it. | |
| Abbiamo visto quel film e ne siamo rimasti incantati. | We saw that movie and were charmed by it. |
Word order
Like object pronouns and the adverbial pronoun ci, ne generally precedes the verb – more detail in a future lesson.
Related lessons
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