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- "Certe persone non ci arrivan…
42 Comments
289
Ok, my mistake was that I put "Qui", which seems to only be a spatial point, and cannot be used figuratively. Thanks a lot
109
I know that this is an old question, but "ci" has given me a lot of problems. I've taken to keep a list of rules around the use of "ci" (and "ne"). The rule that I have that applies to this sentence: use "ci" to replace a mutually understood noun when used with a verb that is typically followed by the preposition, "a".
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In this case, "ci" replaces the name of the place (a noun) where people are trying "get". Both speakers know the place that they are talking about.
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It is being used with the verb "arrivare", which is often followed by the preposition "a", as in "noi arriviamo a una città."
Because this sentence meets both rules, "ci" can be used to replace the noun with the more generic equivalent of the word, "there/here/it/them/etc."
Although there might be an idiom that applies to this specific case, you'll be much better off in the long-run if you learn the rules for how to apply "ci"
I don't know. There might be some cases when it has here as an equivalent in English, but what I told you is the actual meaning native people understand. I just advise you not to learn it as here, since like 90% of the time it will not mean that. If you gave me some examples of when it should be here according to your dictionary I'd be glas to show you the aforementioned meaning applies too or that the here is an extended sense of it.
109
"ci" means whatever noun the speakers mutually understand that they are talking about - usually because it has just been mentioned. Often, that noun is so well understood by both speakers that in English we'll just leave it off. See @hgoldman2 's examples (e.g., Sono qui e ci resto - I'm here and I'm staying [here]).
So, if both speakers know that they are talking about the location where they are currently standing, then yes, "ci" can mean "here". It is a very generic word
1013
Is there anyway of knowing when 'ci' needs translating and when to, for the purposes of translation, simply ignore it?
1284
Did anyone else get a translation of "certain people cannot get it" as the only correct choice? If this is correct, why is that?
For clarity, because Duo insists on randomly lumping together the comments for different exercises in vaguely similar subjects: I was given a jumble of English words and told to translate the Italian sentence. "There" wasnt included. "It" was.
Surely the sense of "certain people dont get it" (either in terms of understanding something, or of receiving something) would be totally different sentences in Italian?
I certainly wouldnt think theyd use "arrivano".