"Io me ne vado."

Translation: I am going.

[cgroothius]

Come on Duolingo. This does not do anything to demonstrate or teach clitics, but rather distracts from the topic and confuses the learner by once again introducing a previously unencountered and unconventional verb . Thanks to the poster mario.a for the very useful link to about.com and the verb andarsene which is my takeaway from this sentence, not the clitic piece.

[rjjacob]

Duolingo has gotten too big for its britches. It's no longer designing careful teaching strategy. Are computers completely running the show?

[JIS9E]

Thank you for stating this!!! It would make so much more sense to actually teach the concept with simple examples to get us used to it before they throw in the fancy stuff. DUH!!

[marlyseb]

Unfortunately, I don't think that link to the website works anymore. It didn't take me anywhere to explain any language.

[Jobie4]

about.com is great -- glad you mentioned it!

[Irishmolly]

I don't understand why this translates as "I am going" - what do "me" and "ne" mean here...or is it just an idiomatic expression?

[jairemix]

From what I understand, "ne" in Italian can mean "of it", or "from it", or "about it". In the case of "Io me ne vado", "ne" means "from it" or "from here". So the sentence literally means "I am going away from here", or "I am leaving".

As to why we also use the reflexive pronoun "me" (myself), it's hard to find an explanation. I suppose the verb andare just has to be used reflexively in this expression. It's a bit like saying: "I'm taking myself away from here".

Incidentally "ne" is equivalent to the French word "en". Also in French, you would get a similar construction: "Je m'en vais" (also meaning "I am leaving").

Note I am not a fluent Italian speaker though. I am only using deduction and my knowledge of French and assuming it applies to Italian too, since they are fairly similar languages.

[eesh1]

Thanks for giving the French translation now it makes complete sense to me.

[InezPdL]

Thank you! I've been going through the mud with these sentences, and your explanation really helped

[KenHutley]

jairemix: Brilliant explanation... kudos to you... and please accept a lingot. Thank you!

[Remy000]

thanks for the explanation

[KarenColle]

Grazie to vertdevrai for pointing out that this is similar in use to the French "en"! It made it so clear for for me!!!♡

[lucianofung]

But then that mean "ne" would be an adverb not a clitic which is so confusing as ne is one of the clitics Duolingo is trying to teach so why confuse does Duolingo confuse us even more

[Raquel198857]

So what would it be in spanish? Me voy is i go

[Nonna602151]

I think they're both very similar. Voy = I go, Spanish. Vado = I go in Italian. "Me voy" and "Me vado" both have that reflexive quality of "I take myself away." Me ne vado seems like "I take myself away from...[whatever the "ne"refers to].
Maybe it's like "I'm getting myself outta here," if I'm not being too hyperbolic. (But if it works, hey...!)

[Ampus_Questor]

In Spanish 'ir' is to go and 'irse' is to go away, so 'me voy' is I go away or, as I prefer to think of it, I make (myself) off.

[deactivated user]

Cheers mate, take a lingot ;)

[AndreiChichizola]

And those clitics exist also in Catalan, so that would be "me'n vaig"

[Ispirac]

yes, it is bloody idiom.:---)), something like I'm disappearing

[AnnieBosle]

Here, here!!

[springbett]

Can we not have so many idioms on the clitics? Maybe have another lesson just for these annoying idioms that don't actually teach the clitics.

[AndrDemetr]

Hmm. You're right. This third part of the 'clitic' section has gone off at a tangent.

[HaroldWonham]

This is an impossible section! There are so many new things introduced, which have nothing whatsoever to do with the main thrust of this section. I am now on my eighth failed attempt, and still coming across totally new things, which of course are never explained

[SirJacqi]

Five years later, it's still not changed. Way too much new in one little lesson - needs to be broken up into smaller chunks.

[lefay11]

Why not just "Vado" or "Io vado"? The translation is "I am going." No need for a reflexive pronoun. This lesson is more confusing than illuminating.

[craaash80]

You can of course say that. But you lose the "from" or "out" meaning that is expressed by "ne".
The whole sentence would be "Io me ne vado [da qui]".

A reverse example: The rather common sentence "I gotta get out of here" translates in italian perfectly with "Devo andarmene da qui" / "Me ne devo andare da qui".

[Germanlehrerlsu]

craaash80-- Along w/ how mario.a explains it above, your explanation is very helpful. Thanks.

[Puzzle36714]

Maybe its a tense thing. Like maybe io vado is simply "I go" so adding the extra me ne changes it to "I am going". Can anybody confirm?

[chatee]

My translation: "I am out of here" makes more sense (that is what I think). Ha ha!.

[Ispirac]

I didn't understand what she talking about, the voice is not understandable for me.I can't catch up this because I'm only beginer.

[Kathleen262866]

I'm hearing "net", not "ne".

[CreyB]

I would have to think that this translation is shortened and misses the emphasis being placed into the sentence--at least that is what I think, and I could be wrong.

What I think this really means is "I am going there myself" or "I, myself, am going there". "ne" here would represent "there", and I think "me" is there for emphasis, to make it a stronger statement.

[mario.a]

The infinitive form "andarsene" means "to go away".
Therefore "Io me ne vado" should be understood as "I am going (away)".

See: http://italian.about.com/library/verb/blverb_andarsene.htm

[Irishmolly]

Thanks, that's very helpful and a useful link.

[thmarchi]

Yes, thanks Mario!

[Lodoviko]

Thank you.

[Eliza_Betta]

thank you! it was really very helpful

[Paul604]

Thanks that's really helpful :-)

[Andrea723110]

Most helpful and understandable piece of information on this sentence! Many thanks!

[Irishmolly]

Thanks, that makes more sense to me than the translation that's given

[Sam735317]

I am so frustrsted with this clitics course, there should be more lessons each level to space out the learning as there is clearly a lot of information being left out and up to the guesswork of the learner. The tips page only explains maybe half of what the lessons cover, and what it does explain it does not make clear. The hints in every question are wrong and/or misleading and, despite being nearly finished the course, I basically still don't understand why certain clitics are used or how to use them myself in a new sentence. Get yourself together, Duo. You're better than this. Maybe separate the courses for direct clitics and indirect clitics.

[Anita388049]

Me too. I've done the whole section and I'm still very confused about which little words to use. The only thing I do understand is the sentence structure. I have no idea about the little words, mi, or me, ti or te etc

[Ampus_Questor]

I am a native English speaker, not totally ignorant of grammar, and I had to look up just what a 'clitic' is. Thanks, Duo, for expanding my vocabulary.

[Esther485620]

Am I imagining things? I clearly heard her say io me neD vado in the slow version.

[ArthurWachmann]

Zero hearts, four more to go

[mariaelena256]

In Spanish,we also use the "me" for I am going = Me voy or yo me voy.

[michaelsco318887]

Io me vado (I am going away) is also correct.

[denisemelv1]

surely io vado is much more efficient and understandable than this contorted phrase?

[Germanlehrerlsu]

denisemelv1: it might look so, but looks don't always equate with what's actually said. We have a "MeetUp" group in our city for those wishing to speak Italian over wine/coffee/gelato and my italian instructor, a native, used that very phrase (minus the 'io') when she was about to leave. I asked her about it, since i'd seen the verb 'andarsene' and she explained that it's a very common way to express that idea. So while "io vado" might look more efficient and understandable, it's not necessarily what a native would say, nor I suspect would it be thought of a 'contorted'. So use "io vado" if you find it easier, but realize you're not necessarily helping yourself learn 'real' italian.

[denisemelv1]

Thank you for your comments. Yes I suppose it seems easier in the early stages but mightn't equate to what is being used by native speakers. I just have to get used to the many twists in another language!

[Germanlehrerlsu]

denisemelv1: good luck! And keep it up. It does get easier!

[michaelsco318887]

According to google Translate:
Io ne vado = I'm leaving; Io me ne vado = I'm leaving; Me ne vado = I'm leaving
Without the "io" or the "me", it becomes: Ne vado = I'm going
So the significant word is the "ne".

I'm think an Italian would understand you to mean "I'm outta here --- like now!"

[Germanlehrerlsu]

michaelsco...My understanding of it is the same as yours. Good explanation.

[nic37750]

Io me ne vado... Ich mach mich davon...

[ThomasFAustria]

Austrian dialect: "I schleich mi"

[lisa97880]

Lessons like this make me want to give up. I am pulling my hair out now. Argh!!!!

[CodyClark19901]

Is the english translation reflective of the italian sentence? Could it be "I myself go away from it/here"?

[jaydejill]

Following

[arandaneri]

Any equivalent for "ne" in Spanish? Help!!! :)

[MichaelASm314026]

why not "io vado"?

[Wulfhild1]

You can translate it to german like: "ich entferne mich davon".

[peggy582366]

Hal is now in charge

[peggy582366]

But what is the need ( or is it hust fun or prefersnce with this sentence) KISS - keep it simple __

[Wulfhild1]

@jairemix,
for german speakers you can translate: ich entferne Mich Davon - me ne.

[Wulfhild1]

Or: ich mache Mich Davon

[DavidMoore126947]

Why not mi? If it's me as a direct or indirect object...

[triplecanopy]

Sto andando

[chickenbel]

Is this sentence polite? E.g., "Io me ne vado la città" when speaking to a concierge or taxi driver

[NigelForst]

Can't you just say 'sto andando'?

[Tracy863477]

ugh DUOLINGO WHY????

[NSpeaksC]

French has really helped me understand this, otherwise only knowing English would be pretty tough. In French it'd be Je m'en vais = I am going from here

[Zdenko15]

These clitics or whatever are Painful, i feel like jumped from beginner to expert qualified translator. It hurts

[MartinJeffree]

the notes of frustration below say it all. Buck your ideas up Duolingo and start teaching , humiliation helps no-one

[ashcronk]

cant i just say "io vado"?

[AndrewDost2]

Hi all, after much searching it would appear that the answer is simpler than we thought - the verb here is not andare, but andarsene, to go away.
The verb is fully conjugated here:
https://www.thoughtco.com/italian-verb-conjugations-andarsene-4083427
Io me ne vado is first person singular, present tense.

[EveGriffin3]

Oh Lord! Clitics are the very devil. I'd rather have Drupi saying 'Vado via' :)

[chris928950]

I think we should chill.
It looks weird but it's Italian not English.
Start with 'Io vado = i am going'
This weird 'ne' seems identical to the weird French 'en'and means 'of/from (something)'. Just gotta learn that!
The 'me' is for emphasis.
In the end it's: 'i am getting (going) myself from here'

[Helen525464]

I agree with all of the below. Infuriating and doesn't help me learn.

[maxntiger]

i was doing well until clitics and direct and indirect pronouns entered the scene. I've not found any useful instruction which has just made me frustrated and reluctant to continue.

[Anita388049]

Why does this mean the same as "io vado"?
I expected it to mean something more, I'm confused. All those extra uses of little words like ci, le, li, gli, lo are difficult enough without throwing curved balls like this!

[beSpc8]

I agree. The ne conceot was not taught nor was the reflexive verb concept yet taught in a previous question that I got correct th thanks to French verbs. Just what does "Clitics" mean?

[Il_Gruggo]

I don't understand the first thing in this lesson

[sportive4]

I didnt understand why there is a "ne" in this sentence. "Ne" has a negative meaning in italian language. Is this an idiom??

[Marnie557199]

Haha, I too was flummoxed by this one. Your comments reassured me AND made me laugh.

[xyphax]

Why not, I go into my house?
duo gave a hint for 'me' as 'into my house'?!

[Johndilio]

One more straight day and you will have a 666 day streak!!

[ryani182]

Surely, surely "Io sono vado" is so much simpler. Stupid clitics! Rant over.

[Germanlehrerlsu]

I think it should be: (Io) sto andando. Sono andando would mean "they're going". Aside from that, the original sentence strikes me as way too difficult a concept for most students except the very advanced.

[RaymondWil20]

I showed this sentence to my Italian teacher at Parliamo Italiano in NYC and d he wondered if marijuana was already legalized in the City. She could not believe the explanation

[heidi4793]

i agree. How to discourage people from learning basics. Are you just showing off?

[heidi4793]

I agree. How to discourage people from learning basics. Are you just showing off?