C’è or ci sono? Italian exercises

A free A1 (beginner) Italian exercise on C’è / ci sono (there is / there are): 60 multiple choice questions in 4 sets, from core practice to a mixed review, each with the answer and a short explanation. Or take a random round of 10. No account needed.

The rule in brief

To say "there is" and "there are", Italian uses ci + the verb essere. C’è (short for ci è) goes with a singular noun; ci sono goes with a plural noun. The verb agrees with the thing that exists, which often comes after it: in classe ci sono venti studenti.

Uncountable nouns such as latte, pane or tempo are singular, so they take c’è: c’è ancora latte? People and specific things work the same way: c’è Marco? means "is Marco there?" or "is Marco in?".

For a question, keep the same word order and just raise your voice (or add a question mark): c’è un bar qui vicino? For the negative, put non in front: non c’è tempo, non ci sono negozi. Nessuno ("nobody") and niente ("nothing") are singular, so they take c’è: non c’è nessuno.

	Singular	Plural
Statement	c’è un parco	ci sono due parchi
Question	c’è un parco?	ci sono parchi?
Negative	non c’è un parco	non ci sono parchi

Nel mio quartiere c’è una piscina. · There’s a swimming pool in my neighbourhood.
Al mercato ci sono molte persone. · There are lots of people at the market.

Exercises · 60 questions in 4 sets

Choose c’è or ci sono to complete each sentence.

Set 1 · Core practice

1
Nel frigorifero due bottiglie d’acqua.
There are two bottles of water in the fridge.
Show answer
ci sono · Bottiglie is plural, so you need ci sono.
2
un bar qui vicino?
Is there a café near here?
Show answer
C’è · Un bar is singular, so the question starts with c’è.
3
In questa via non negozi.
There are no shops on this street.
Show answer
ci sono · Negozi is plural, so the negative is non ci sono.
4
Scusi, una farmacia aperta la domenica?
Excuse me, is there a chemist’s open on Sundays?
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c’è · Una farmacia is singular, so it takes c’è.
5
Nella mia classe dodici studenti.
There are twelve students in my class.
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ci sono · Dodici studenti is plural, so it takes ci sono.
6
Oggi il sole, andiamo al parco!
It’s sunny today, let’s go to the park!
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c’è · Il sole is singular, so it takes c’è. Italian says "there is the sun" where English says "it’s sunny".
7
molti turisti a Venezia in agosto.
There are lots of tourists in Venice in August.
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Ci sono · Turisti is plural, so it takes ci sono, even though it comes after the verb.
8
Mamma, ancora latte nel frigo?
Mum, is there any milk left in the fridge?
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c’è · Latte is uncountable and therefore singular, so it takes c’è.
9
Sul tavolo le chiavi di Paolo.
Paolo’s keys are on the table.
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ci sono · Le chiavi is plural, so it takes ci sono, even with a definite article.
10
Pronto, Giulia?
Hello, is Giulia there?
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c’è · Asking whether one person is in or available uses c’è: c’è Giulia?
11
Sono le nove e in ufficio non nessuno.
It’s nine o’clock and there’s nobody in the office.
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c’è · Nessuno is grammatically singular, so it takes c’è: non c’è nessuno.
12
Quante persone alla festa?
How many people are there at the party?
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ci sono · Quante persone asks about a plural number of people, so it takes ci sono.
13
Nel centro storico una chiesa molto antica.
There’s a very old church in the historic centre.
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c’è · Una chiesa is singular, so it takes c’è.
14
A casa mia tre camere da letto.
There are three bedrooms in my house.
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ci sono · Tre camere is plural, so it takes ci sono.
15
Stasera in TV un bel film.
There’s a good film on TV tonight.
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c’è · Un film is singular, so it takes c’è.

15 questions.

Set 2 · More practice

16
In piazza un mercato ogni martedì.
There’s a market in the square every Tuesday.
Show answer
c’è · Un mercato is singular, so it takes c’è.
17
Nel mio quartiere due supermercati.
There are two supermarkets in my neighbourhood.
Show answer
ci sono · Due supermercati is plural, so it takes ci sono.
18
Scusi, un bagno qui?
Excuse me, is there a toilet here?
Show answer
c’è · Un bagno is singular, so the question uses c’è.
19
Sulla scrivania molti libri di Giulia.
There are lots of Giulia’s books on the desk.
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ci sono · Molti libri is plural, so it takes ci sono.
20
un treno per Milano alle dieci?
Is there a train to Milan at ten?
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C’è · Un treno is singular, so the question starts with c’è.
21
In questo albergo cinquanta camere.
There are fifty rooms in this hotel.
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ci sono · Cinquanta camere is plural, so it takes ci sono.
22
Il pomeriggio nel parco tanti bambini.
In the afternoon there are lots of children in the park.
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ci sono · Tanti bambini is plural, so it takes ci sono.
23
Davanti alla scuola una fermata dell’autobus.
There’s a bus stop in front of the school.
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c’è · Una fermata is singular, so it takes c’è.
24
Al primo piano due bagni.
There are two bathrooms on the first floor.
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ci sono · Due bagni is plural, so it takes ci sono.
25
Nel mio paese non un cinema.
There isn’t a cinema in my village.
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c’è · Un cinema is singular, so the negative is non c’è.
26
molti ristoranti in questa zona?
Are there many restaurants in this area?
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Ci sono · Molti ristoranti is plural, so the question starts with ci sono.
27
Oggi lezione di italiano?
Is there an Italian lesson today?
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c’è · Lezione is singular, so it takes c’è.
28
In biblioteca tanti studenti stranieri.
There are lots of foreign students in the library.
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ci sono · Tanti studenti is plural, so it takes ci sono.
29
Vicino alla stazione un albergo economico.
There’s a cheap hotel near the station.
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c’è · Un albergo is singular, so it takes c’è.
30
D’estate sulla spiaggia molti ombrelloni.
In summer there are lots of beach umbrellas on the beach.
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ci sono · Molti ombrelloni is plural, so it takes ci sono.

15 questions.

Set 3 · Trickier cases

31
Al concerto molta gente.
There are lots of people at the concert.
Show answer
c’è · Gente means "people" but is grammatically singular in Italian (molta, not molte), so it takes c’è.
32
Nella borsa le chiavi e il telefono.
The keys and the phone are in the bag.
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ci sono · Le chiavi is plural and the list names two things, so you need ci sono.
33
Ho fame, ma in casa non niente da mangiare.
I’m hungry, but there’s nothing to eat in the house.
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c’è · Niente is grammatically singular, so it takes c’è: non c’è niente.
34
Buongiorno, il signor Rossi?
Good morning, is Mr Rossi in?
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c’è · Asking whether one person is in or available uses c’è.
35
Alla cena di stasera anche Marco e Lucia.
Marco and Lucia will be at dinner tonight too.
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ci sono · Marco e Lucia are two people, so the verb is plural: ci sono.
36
Mi dispiace, sul treno delle otto non più posti.
I’m sorry, there are no seats left on the eight o’clock train.
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ci sono · Posti is plural, so the negative is non ci sono.
37
Oggi non tempo per il pranzo.
There’s no time for lunch today.
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c’è · Tempo is uncountable and therefore singular, so it takes c’è.
38
In questa città troppo traffico.
There’s too much traffic in this city.
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c’è · Traffico is uncountable and therefore singular, so it takes c’è.
39
Sul tavolo ancora un po’ di pane.
There’s still a bit of bread on the table.
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c’è · Pane is uncountable and therefore singular, so it takes c’è, even with un po’ di.
40
Quante fermate fino al centro?
How many stops are there to the centre?
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ci sono · Quante fermate asks about a plural number, so it takes ci sono.
41
Oggi al mercato frutta molto buona.
There’s some very good fruit at the market today.
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c’è · Frutta is a singular, uncountable noun in Italian (buona, not buone), so it takes c’è.
42
Non problemi, ti aiuto io.
No problem, I’ll help you.
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ci sono · Problemi is plural, so it takes ci sono. With the singular, Italians say non c’è problema.
43
Domenica allo stadio la partita della Roma.
On Sunday there’s the Roma match at the stadium.
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c’è · La partita is singular, so it takes c’è.
44
Dietro la casa un giardino con tanti fiori.
Behind the house there’s a garden with lots of flowers.
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c’è · The thing that exists is un giardino, which is singular. Tanti fiori only describes the garden, so the verb is c’è.
45
Scusi, qualcuno alla cassa?
Excuse me, is there anyone at the till?
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c’è · Qualcuno ("someone, anyone") is grammatically singular, so it takes c’è.

15 questions.

Set 4 · Mixed review

46
Scusi, un bancomat in questa strada?
Excuse me, is there a cash machine on this street?
Show answer
c’è · Un bancomat is singular, so the question uses c’è.
47
In autunno al mare meno turisti.
In autumn there are fewer tourists at the seaside.
Show answer
ci sono · Turisti is plural, so it takes ci sono.
48
La domenica a casa dei nonni sempre tanta gente.
On Sundays there are always lots of people at my grandparents’ house.
Show answer
c’è · Gente is grammatically singular (tanta, not tante), so it takes c’è.
49
Vicino all’ufficio due bar e una pizzeria.
Near the office there are two cafés and a pizzeria.
Show answer
ci sono · Two cafés and a pizzeria are several places, and the first noun, due bar, is already plural, so it takes ci sono.
50
Mamma, qualcosa da bere?
Mum, is there anything to drink?
Show answer
c’è · Qualcosa ("something, anything") is grammatically singular, so it takes c’è.
51
Nel mio telefono non foto delle vacanze.
There are no holiday photos on my phone.
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ci sono · Foto does not change in the plural, but here it means several photos, so the negative is non ci sono.
52
Domani uno sciopero dei treni.
There’s a train strike tomorrow.
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c’è · Uno sciopero is singular, so it takes c’è. Dei treni only says what kind of strike it is.
53
Nel palazzo di fronte un ascensore molto vecchio.
There’s a very old lift in the building opposite.
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c’è · Un ascensore is singular, so it takes c’è.
54
Pronto, i tuoi genitori? Vorrei parlare con loro.
Hello, are your parents there? I’d like to speak to them.
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ci sono · Asking whether people are in works like c’è Giulia?, but i tuoi genitori is plural, so it takes ci sono.
55
Il lunedì in questo ristorante sempre posto.
On Mondays there’s always room in this restaurant.
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c’è · Posto here means "room, space" and is singular, so it takes c’è.
56
Nella mia città tre musei e un teatro romano.
In my town there are three museums and a Roman theatre.
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ci sono · Three museums and a theatre are several things, and the first noun, tre musei, is plural, so it takes ci sono.
57
Scusi, a che ora l’ultimo autobus?
Excuse me, what time is the last bus?
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c’è · L’ultimo autobus is singular, so it takes c’è.
58
Nell’armadio le tue camicie pulite.
Your clean shirts are in the wardrobe.
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ci sono · Le camicie is plural, so it takes ci sono.
59
Ragazzi, per domani non compiti!
Kids, there’s no homework for tomorrow!
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ci sono · Compiti is plural in Italian, even though English "homework" is uncountable, so it takes ci sono.
60
In questo periodo in ufficio poco lavoro.
At the moment there isn’t much work at the office.
Show answer
c’è · Lavoro is uncountable here and therefore singular, so it takes c’è.

15 questions.

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The rule in brief

Exercises · 60 questions in 4 sets

Set 1 · Core practice

Set 2 · More practice

Set 3 · Trickier cases

Set 4 · Mixed review

Random 10

Learn it in the free course

More A1 Italian exercises