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←A2 - Tappa 8 · Everyday choices

The particle ne

Use ne to replace an amount or a phrase introduced by di.

Ne and quantities

Ne replaces a noun already understood when you say how much or how many. It often corresponds to “of it” or “of them”, but English usually leaves those words out. Put ne before a conjugated verb. Keep the number or quantity in the answer: «Hai delle mele? Ne ho tre.» Do not repeat «mele» unless you need to clarify the meaning.

With zero, use «non ne ho». With a partitive amount, use «ne vorrei un po’». The number tells the listener how many items you mean.

  • Hai delle mele? Sì, ne ho tre.· Do you have any apples? Yes, I have three.
  • Quanti biglietti compri? Ne compro due.· How many tickets are you buying? I am buying two.
  • Vuoi del pane? Sì, ne vorrei un po’.· Do you want some bread? Yes, I would like a little.
  • Hai ancora del latte? No, non ne ho.· Do you still have any milk? No, I do not.

Ne for di and its position

Ne can also replace «di + a thing» when the thing has already been named: «Parliamo del viaggio? Sì, ne parliamo.» This is different from a direct object pronoun: «lo compro» means “I buy it”, while «ne compro due» means “I buy two of them”.

With a modal verb and an infinitive, ne can stand before the modal or attach to the infinitive: «Ne voglio comprare due» and «Voglio comprarne due». In this Tappa, use the form that is clearest to you.

  • Parliamo del viaggio? Sì, ne parliamo.· Shall we talk about the trip? Yes, let us talk about it.
  • Quante arance vuoi? Ne voglio quattro.· How many oranges do you want? I want four.
  • Voglio comprarne quattro.· I want to buy four of them.
  • Compro il pane. Lo compro oggi. / Ne compro un chilo.· I buy the bread. I buy it today. / I buy a kilogram of it.

In context

The words of this lesson in sentences from other A2 lessons.