The term ne
We use ne (of it; of them; some) before a verb:
- To replace a noun preceded by del, dello, della, dei, etc. (of the; some).
– Vuoi del caffè? – Sì, grazie, ne vorrei. (→ Sì, grazie, vorrei del caffè).
–Do you want some coffee? –Yes, please, I would like some (of it). (→ Yes, please, I would like some coffee).
– Ha dell'insalata? – Sì, quanta ne vuole? (→ Sì, quanta insalata vuole?)
–Do you have salad? –Yes, how much (of it) do you want? (→ Yes, how much salad do you want?).
- To replace a noun preceded by an amount such as due, tre, etc. (two, three, etc.).
– Hai una macchina? – Sì, ne ho una. (→ Sì, ho una macchina).
–Do you have a car? –Yes, I have one. (→ Yes, I have a car).
- With verbs followed by di or da (these words often have no direct equivalent in English but can be used to mean “about”, “of”, “from”, etc.): ricordarsi di (to remember), parlare di (to talk about), sognare di (to dream of), trarre da (to deduce from), etc.:
Cosa pensi di questo film? → Cosa ne pensi?
What do you think of this film? → What do you think of it?.
– Ti ricordi di questa storia? – No, non me ne ricordo.
–Do you remember this story? → –No, I don't remember it.
Cosa trai da un comportamento del genere? → Non ne traggo nulla.
What do you deduce from that sort of behavior? → I don't deduce anything from it.
Some common expressions using ne:
Me ne vado.
I'm off.
Non ne posso più.
I'm fed up.
Non ne voglio sapere niente.
I don't want to know (anything about it).
Se ne vedono e se ne sentono di tutti i colori.
You see and hear of all kinds (of it/of them).
Ne sai una in più del diavolo!
You certainly know a thing or two (about it)! (literally: “You know one more thing about it than the Devil!”)
Notes:
- Ne can be added on to the end of a verb in the infinitive (standard) form to make a single word, doing away with the last vowel of the verb:
– Quante torte devo fare? – Devi farne tre.
–How many cakes do I have to make? –You have to make three (of them).
- Ne can be added on to the end of a verb in the imperative form to make a single word; in the case of da' (give) and fa' (do), there will then be two ns.
Hai caramelle? Danne due a Mattia.
Do you have sweets? Give two (of them) to Mattia.
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