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Lesson 8 of 16

What Exists, What Happens and How Often

Describe places with c'è and ci sono, say what there is and is not, talk about frequency, and make adjectives agree with colours.

⏱ About 50 minutes 20 phrases 25 exercises

What you will learn

  • Use c'è and ci sono to describe what is in a place
  • Express absence with non c'è and non ci sono
  • Use tutto, qualcosa, niente, qualcuno
  • Talk about frequency: sempre, spesso, a volte, mai
  • Make adjectives agree in gender and number
  • Describe a room, street or town with colours

Quick review

Say these aloud before you start. They come from earlier lessons.

  • Mi piace la musica. I like music.
  • Ieri ho lavorato. Yesterday I worked.
  • Mi chiamo Marco. My name is Marco.
  • Voglio un caffè. I want a coffee.
  • Sono le tre. It is three o'clock.

Theory

c'è and ci sono: describing what exists

To say 'there is', Italian uses c'è (there is): C'è un bar qui. To say 'there are', use ci sono: Ci sono due ristoranti. Think of them as one fixed phrase — you do not translate 'there' word by word.

Negation is easy: non c'è (there is not), non ci sono (there are not). This pattern describes rooms, streets, towns and even people: Non c'è nessuno (there is nobody).

  • C'è un bar qui vicino. There is a bar nearby.
  • Ci sono molti turisti. There are many tourists.
  • Non c'è pane. There is no bread.

tutto, qualcosa, niente

These small words handle quantity and existence: tutto (everything), qualcosa (something), niente (nothing). With niente, Italian still uses the negative: Non ho niente (I have nothing).

For people: tutti (everyone), qualcuno (someone), nessuno (nobody) — again with a negative verb: Non vedo nessuno (I see nobody).

  • Ho tutto ciò che serve. I have everything I need.
  • Voglio mangiare qualcosa. I want to eat something.
  • Non c'è nessuno a casa. There is nobody at home.

Frequency: sempre, spesso, a volte, mai

Four words cover most frequency talk: sempre (always), spesso (often), a volte (sometimes), mai (never). They usually sit right after the verb: Vado spesso al cinema.

Mai needs a negative verb, exactly like niente and nessuno: Non vado mai in palestra (I never go to the gym).

  • Leggo sempre la sera. I always read in the evening.
  • A volte lavoro da casa. Sometimes I work from home.
  • Non guardo mai la televisione. I never watch television.
Scale of frequency adverbs from sempre to mai, with the example non bevo mai il caffè la sera.

Adjective agreement and colours

Adjectives change their ending to match the noun: -o for masculine singular, -a for feminine singular, -i for masculine plural, -e for feminine plural. Un bar piccolo, una casa piccola, due bar piccoli, due case piccole.

Colours behave like other adjectives, with two wrinkles. blu never changes: il cielo blu, le case blu. verde is invariable in the singular — il libro verde, la mela verde — but takes -i in the plural: i libri verdi, le mele verdi. rosso follows the noun fully: una macchina rossa.

  • La macchina rossa è bella. The red car is beautiful.
  • Gli occhi verdi sono rari. Green eyes are rare.
  • Il cielo è blu oggi. The sky is blue today.
Red Vespas illustrating agreement — il vestito rosso, la macchina rossa, i libri rossi, le scarpe rosse — plus the invariable colours blu, rosa and viola.
c'è and ci sono
singular plural
positive C'è un bar. Ci sono due bar.
negative Non c'è pane. Non ci sono panini.
question C'è un bagno? Ci sono camere libere?

One fixed phrase each — c'è for one, ci sono for more than one.

Adjective agreement (colours)
masculine feminine
singular il bar rosso la macchina rossa
plural i bar rossi le macchine rosse

rosso follows -o/-a/-i/-e. blu never changes. verde: verde (singular) → verdi (plural).

Vocabulary

Italian English Pronunciation Audio
c'è there is /ˈtʃɛ/ cheh
ci sono there are /tʃi ˈsono/ chee SOH-noh
tutto everything; all /ˈtutto/ TOOT-toh
qualcosa something /kwalˈkɔza/ kwahl-KOH-zah
niente nothing /ˈnjɛnte/ NYEHN-teh
qualcuno someone /kwalˈkuno/ kwahl-KOO-noh
nessuno nobody, no one /nesˈsuno/ nehs-SOO-noh
sempre always /ˈsɛmpre/ SEHM-preh
spesso often /ˈspɛsso/ SPEHS-soh
a volte sometimes /a ˈvɔlte/ ah VOHL-teh
mai ever; never (with non) /ˈmai/ MYE
rosso red /ˈrosso/ ROHS-soh
verde green /ˈverde/ VEHR-deh
blu blue /ˈblu/ BLOO
nero black /ˈnero/ NEH-roh
bianco white /ˈbjaŋko/ BYAHN-koh
giallo yellow /ˈdʒallo/ JAHL-loh
la stanza room /ˈstantsa/ STAHN-tsah
la via street /ˈvia/ VEE-ah
la città the city, the town /la tʃitˈta/ lah cheet-TAH
la cucina kitchen; cuisine /kuˈtʃina/ koo-CHEE-nah
il bagno bathroom /ˈbaɲɲo/ BAHN-yoh
il letto the bed /il ˈlɛtto/ eel LEHT-toh
il tavolo table /ˈtavolo/ TAH-voh-loh
la finestra the window /la fiˈnɛstra/ lah fee-NEH-strah
la porta the door /la ˈporta/ lah POHR-tah

Ready-to-use phrases

C'è un bar qui vicino?

Is there a bar nearby?

IPA /ˈtʃɛ um ˈbar kwi viˈtʃino/

Say it cheh oon BAR KWEE vee-CHEE-noh

neutral places questions

Ci sono due ristoranti in questa via.

There are two restaurants on this street.

IPA /tʃi ˈsono ˈdue ristoˈranti in ˈkwesta ˈvia/

Say it chee SOH-noh DOO-eh rees-toh-RAHN-tee in KWEH-stah VEE-ah

neutral places food

Non c'è pane.

There is no bread.

IPA /non ˈtʃɛ ˈpane/

Say it nohn cheh PAH-neh

neutral food negation

Non c'è nessuno a casa.

There is nobody at home.

IPA /non ˈtʃɛ nesˈsuno a ˈkasa/

Say it nohn cheh nehs-SOO-noh ah KAH-zah

neutral negation people

C'è qualcuno qui?

Is there anyone here?

IPA /ˈtʃɛ kwalˈkuno ˈkwi/

Say it cheh kwahl-KOO-noh KWEE

neutral questions people

Ho tutto ciò che serve.

I have everything I need.

IPA /o ˈtutto tʃɔ ke ˈserve/

Say it oh TOOT-toh choh keh SEHR-veh

neutral quantity

Voglio mangiare qualcosa.

I want to eat something.

IPA /ˈvɔʎʎo manˈdʒare kwalˈkɔza/

Say it VOH-lyoh mahn-JAH-reh kwahl-KOH-zah

neutral food quantity

Non ho niente da fare.

I have nothing to do.

IPA /non o ˈnjɛnte da ˈfare/

Say it nohn oh NYEHN-teh dah FAH-reh

Double negative is normal: non + niente.

neutral quantity negation

Leggo sempre la sera.

I always read in the evening.

IPA /ˈlɛɡɡo ˈsɛmpre la ˈsera/

Say it LEH-goh SEHM-preh lah SEH-rah

neutral frequency daily routine

Vado spesso al cinema.

I often go to the cinema.

IPA /ˈvado ˈspɛsso al ˈtʃinema/

Say it VAH-doh SPEHS-soh ahl CHEE-neh-mah

al = a + il.

neutral frequency free time

A volte lavoro da casa.

Sometimes I work from home.

IPA /a ˈvɔlte laˈvoro da ˈkasa/

Say it ah VOHL-teh lah-VOH-roh dah KAH-zah

neutral frequency work

Non guardo mai la televisione.

I never watch television.

IPA /non ˈɡwardo mai la televiˈzjone/

Say it nohn GWAHR-doh MY lah teh-leh-vee-ZYOH-neh

mai needs non: non ... mai.

neutral frequency negation

La mia macchina è rossa.

My car is red.

IPA /la ˈmia ˈmakkina ɛ ˈrossa/

Say it lah MEE-ah MAHK-kee-nah eh ROHS-sah

neutral colours possessives

Il cielo è blu oggi.

The sky is blue today.

IPA /il ˈtʃɛlo ɛ ˈblu ˈɔddʒi/

Say it eel CHYEH-loh eh BLOO OH-jee

blu never changes.

neutral colours weather

La casa è piccola ma bella.

The house is small but beautiful.

IPA /la ˈkasa ɛ ˈpikkola ma ˈbɛlla/

Say it lah KAH-zah eh PEEK-koh-lah mah BEHL-lah

piccola and bella agree with casa.

neutral descriptions

In cucina c'è un tavolo bianco.

In the kitchen there is a white table.

IPA /in kuˈtʃina ˈtʃɛ um ˈtavolo ˈbjaŋko/

Say it in koo-CHEE-nah cheh oon TAH-voh-loh BYAHN-koh

neutral places colours

Quanti anni hai? Ho vent'anni.

How old are you? I am twenty.

IPA /ˈkwanti ˈanni ai o venˈtanni/

Say it KWAHN-tee AH-nee eye oh vehn-TAHN-nee

informal age

C'è un problema con la porta.

There is a problem with the door.

IPA /ˈtʃɛ um proˈblɛma kon la ˈpɔrta/

Say it cheh oon proh-BLEH-mah kohn lah POR-tah

il problema — masculine despite the -a ending.

neutral problems

Qui non c'è nessun problema.

There is no problem here.

IPA /ˈkwi non ˈtʃɛ nesˈsum proˈblɛma/

Say it KWEE nohn cheh nehs-SOOM proh-BLEH-mah

nessun before a masculine noun.

neutral problems negation

Ci sono molte cose da vedere.

There are many things to see.

IPA /tʃi ˈsono ˈmolte ˈkɔze da veˈdere/

Say it chee SOH-noh MOHL-teh KOH-zeh dah veh-DEH-reh

neutral travel places

Dialogues

Looking for a bar

Tom asks about the neighbourhood.

  1. Tom

    Scusa, c'è un bar qui vicino?

    Excuse me, is there a bar nearby?

  2. Signora

    Sì, in questa via. Ci sono due bar.

    Yes, on this street. There are two bars.

  3. Tom

    E c'è un ristorante italiano?

    And is there an Italian restaurant?

  4. Signora

    Non qui. Ma c'è una pizzeria molto buona.

    Not here. But there is a very good pizzeria.

  5. Tom

    Perfetto! È aperta sempre?

    Perfect! Is it always open?

  6. Signora

    A volte chiude il lunedì.

    Sometimes it closes on Mondays.

Describing the new flat

Sara shows her flat to a friend on video call.

  1. Sara

    Questa è la mia nuova casa!

    This is my new home!

  2. Leo

    È bella! Che stanze ci sono?

    It is beautiful! Which rooms are there?

  3. Sara

    C'è una grande cucina e due camere.

    There is a big kitchen and two bedrooms.

  4. Leo

    E il bagno?

    And the bathroom?

  5. Sara

    C'è anche il bagno, con una finestra piccola.

    There is also the bathroom, with a small window.

  6. Leo

    C'è un problema?

    Is there a problem?

  7. Sara

    No, non c'è nessun problema. Mi piace molto!

    No, there is no problem at all. I love it!

Exercises

Multiple Choice Exercise 1

Choose the correct expression.

___ un bar qui vicino.
Multiple Choice Exercise 2

Choose the correct expression.

___ due ristoranti in questa via.
Fill Gap Exercise 3

Fill the gap.

Non ___ pane. (there is no bread)
Fill Gap Exercise 4

Fill the gap with the correct word.

Non c'è ___ a casa. (nobody)
Fill Gap Exercise 5

Fill the gap with the correct word.

Non ho ___ da fare. (nothing)
Multiple Choice Exercise 6

Choose the correct adverb.

Leggo ___ la sera. (always)
Multiple Choice Exercise 7

Choose the correct adverb.

Non guardo ___ la televisione. (never)
Translate To Italian Exercise 8

Translate into Italian.

There is a bar nearby.
Translate To Italian Exercise 9

Translate into Italian. (many = molti)

There are many tourists.
Translate To Italian Exercise 10

Translate into Italian.

I have nothing to do.
Translate To Italian Exercise 11

Translate into Italian.

I never watch television.
Translate To English Exercise 12

Translate into English.

Non c'è nessuno a casa.
Translate To English Exercise 13

Translate into English.

A volte lavoro da casa.
Article Choice Exercise 14

Choose the correct form of rosso.

La macchina ___ (red, feminine singular)
Article Choice Exercise 15

Choose the correct form of bianco.

I tavoli ___ (white, masculine plural)
Word Order Exercise 16

Tap the words in the correct order.

Build the sentence: In the kitchen there is a white table.
Match Pairs Exercise 17

Tap an adverb, then its English.

Match each Italian adverb to its meaning.
Match Pairs Exercise 18

Tap a colour, then its Italian word.

Match each colour to its Italian.
True False Exercise 19

True or false?

C'è is used for more than one thing.
True False Exercise 20

True or false?

Non ho niente uses a double negative, and that is correct Italian.
Listen And Type Exercise 21

Play the audio, then type exactly what you hear.

Listen and write the Italian sentence.
Listen And Choose Exercise 22

Play the audio, then pick the sentence.

Listen and choose the sentence you hear.
Sentence Transform Exercise 23

Rewrite with sempre.

Change: Non guardo mai la televisione. (Make it positive with sempre)
Flashcard Self Rating Exercise 24

Say the sentence aloud, then reveal and rate yourself.

C'è un problema con la porta.
Flashcard Self Rating Exercise 25

Say the sentence aloud, then reveal and rate yourself.

La mia macchina è rossa.

Speak now

Describe your kitchen aloud using c'è/ci sono, then your street, then say three true sentences about how often you do everyday things.

  • In cucina c'è un tavolo bianco. In the kitchen there is a white table.
  • In questa via ci sono due ristoranti. On this street there are two restaurants.
  • Non c'è nessuno a casa. There is nobody at home.
  • Leggo sempre la sera. I always read in the evening.
  • Non guardo mai la televisione. I never watch television.

Lesson checkpoint

Before you move on, make sure you can do all of this without looking:

  1. Describe a room with c'è and ci sono
  2. Say there is nobody/nothing with the correct double negative
  3. Use sempre, spesso, a volte and mai with mai's double negative
  4. Make adjectives and colours agree
  5. Ask if there is a place nearby

Remember this

  • c'è = there is (singular); ci sono = there are (plural); non c'è / non ci sono for absence.
  • niente, nessuno and mai all require non: Non ho niente, Non c'è nessuno, Non vado mai.
  • Frequency: sempre, spesso, a volte, mai — right after the verb.
  • Adjectives agree: -o/-a/-i/-e; blu is invariable, verde is invariable in the singular but verdi in the plural.
  • Tutto/qualcosa for things, tutti/qualcuno for people.

Go deeper: c'è and ci sono · Adjective agreement · Negation · Articles