Introduction to the pronoun -> ne

Introduction to the pronoun, ne

Introduction to the pronoun -> ne Ltblbar2

The pronoun ne can be confusing to English speakers, but it
is not difficult to understand once you know how it works. After learning these
rules, try to work it into your Italian. Practice using it in your writing and
speaking so that it becomes second nature to you. So the basics...

Ne has the following functions:

Introduction to the pronoun -> ne Glitterline-03

Introduction to the pronoun -> ne Glitterline-03

1. Ne is used to replace partitive
constructions. Consider it a way to avoid repeating the same
thing over again. See the example below:

Vuoi del latte?
Do you want some milk?

No, non ne voglio. (ne = del latte)
No, I do not want any (of it).

As you can see in the example, del latte (some milk) is replaced with
the preposition ne which translates in English as any (of it).

Think of ne as a special object pronounfor
the partitive.

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2. When the partitive is
modified by an adjective, only the noun is replaced by ne, and the
adjective follows the preposition, di:

Vuoi del latte fresco?
Do you want some fresh milk?

Sì, grazie! Ne vorrei di fresco. (ne = del latte)
Yes, thank you! I would like some (of the fresh stuff).

Hai visto dei film interessanti?
Have you seen any interesting films?

Sì, ne ho visti di interessanti.
Yes, I have seen some interesting ones.

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3. Ne is used to substitute
nouns when numbers and quatities (definite* or indefinite**) are
involved. The rule is this: When the direct object is missing in the
presence of a definite or indefinite quantity, the ne must be used.

See the examples below:

Would you like two apples?
Vorresti due mele?

Yes, thank you! I would like two (of them).
Si, grazie! Ne vorrei due.

How magazines did you receive?
Quanti riviste hai ricevuto?

I received three (of them).
Ne ho ricevute tre. (ne = tre riviste)

I have a lot of candy. Want some?
Ho molti dolci. Ne vuoi? (ne = molti dolci)

She always buys too many apples. Why does she buy so many of them?
Compra sempre troppe mele. Perché ne compra troppe? (ne = troppe mele)

It should be noted that the past participle must agree in gender/number with
the object which 'ne' has replaced. In second example above, ne replaced
'magazines' (le riviste) causing the past participle to become ricevute
(ricevuto/a, ricevuti/e).

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4. Ne replaces prepositional
phrases introduced by the preposition, di.

Did you write about the controversy
Hai scritto della polemica?

Yes, I wrote about it.
Si, ne ho scritto. (ne = della polemica)

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5. Ne can also be used to
substitute prepositional phrases introduced by da, but only when it the
phrase represents motion from a place. Ne normally does not replace
the agent in passive sentences (introduced by da).

Il cane ha corso nella stanza da letto, ma ne è uscito subito. (ne = dalla
stanza da letto).
The dog ran into the room, but he went out immdiately.

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6. Ne can also be used with
verbs that use the preposition, da, such as:

ottenere da
Conoscevi Gino oggi?
Si, comunque non ne ho ottenuto nulla. (ne = da Gino, da lui)

You met Gino today?
Yes, however I did not obtain anything from him.

ricavare da
trarre da
risultare da
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7 - Ne influences
the past participle in compound tenses in certain situations, while in
others it does not:

-Ne does not influence the past participle to change when
replacing prepositional phrases (see section #4).

-Ne does influence the past participle when it replaces a number or an
indefinite quantity, where the past participle agrees in gender and number with
the noun substituted for with ne:

Ho comprato tre mele.
Ne ho comprate tre.

-If the quantity is indicated by another noun (etto, chilo, pacco, cesto,
tazza, sacco) the past participle agrees with the quantity noun:

Quante mele hai comprato al supermercato?
Ne ho comprato un etto. (see how the past
participle agrees with etto and not le mele)

-With reflexive verbs, the past participle agrees with the object replaced by ne
and not with the subject (remember, that with reflexive verbs, si becomes
se before ne):

Giovanna si è comprata tre gonne.
Giovanna se ne è comprate tre.

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