Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to use the Italian expressions "c'è" (there is) and "ci sono" (there are) to indicate the presence of singular and plural nouns, such as "c'è un bagno" and "ci sono due finestre" in everyday contexts.
  1. Use 'c'è' for the singular and 'ci sono' for the plural.
Numero (Number)Genere (Gender)Esempio (Example)
C'èMaschile (Masculine)C'è un bagno in casa. (There is a bathroom in the house.)
Femminile (Feminine)C'è una finestra. (There is a window.)
Ci sonoMaschile (Masculine)Ci sono due bagni in casa. (There are two bathrooms in the house.)
Femminile (Feminine)Ci sono due finestre. (There are two windows.)

Exercise 1: L'uso di 'c'è' e 'ci sono'

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

c'è, ci sono

1.
Nel salotto ... una grande finestra.
(In the living room, there is a large window.)
2.
In questa casa ... tre camere da letto.
(In this house there are three bedrooms.)
3.
Nel bagno ... uno specchio sopra il lavandino.
(In the bathroom there is a mirror above the sink.)
4.
In cucina ... piatti e bicchieri.
(In the kitchen there are plates and glasses.)
5.
Nel corridoio ... un armadio piccolo.
(In the hallway there is a small cupboard.)
6.
Non ... corridoi in questa casa.
(There are no corridors in this house.)
7.
Sul balcone ... una pianta verde.
(There is a green plant on the balcony.)
8.
Nel giardino ... tanti fiori.
(In the garden, there are many flowers.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ un grande salotto al primo piano.

(___ a large living room on the first floor.)

2. ___ due camere da letto con vista sul giardino.

(___ two bedrooms overlooking the garden.)

3. In cucina ___ un frigorifero nuovo.

(In the kitchen ___ a new refrigerator.)

4. Nel corridoio ___ tre porte.

(In the corridor ___ three doors.)

5. ___ una finestra nella stanza da letto.

(___ a window in the bedroom.)

6. ___ molti armadi nel guardaroba.

(___ many closets in the wardrobe.)

Understanding the Use of 'c'è' and 'ci sono'

This lesson focuses on the Italian expressions 'c'è' and 'ci sono', essential for indicating the presence of objects, people, or events in a particular place or context. These phrases translate roughly to "there is" and "there are" in English and are fundamental for describing surroundings and situations in everyday conversations.

Plural and Singular Forms

c'è is used to talk about a single item or person, while ci sono is used when referring to multiple items or people. It's important to match these expressions with the correct number to communicate clearly.

Gender Considerations

In Italian, nouns have gender (masculine or feminine), but 'c'è' and 'ci sono' do not change according to gender. They remain the same whether describing masculine or feminine nouns.

Examples

  • C'è un bagno in casa. (There is one bathroom in the house.)
  • C'è una finestra. (There is one window.)
  • Ci sono due bagni in casa. (There are two bathrooms in the house.)
  • Ci sono due finestre. (There are two windows.)

Usage Tips

Use 'c'è' when referring to a singular object or person and 'ci sono' for plural ones. These expressions are very useful for giving descriptions, listing what is present in a place, or mentioning upcoming events.

Important Notes on Differences with English

In English, "there is" and "there are" change depending on singular or plural similarly, but Italian uses fixed expressions 'c'è' (there is) and 'ci sono' (there are). Unlike English, Italian always includes the particle ci to mark existence or presence. Also, Italian does not have a neutral gender, so the gender of the noun affects articles and adjectives around the noun but doesn't change 'c'è' or 'ci sono'.

Useful Phrases

  • C'è un parcheggio vicino. — There is a parking lot nearby.
  • Ci sono molti negozi in centro. — There are many shops downtown.
  • C'è una festa stasera. — There is a party tonight.
  • Ci sono tre studenti in classe. — There are three students in the classroom.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 21:02