The verb metterci

What does metterci mean?

• metterci = “to take (time)”
• We use it to say how long a person needs to do something.

Think in English:

• I take 10 minutes to get ready.
• She takes half an hour to pack.

In Italian with metterci:

• Io ci metto 10 minuti per prepararmi.
• Lei ci mette mezz’ora per fare la valigia.

The basic structure: where does ci go?

The pattern is always:

• SOGGETTO + ci + forma di “mettere” + tempo + per / a + azione

For example:

• Io ci metto dieci minuti per prepararmi.
• Noi ci mettiamo mezz’ora a leggere il contratto.

Important:

• “ci” must stay immediately before the verb (metto, metti, mette…).
• Do not say io metto ci, noi mettiamo ci, etc.

Present tense forms you actually need

• Check the double tt: metto, metti, mettiamo, mettete, mettono.
• Only io and loro change the ending vowel (o / ono), others use -i, -e, -iamo, -ete.

How to talk about the action: per vs a

After the time, you normally have the action:

• per + noun
• a + infinitive (dictionary form of the verb)

Common patterns:

• per + noun
  • Ci metto un’ora per la spesa. (for the shopping)
  • Ci mettiamo poco per il check-in.
• a + infinitive
  • Ci metto mezz’ora a prepararmi.
  • Ci mettono dieci minuti a leggere il contratto.

Rule of thumb:

• If the action is a verb → use a + infinitive.
• If the action is a thing / activity word → use per + noun.

How to ask “How long…?” with metterci

Use this question pattern:

• Quanto + ci + forma di “mettere” + a + infinitive…?

Examples:

• Quanto ci metti a preparare la valigia?
• Quanto ci mettete ad arrivare in ufficio?
• Quanto ci mette tua moglie a prepararsi la mattina?

Common mistakes to avoid:

• Quanto metti ci…? → Quanto ci metti…?
• Quanto ci mettere…? → Quanto ci metti…? (no infinitive)

Typical mistakes and how to self‑check

• 1. Wrong word order
  • Io metto ci 10 minuti ❌
  • Io ci metto 10 minuti ✔
• 2. Using the infinitive instead of the present
  • Quanto ci mettere a finire? ❌
  • Quanto ci metti a finire? ✔
• 3. Missing the double “t”
  • ci metamo ❌ → ci mettiamo ✔
  • ci metete ❌ → ci mettete ✔
• 4. Confusing metterci with other forms
  • mi metto = I put on / I start (reflexive), not about duration.
  • For time, you need ci metto, ci metti…

Quick self‑check:

1. Do I have a person as subject? (io, tu, Maria, noi…)
2. Do I put “ci” immediately after the subject?
3. Is “mettere” conjugated correctly? (metto/metti/mette…)
4. Do I say how long? (10 minuti, mezz’ora, poco…)
5. Do I add the action with per + noun or a + infinitive?

Compare with English to remember

You can mentally replace “I take…” with “Io ci metto…” when you speak Italian.

Mini practice: can you build these?

Try to say these in Italian (then check with the patterns above):

1. I take 15 minutes to get dressed.
2. They take very little time to read emails.
3. How long do you take to arrive at the office?

Hints:

• vestirsi = to get dressed → a vestirmi / a vestirti
• arrivare in ufficio → ad arrivare in ufficio

If you can build these sentences alone, you have understood metterci at this level.