Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

This lesson focuses on the verb "metterci," which expresses how much time someone takes to do something. Learn key phrases like "Io ci metto" (I take), "Tu ci metti" (you take), and questions such as "Quanto ci metti?" (How long do you take?).
Forma (Form)Esempio (Example)
Io ci mettoIo ci metto dieci minuti per prepararmi. (I take ten minutes to get ready.)
Tu ci mettiTu ci metti troppo tempo. (You take too long.)
Lui/ Lei ci metteLei ci mette poco a fare la valigia. (She takes little time to pack.)
Noi ci mettiamoNoi ci mettiamo mezz'ora. (We take half an hour.)
Voi ci metteteVoi ci mettete tanto tempo. (You take too long.)
Loro ci mettonoLoro ci mettono sempre un'ora. (They always take an hour.)
Quanto ci metti?Quanto ci metti a finire? (How long do you take to finish?)

Exercise 1: Il verbo metterci

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

ci metti, Ci mettete, Ci mette, ci mettiamo, ci metto, Ci metto, ci mettono

1. Io:
Per prepararmi, ... dieci minuti.
(It takes me ten minutes to get ready.)
2. Tu:
... troppo a prepararti per andare al mare.
(You take too long to get ready to go to the beach.)
3. Lei:
... poco a dimenticare qualcosa.
(It doesn't take long to forget something.)
4. Loro:
Per prepararsi bene, ... sempre tanto.
(They always take a long time to get ready.)
5. Lui:
... sempre troppo a fare la valigia.
(She always takes too long to pack.)
6. Noi:
A volte ... ore per fare tutto lo zaino.
(Sometimes it takes us hours to pack the whole backpack.)
7. Voi:
... molto tempo a scegliere la destinazione.
(You take a long time to choose the destination.)
8. Io:
... due minuti a trovare il caricatore.
(It takes me two minutes to find the charger.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that uses the verb 'metterci' to indicate how much time it takes to do something.

1.
Word order error: 'ci' must be placed after the subject and before the verb.
Wrong verb tense: the present indicative 'metto' must be used, not the past participle 'messo'.
2.
The order 'metti ci' is incorrect: 'ci' must precede the verb.
Incorrect use of the infinitive 'mettere' instead of the conjugated verb 'metti'.
3.
Spelling error in the verb: 'mettiamo' is spelled with two 't's.
Wrong position of 'ci': it must be before the verb.
4.
Verb agreement error: 'mette' is singular, it should be 'mettono'.
Incorrect position of 'ci': it must precede the verb.

Understanding the Verb "Metterci" in Italian

This lesson introduces the verb "metterci", which is used to express how much time someone takes to do something. Learning to use "metterci" correctly will help you describe durations and ask questions about time in everyday Italian conversations.

What Does "Metterci" Mean?

"Metterci" literally means to put oneself in the act of spending time, so it indicates the amount of time needed by a person to complete an action.

Conjugation of "Metterci" in Present Tense

Here is the present tense conjugation of "metterci" with examples to demonstrate the expression of time:

FormExample
Io ci mettoIo ci metto dieci minuti per prepararmi.
Tu ci mettiTu ci metti troppo tempo.
Lui/Lei ci metteLei ci mette poco a fare la valigia.
Noi ci mettiamoNoi ci mettiamo mezz'ora.
Voi ci metteteVoi ci mettete tanto tempo.
Loro ci mettonoLoro ci mettono sempre un'ora.
Quanto ci metti?Quanto ci metti a finire?

Key Vocabulary and Expressions

  • dieci minuti – ten minutes
  • troppo tempo – too much time
  • poco – little
  • mezz'ora – half an hour
  • tanto tempo – a lot of time
  • sempre – always
  • Quanto ci metti? – How long do you take?

Usage Tips

Use "metterci" followed by the amount of time to indicate the duration needed for an action. It can be used in statements and questions, like in the example "Quanto ci metti?" to ask how long someone takes.

Differences Between English and Italian Usage

In English, to express duration, verbs like "to take" are used: "I take ten minutes." In Italian, "metterci" literally includes the pronoun "ci" that stays fixed before the verb conjugation. This pronoun has no direct English equivalent but is essential in Italian grammar structure. The verb changes according to the subject, for example, "Io ci metto" (I take), "Loro ci mettono" (They take).

Example difference in phrase order: English - "I take ten minutes" vs. Italian - "Io ci metto dieci minuti" where "ci" is mandatory to convey the meaning properly.

Useful Phrases to Practice

  • Quanto ci metti a preparare la cena? – How long do you take to prepare dinner?
  • Noi ci mettiamo un'ora per arrivare. – We take an hour to arrive.
  • Loro ci mettono poco tempo per studiare. – They take little time to study.

Practice recognizing the position of "ci" before the conjugated form of "mettere" in different subjects to master this verb's usage.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 20:58