Italian 103 · Lesson 25
C’è and Ci Sono
Say what is available and ask whether something exists nearby.
Begin ↓01 / 08
There is one
C’è un supermercato qui vicino.
cheh oon soo-pehr-mehr-KAH-toh
There’s a supermarket nearby.
C’è tells someone a thing exists or is present. It is different from è, which describes a thing already identified.
02 / 08
There are several
Ci sono molti ristoranti.
There are many restaurants.
Ci sono due tavoli liberi.
There are two free tables.
Use ci sono with plural things. The same idea applies to tables, shops, people and problems.
03 / 08
Ask what is available
C’è un bagno?
Is there a bathroom?
Ci sono posti liberi?
Are there any seats available?
The word order stays the same in a yes/no question. Your voice rises to show you are asking.
04 / 08
Say there is not
Non c’è problema.
There’s no problem.
Non ci sono autobus.
There are no buses.
Non comes before c’è or ci sono. Keep the apostrophe and accent in c’è.
05 / 08
Exists or is located?
C’è una farmacia in questa via.
There’s a pharmacy on this street.
La farmacia è accanto al bar.
The pharmacy is next to the café.
C’è introduces something; è locates something you are already talking about. English has a similar contrast.
06 / 08
Ask about a place
C’è un bancomat qui vicino?
Is there an ATM nearby?
Add a location at the end. Qui vicino is a useful chunk meaning nearby.
07 / 08
At a restaurant
C’è un tavolo per due?
Is there a table for two?
Sì, c’è un tavolo fuori.
Yes, there’s a table outside.
Notice the shift from a general availability question to a specific table.
Remember this
Takeaway
C’è un bar. È di fronte alla stazione.
There’s a café. It’s opposite the station.
One thing: c’è. Several things: ci sono. Once the thing is known, use è or sono to locate it.