30

The partitive

The partitive — that is, the idea of “some” or “any” — may be either implied in Italian (as in English), or expressed in the following ways.

Before a noun, “some” or “any” is frequently expressed by di plus the definite article.

Compro del pane. – I am buying (some) bread.

“Some” or “any” may also be expressed before a noun by qualche or alcuno. These two words, though, have the restrictive idea of “a few.”

Ho qualche amico. – I have some (a few) friends.

Ho qualche lira. – I have a few lire.

Carlo è con alcuni amici. – Charles is with some friends.

REMEMBER: Qualche is invariable (it does not change to agree in gender and number) and is always followed by a singular noun.

As a pronoun, “some” or “any” is expressed by ne. Ne may also mean “of it,” “of them,” “from it,” “from them,” etc. It is equivalent to the preposition di and a following noun and may therefore be translated in numerous ways. Its position in the sentence is the same as that of the personal pronouns; that is, it precedes the conjugated verb or is attached to the end of the infinitive minus its final –e.

[pane] Ne abbiamo. – We have some.

Non ne abbiamo. – We haven’t any.

Voleva parlarne. – S/he wanted to speak about it / of it. 

[amici] Ne ho tre. – I have three [of them].

NOTE: Ne is required in Italian even when it is implied (and thus omitted) in English.

NOTE: The past participle agrees with ne, that is, with the noun which ne replaces.

Avete ricevuto delle lettere? —Ne ho ricevute due. – Did you receive any letters? —I received two [of them]. 

VOCABULARY A

 VOCABULARY B