c'erano molti

there were many

→ ci

phrase Rare #29,846

there were many Used to say that a large number of people or things were present or existed in a particular place or situation. The noun following “molti” is plural masculine, or mixed gender; use “molte” with feminine plural nouns.

IT: C'erano molti libri sul tavolo.

EN: There were many books on the table.

C'erano molti gradini.

There were many steps.

— Tempo d'estate (1955)

C'erano molti ritratti della stessa donna.

There were many portraits of the same woman.

C'erano molti cani al parco?

Were there many dogs in the park?

C'erano molti immigrati da Italia e Irlanda.

There were many immigrants from Italy and Ireland.

A Peredelkino c'erano molti scrittori.

There were many writers in Peredelkino.

— L'infanzia di Ivan (1962)

C'erano molti bambini nella stanza.

There were many children in the room.

C'erano molti uccelli sull'albero.

There were many birds in the tree.