ce n'

there is/are some; there was/were some

→ ce

phrase Uncommon #20,200

there is/are some; there was/were some This is the elided form of “ce ne” before a word beginning with a vowel, usually followed by a form of essere such as è or era. “Ne” refers to an amount or quantity understood from context.

IT: Ce n'è ancora un po' in frigorifero.

EN: There is still some in the refrigerator.

Ce n'é più di uno?

Is there more than one?

— The Orphanage (2007)

Non ce n'era motivo.

There was no reason for it.

— Non dirlo a nessuno (2006)

Markinson dice che ce n'era uno sette ore prima.

Markinson says there was one seven hours earlier.

— Codice d'onore (1992)

Non ce n'è stata l'occasione.

There hasn’t been an opportunity.

— Solaris (1972)

Ce n'è stato uno a Malibu.

There was one in Malibu.

— Una pallottola spuntata (2025)

Non potevo farmi di eroina, perché non ce n'era.

I couldn't shoot up heroin because there wasn't any.

— Dolor y gloria (2019)

Qualcuno ce n'è stato.

There have been some.

— C'era una volta il West (1968)

Ce n'era tutto un mucchio!

There was a whole bunch of it!

— Il mio vicino Totoro (1988)

No, non ce n'era un'altra.

No, there wasn’t another one.

— I lunedì al sole (2002)

Ce n'era una.

There was one.

— Pinocchio (2019)

Ce n'é in abbondanza per tutti e due.

There’s plenty for both of them.

— Il Signore degli Anelli - Il ritorno del re (2003)

Non ce n'era bisogno.

There was no need for that.

— Central do Brasil (1998)

Ce n'era ancora.

There was still some left.

— Send Help (2026)

Ce n'era una giusto?

There was one, right?

— पीके (2014)