Uses of the pronoun 'chi'

Overview: What is 'chi'?

"Chi" is an Italian pronoun that usually means "who" or "whom" and can also mean "whoever" / "those who" in general statements. It is invariable (no gender or plural form) and is used in three main ways:

- as an interrogative pronoun (asking a question: "Who?" / "Whom?");
- as a relative / indefinite pronoun ("whoever", "those who");
- inside indirect (embedded) questions.

Note: "chi" covers both English "who" and "whom" (Italian does not change form to show subject vs object). The verb that follows "chi" is usually third-person singular.

Interrogative 'chi': asking "who" or "whom"

Subject and object uses

Subject (who does something)
Chi as subject asks who performs an action.

- "Chi parla?" — "Who is speaking?"
- "Chi ha vinto la gara?" — "Who won the race?"
- "Chi ha chiamato?" — "Who called?"

Object (whom did you see / whom did you call)
Chi as object asks whom the action affects.

- "Chi hai visto al cinema?" — "Whom did you see at the cinema?"
- "Chi vuoi invitare alla festa?" — "Who do you want to invite to the party?"

With prepositions: a chi, con chi, di chi, per chi…

To ask "to whom / with whom / about whom / whose" you put the preposition before "chi".

- "A chi hai dato il libro?" — "To whom did you give the book?"
- "Con chi sei uscito ieri?" — "Who did you go out with yesterday?"
- "Di chi è questa giacca?" — "Whose jacket is this?"
- "Per chi lavori?" — "Who do you work for?"
- "Di chi stai parlando?" — "Who are you talking about?"

These prepositional combinations are normal in questions. But remember: in relative clauses (see below) you cannot replace a relative with "con chi" when there is an explicit antecedent — use "con cui" or "che" instead.

Indirect (embedded) questions

"Chi" often appears inside indirect questions (a question embedded in a sentence). In these cases you must be careful with the verb mood (indicative vs. subjunctive):

- Use indicative when the speaker states a fact or knows the outcome: "So chi è." — "I know who he is."
- Use subjunctive when the identity is unknown, doubtful, or the main clause expresses uncertainty, desire, or negation: "Non so chi sia." — "I don’t know who he is."

Examples:
- "Mi chiedo chi verrà alla festa." — "I wonder who will come to the party." (colloquial: "Mi chiedo chi verrà" / formal: "Mi chiedo chi venga")
- "Non so chi abbia rotto il vaso." — "I don’t know who broke the vase." (past action; subjunctive used because of uncertainty)
- "So chi ha rotto il vaso." — "I know who broke the vase." (indicative because identity is asserted)

Note: In casual spoken Italian, speakers sometimes use the indicative in places where formal grammar suggests the subjunctive, but in formal or written Italian the subjunctive is common after verbs expressing doubt or ignorance.

Relative / indefinite 'chi': "whoever" or "those who"

No explicit antecedent: "chi" = "whoever / those who"

When "chi" introduces a clause without an explicit antecedent, it means "whoever" or "those who." In this use the verb is normally third-person singular.

- "Chi studia passa l'esame." — "Whoever studies passes the exam."
- "Chi dorme non piglia pesci." — "He who sleeps doesn’t catch fish." (proverb)
- "Chi arriva per primo sceglie il posto." — "Those who arrive first choose the seat." (notice verbs are singular: "arriva", "sceglie")

Difference between "chi" and "chiunque" / "qualcuno"

- "chiunque" = "anyone, whoever" (often a little more formal or emphatic). Example: "Chiunque voglia partecipare è benvenuto." — "Anyone who wants to join is welcome."
- "qualcuno" = "someone" (used to say an unspecified person exists): "C’è qualcuno alla porta." — "There is someone at the door."

"Chi" (without "-unque") tends to be used in general statements or questions. "Chiunque" is more explicitly universal and often appears where English would use "anyone".

Form and agreement: number, gender, and verb agreement

Invariable form

"Chi" never changes for gender or number. There is no plural form of "chi."

Verb agreement: usually third-person singular (but watch questions of identification)

- In most uses (especially relative/indefinite), the verb after "chi" is 3rd person singular: "Chi lavora mangia." — "Whoever works eats."

- However, in direct identification questions where a plural predicate follows, the verb can be plural: "Chi sono quei ragazzi?" — "Who are those boys?" Here the verb agrees with the plural predicate "quei ragazzi." This is a common pattern in questions of identification ("Chi è... / Chi sono...").

Summary: normally use singular verbs after "chi"; allow plural verbs when the question identifies a plural group.

Chi with prepositions and relative clauses: when to use cui / che / il quale instead

Key rule: "Chi" cannot be used as a relative pronoun referring back to a specific noun (an antecedent). When a relative clause follows a known noun, use "che", "cui" (after a preposition), or "il quale / la quale".

Examples of the error and the correction:

- Wrong: "Il ragazzo con chi ho parlato è simpatico." (do not use "chi" here)
- Correct: "Il ragazzo con cui ho parlato è simpatico." or "Il ragazzo con il quale ho parlato è simpatico."

- Wrong: "La donna chi hai visto ieri..."
- Correct: "La donna che hai visto ieri..."

Remember: "Con chi parli?" (question) is fine. But "La persona con chi parli" (relative with antecedent) is wrong.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake: Using "chi" after a noun antecedent
- Wrong: "Il mio amico chi vive in città..."
- Right: "Il mio amico che vive in città..." or "Il mio amico, che vive in città,..."

Mistake: Forgetting singular verb after indefinite "chi"
- Wrong: "Chi studiano passa l’esame."
- Right: "Chi studia passa l’esame."

Mistake: Using "con chi" in a relative clause with an antecedent
- Wrong: "La ragazza con chi ho parlato..."
- Right: "La ragazza con cui ho parlato..."

Mistake: Confusing "chi" with "qualcuno" or "chiunque"
- Use "qualcuno" to say "someone exists" ("C’è qualcuno").
- Use "chiunque" to say "anyone/whosoever" (often more formal). "Chi" is used in questions and general statements.

Mistake: Using the wrong mood in indirect questions
- Colloquial: "Non so chi ha preso il libro." (often heard)
- Formal: "Non so chi abbia preso il libro." (subjunctive used after uncertainty)

Useful comparisons: chi vs che vs cui vs chiunque vs qualcuno

- chi = who / whom / whoever (interrogative or indefinite, no antecedent)
- "Chi ha fatto questo?" — "Who did this?"
- "Chi arriva tardi perde il posto." — "Whoever arrives late loses the seat."

- che = that / who / which (relative pronoun used after an explicit antecedent)
- "La ragazza che hai visto è mia sorella." — "The girl you saw is my sister."

- cui = relative pronoun used after a preposition (same idea as "whom/which" after prepositions)
- "L’uomo a cui ho scritto non ha risposto." — "The man to whom I wrote didn’t reply."

- chiunque = anyone / whoever (a more explicit universal)
- "Chiunque voglia venire è il benvenuto." — "Anyone who wants to come is welcome."

- qualcuno = someone / somebody (existential)
- "Qualcuno ha bussato alla porta." — "Someone knocked on the door."

Comprehensive example set (organized)

Direct questions (subject / object)
- "Chi è al telefono?" — "Who is on the phone?"
- "Chi parla?" — "Who is speaking?"
- "Chi hai invitato alla festa?" — "Who did you invite to the party?"

Prepositions with "chi"
- "A chi hai scritto questa lettera?" — "To whom did you write this letter?"
- "Con chi esci di solito?" — "Who do you usually go out with?"
- "Di chi è questo zaino?" — "Whose backpack is this?"

Indirect questions (indicative vs subjunctive)
- "So chi ha rotto la finestra." — "I know who broke the window." (indicative)
- "Non so chi abbia rotto la finestra." — "I don’t know who broke the window." (subjunctive)
- "Mi chiedo chi verrà domani." — "I wonder who will come tomorrow." (colloquial)
- "Mi chiedo chi venga domani." — "I wonder who will come tomorrow." (formal/subjunctive)

Relative / indefinite (whoever / those who)
- "Chi rispetta le regole vive meglio." — "Whoever respects the rules lives better."
- "Chi non mangia verdure avrà problemi." — "Those who do not eat vegetables will have problems." (general statement)

Identification questions with plural predicates
- "Chi sono queste persone?" — "Who are these people?"
- "Chi sono i vincitori?" — "Who are the winners?"

Wrong vs right: relative clause with antecedent
- Wrong: "La donna con chi parlavi è venuta."
- Right: "La donna con cui parlavi è venuta." — "The woman you were talking to came."

Idiomatic / fixed expressions
- "Chi vivrà vedrà." — "Whoever lives will see (time will tell)."
- "Chi lo sa?" — "Who knows?"
- "Chi la dura la vince." — "Those who persevere win."

Quick reference: What to remember

- "Chi" = who / whom / whoever; invariable.
- Use "chi" in questions and to mean "whoever" when there is no antecedent.
- After a noun antecedent, use "che", "cui", or "il quale", not "chi".
- Verbs after indefinite "chi" are usually 3rd person singular.
- In indirect questions, prefer the subjunctive when the identity is unknown or the main clause expresses doubt/negation.
- Use "di chi" to ask about possession ("whose").

Glossary (simple definitions)

- antecedent: the noun to which a relative pronoun refers (e.g., "la ragazza" in "la ragazza che hai visto").
- interrogative pronoun: a pronoun used to ask a question (e.g., "chi", "che cosa").
- relative pronoun: introduces a clause that describes a noun (e.g., "che", "cui").
- indefinite pronoun: refers to non-specific people (e.g., "chi", "chiunque", "qualcuno").
- subjunctive (congiuntivo): a mood used to express doubt, uncertainty, wish, or possibility (often used after verbs that express these meanings).

Final tip

When in doubt: if you are asking a question or making a general statement about "who" does something, use "chi." If you are linking back to a specific noun (an antecedent), use "che", "cui", or "il quale." For indirect unknowns, prefer the subjunctive in formal writing and speech.