Nella stanza c’è un comodino vicino al letto.

In the room there is a bedside table near the bed.

Breakdown of Nella stanza c’è un comodino vicino al letto.

• essere: to be
• vicino: near
• in: in
• il letto: the bed

Questions & Answers about Nella stanza c’è un comodino vicino al letto.

Why do we say nella stanza instead of in la stanza or in stanza?

Italian requires the definite article before most nouns, so you have in + la stanza. These two words contract into nella stanza. Saying in la stanza is ungrammatical in standard Italian, and in stanza without the article is not normally used outside of poetic or very informal speech.

Could we use in una stanza instead of nella stanza?

Yes, but the meaning changes. Nella stanza means “in the room” (a specific, known room). In una stanza means “in a room” (an unspecified room). Use the definite article when you’re talking about a particular place.

What is c’è, and why don’t we say ci è?

C’è is a contraction of ci + è (“there is”). Italian always fuses these two words into c’è, so you never separate them in writing or speech.

When should I use c’è versus ci sono?

Use c’è (there is) when you’re introducing a single item:
• c’è un comodino – “there is one nightstand”
Use ci sono (there are) for more than one:
• ci sono due comodini – “there are two nightstands”