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L'applicazione è lenta, gli sviluppatori ci lavorano.

L'applicazione è lenta, gli sviluppatori ci lavorano.
The application is slow, the developers are working on it.
From Lesson 233:The comitative and instrumental pronoun (ci)·Italian

Questions & Answers about L'applicazione è lenta, gli sviluppatori ci lavorano.

What does ci replace in ci lavorano?
In this lesson, we see ci acting as a replacement for su (on) + something. The phrase is lavorare su qualcosa (to work on something). Instead of repeating lavorano sull'applicazione, we just say ci lavorano (they are working on it).
Why does the Italian use lavorano instead of stanno lavorando for 'are working'?
Italian frequently uses the simple present tense (lavorano) for actions happening right now, whereas English prefers the present continuous ('are working'). You absolutely could say ci stanno lavorando, but the simple present is very natural and common here.
What is the root of the word sviluppatori?
It comes from the verb sviluppare, which means to develop. The suffix -tore is used to create a noun for a person who does the action, making uno sviluppatore a developer. The plural masculine form is gli sviluppatori.
Could we attach ci to the end of the verb instead?
Not here! Because lavorano is a conjugated verb, the pronoun ci must go immediately before it. You only attach it to the end if the verb is an infinitive (like lavorarci), a gerund (lavorandoci), or an informal command (lavoraci!).

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