Learn Italian: Non ero sicuro che lei ce l'avesse con me. - I wasn't sure that she was angry with me.

Non ero sicuro che lei ce l'avesse con me.

I wasn't sure that she was angry with me.

Breakdown of Non ero sicuro che lei ce l'avesse con me.

Questions & Answers about Non ero sicuro che lei ce l'avesse con me.

How does the pronominal verb avercela break down in the phrase ce l'avesse?

The base verb avercela is made of avere (to have) + the pronoun ci + the pronoun la. When placed together, ci changes to ce because it sits in front of another pronoun. Finally, la drops its 'a' and becomes l' because the following verb form, avesse, starts with a vowel.

Does the l' (from la) in ce l'avesse refer to a specific feminine noun?

No, the la in avercela is a "dummy" or empty pronoun. It doesn't replace a specific noun from earlier in the conversation. When combined with ci and con, it simply shifts the meaning of avere to the idiomatic expression "to have it in for someone" or "to be angry with someone".

Why is avesse in the subjunctive mood rather than the indicative?

The subjunctive is triggered by the main clause Non ero sicuro che (I wasn't sure that). Expressions of doubt, uncertainty, and personal feelings almost always require the subjunctive mood in the dependent clause that follows.

Why do we use the imperfect subjunctive (ce l'avesse) instead of the present subjunctive (ce l'abbia)?