The particle (Ne) performs the following functions:
A) Ne as a pronoun
1. Ne as a partitive pronoun.
The partitive ne is used to indicate a part or a quantity of something, not the whole thing.
- Mangi tutta la pasta? No, ne (=di pasta) prendo solo un piattto.
- Do you eat all the pasta? No, I’ll just take a plate.
- Vuoi del gelato? Sì, ne (=di gelato) vorrei un po’.
- Do you want some ice cream? Yes, I would like some.
Note the difference between these two sentences.
- Vuoi le arance? Sì, le voglio.
- Do you want oranges? Yes, I want them.
It means I want all the oranges that are here.
- Vuoi le arance? Sì, ne vorrei un chilo.
- Do you want oranges? Yes, I would like a kilo.
It means that I only want part of the oranges that are here.
2. Ne as a 3rd person singular or plural indirect personal pronoun.
Ne as a 3rd person singular or plural personal pronoun preceded by the prepositions di (of) or da (by).
[di lei (of her), di lui (of him), di loro (of them)].
- Ne abbiamo sentito parlare spesso. [Ne =di lui/lei/loro].
- We have often heard about him/her/them.
3. Ne as a demonstrative pronoun.
Ne as a demonstrative pronoun preceded by the prepositions di (of) or da (by).
- Ne abbiamo già parlato. [Ne = di ciò, di questo].
- We have already talked about it. [Ne = of this].
4. Ne as a pronoun with a neutral value.
Ne as a pronoun, with a neutral value is also used in reference to an entire sentence already expressed.
- La situazione è davvero complessa, ma ne sono reso conto. [Ne = del fatto che la situazione è complessa]
- The situation is really complex, but I understand it. [Ne = of the fact that the situation is complex].
B) Ne as an adverb of place.
Ne as an adverb of place and corresponds to [da qui (from here), da lì (from there)].
- Andò in camera e ne uscì dopo un’ora.
- He went to his room and came out after an hour.
C) Ne in idiomatic expressions.
- Me ne vado.
- I’m leaving.
- Che ne è di tua sorella?
- What about your sister?
- Ne va della tua salute.
- Your health depends on it.
- Ne ha fatte di cotte e di crude.
- He’s been through a lot.
- Non ne posso più.
- I can not stand it anymore.
- Ne hai combinate delle belle.
- You’ve done some great things.
- Starsene con le mani in mano.
- Standing idly by.
- Ne ha combinate di tutti i colori.
- He’s done all sorts of things.
- Ne ho abbastanza.
- I’ve had enough.
- (non) Ne vale la pena.
- It’s (not) worth it.
- Non volermene.
- Don’t hold it against me.
- Aversene a male.
- Feeling bad about it.