Italian conjugation explanation

Present perfect vs. imperfect

<p>In Italian, there are two main tenses used to talk about the past: the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/123/" target="_blank">Passato prossimo</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">present perfect</span>) and the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/38/" target="_blank">Imperfetto</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">imperfect</span>).</p>

<p>Knowing when to use which can be challenging because both can sometimes be translated the same way in English. A helpful analogy is a <strong>theater play</strong>:</p>

<ul>

<li><strong>Imperfetto</strong> describes the <strong>scenery</strong>, the background, the weather, and what the actors were doing before the main action started.</li>

<li><strong>Passato prossimo</strong> describes the <strong>specific actions</strong> that happen on the stage, moving the plot forward.</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Passato prossimo: Completed Actions</div>

<p>The <span style="font-style: italic;">passato prossimo</span> is used for actions that have a <strong>definite beginning and end</strong>. It answers the question: "What happened?"</p>

<p>Use it for:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div>A <strong>single, completed event</strong> in the past:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ieri sera

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/praticare/" title="Click to see conjugations for praticare" target="_blank">ho praticato</a>

il mio italiano. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Last night I practiced my Italian.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>A <strong>chain of events</strong> (advancing the story):</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/entrare/" title="Click to see conjugations for entrare" target="_blank">Sono entrato</a>

,

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/bere/" title="Click to see conjugations for bere" target="_blank">ho bevuto</a>

un caffè e

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/consigliarsi/" title="Click to see conjugations for consigliarsi" target="_blank">ho salutato</a>

tutti. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I entered, drank a coffee, and said hello to everyone.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div>Actions repeated a <strong>specific number of times</strong>:</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/chiamare/" title="Click to see conjugations for chiamare" target="_blank">Ho chiamato</a>

Luigi tre volte. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I called Luigi three times.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>Common expressions (signal words) for the <span style="font-style: italic;">passato prossimo</span>:</p>

<ul>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">ieri</span> (yesterday)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">la settimana scorsa</span> (last week)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">due anni fa</span> (two years ago)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">improvvisamente</span> (suddenly)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">un giorno</span> (one day)</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Imperfetto: Description and Habit</div>

<p>The <span style="font-style: italic;">imperfetto</span> conveys that an action was ongoing, habitual, or indefinite. It answers the questions: "What was happening?" or "What used to happen?"</p>

<p>Use it for:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>Habitual actions</strong> in the past (<span style="font-style: italic;">used to</span>):</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Quando

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/stare/" title="Click to see conjugations for stare" target="_blank">stavo</a>

a Roma,

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/mangiare/" title="Click to see conjugations for mangiare" target="_blank">mangiavo</a>

molta pasta. (<span style="font-style: italic;">When I was in Rome, I used to eat a lot of pasta.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Descriptions</strong> (weather, age, feelings, physical appearance):</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/fare/" title="Click to see conjugations for fare" target="_blank">Faceva</a>

freddo ed

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">ero</a>

stanco. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It was cold and I was tired.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Le bevande

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">erano</a>

gratis. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The drinks were free.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>Simultaneous actions</strong> (two things happening at the same time):</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/leggere/" title="Click to see conjugations for leggere" target="_blank">Leggevamo</a>

un libro mentre

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/mangiare/" title="Click to see conjugations for mangiare" target="_blank">mangiavamo</a>

. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We were reading a book while eating.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>Common expressions (signal words) for the <span style="font-style: italic;">imperfetto</span>:</p>

<ul>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">di solito</span> (usually)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">sempre</span> (always)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">ogni giorno</span> (every day)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">mentre</span> (while)</li>

<li><span style="font-style: italic;">da bambino</span> (as a child)</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Using both tenses together</div>

<p>A very common structure in narrative involves an ongoing action (<strong class="brown_emphasis">imperfetto</strong>) being interrupted by a sudden event (<strong class="green_emphasis">passato prossimo</strong>).</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="brown_emphasis">Dormivo</span> quando una donna <span class="green_emphasis">ci ha fatto</span> visita. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I was sleeping when a woman visited us.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="brown_emphasis">Guardavo</span> la televisione quando il telefono <span class="green_emphasis">ha suonato</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I was watching television when the phone rang.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">A Note on Formation</div>

<p>While the <strong>imperfetto</strong> is a simple tense (one word), the <strong>passato prossimo</strong> is a compound tense. It requires an auxiliary verb (

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avere/" title="Click to see conjugations for avere" target="_blank">avere</a>

or

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>

) plus the past participle.</p>

<p>Choosing the correct auxiliary verb and handling agreement correctly is one of the most important aspects of using the <span style="font-style: italic;">passato prossimo</span>. For detailed rules, please review specific explanations:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_wrong_auxiliary_verb/" target="_blank">Auxiliary verbs (Avere vs. Essere)</a>

</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_wrong_auxiliary_verb_for_reflexive/" target="_blank">Auxiliary verb for reflexive verbs</a>

</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/missing_agreement_for_essere_form/" target="_blank">Agreement with essere</a>

</li>

<li>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/avere_agreement/" target="_blank">Agreement with avere</a>

</li>

</ul>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Conjugation Tables</div>

<p>Here are examples of the regular conjugation in the <strong>imperfetto</strong> tense:</p>

<p><strong>-ARE verbs:</strong>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/dare/" title="Click to see conjugations for dare" target="_blank">dare</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to give</span>)</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/38/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperfetto</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

io

</span>davo

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span>davi

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

lui

</span>dava

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

noi

</span>davamo

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

voi

</span>davate

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

loro

</span>davano

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p><strong>-ERE verbs:</strong>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avere/" title="Click to see conjugations for avere" target="_blank">avere</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to have</span>)</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/38/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperfetto</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

io

</span>avevo

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span>avevi

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

lui

</span>aveva

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

noi

</span>avevamo

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

voi

</span>avevate

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

loro

</span>avevano

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p><strong>-IRE verbs:</strong>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/finire/" title="Click to see conjugations for finire" target="_blank">finire</a>

(<span style="font-style: italic;">to finish</span>)</p>

<div class="study_conjugations_tense_container">

<a class="study_conjugations_tense_label box_label tense_box no_dark_mode " href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/38/" target="_blank" title="Open tense guide">Imperfetto</a>

<div class="study_conjugations_conjugation conjugations_table two_columns">

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

io

</span>finivo

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

tu

</span>finivi

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

lui

</span>finiva

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

noi

</span>finivamo

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

voi

</span>finivate

</span>

</div>

</div>

<div class="study_conjugations_forms conjugation_forms">

<div class="conjugation_form">

<span><span class="study_conjugations_pronoun conjugation_pronoun">

loro

</span>finivano

</span>

</div>

</div>

</div>

</div>

<p>For a complete list of conjugations in all tenses, including the <span style="font-style: italic;">passato prossimo</span>, check out our

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuide/2904/" target="_blank">verb guide</a>

.</p>