Italian conjugation explanation
Choosing the correct auxiliary verb
<p>In Italian, compound tenses (like the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/123/" target="_blank">Passato Prossimo</a>
) are formed using an auxiliary verb plus the past participle. Most Italian verbs use<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avere/" title="Click to see conjugations for avere" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span></a>
(to have) as their auxiliary.</p><p>However, a specific group of verbs uses
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span></a>
(to be). Generally, verbs that take <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> are <strong>intransitive</strong> (they do not take a direct object) and often indicate <strong>motion</strong>, <strong>staying</strong>, or a <strong>change of state</strong>.</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Verbs that always use Essere</div>
<p>Here are the most common verbs that require <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>. Note that when using <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div><strong>Verbs of Motion</strong></div>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/andare/" title="Click to see conjugations for andare" target="_blank">andare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to go</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avvenire/" title="Click to see conjugations for avvenire" target="_blank">venire</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to come</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/arrivare/" title="Click to see conjugations for arrivare" target="_blank">arrivare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to arrive</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/partire/" title="Click to see conjugations for partire" target="_blank">partire</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to leave</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/entrare/" title="Click to see conjugations for entrare" target="_blank">entrare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to enter</span>), <span style="font-style: italic;">uscire</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">to go out</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/ritornare/" title="Click to see conjugations for ritornare" target="_blank">ritornare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to return</span>).</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Noi <span class="green_emphasis">siamo andati</span> al mare. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We went to the beach.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">L'inverno <span class="green_emphasis">è arrivato</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Winter has come.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>Verbs of Being or Staying</strong></div>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to be</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/stare/" title="Click to see conjugations for stare" target="_blank">stare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to be/stay</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/rimanere/" title="Click to see conjugations for rimanere" target="_blank">rimanere</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to remain</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/restare/" title="Click to see conjugations for restare" target="_blank">restare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to stay</span>).</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Maria <span class="green_emphasis">è stata</span> a casa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maria stayed at home.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>Verbs of Change or Happening</strong></div>
<div>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/nascere/" title="Click to see conjugations for nascere" target="_blank">nascere</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to be born</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/morire/" title="Click to see conjugations for morire" target="_blank">morire</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to die</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/diventare/" title="Click to see conjugations for diventare" target="_blank">diventare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to become</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/succedere/" title="Click to see conjugations for succedere" target="_blank">succedere</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to happen</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/sembrare/" title="Click to see conjugations for sembrare" target="_blank">sembrare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to seem</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/piacere/" title="Click to see conjugations for piacere" target="_blank">piacere</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to like/please</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/riuscire/" title="Click to see conjugations for riuscire" target="_blank">riuscire</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to succeed</span>).</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Le piante <span class="green_emphasis">sono morte</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The plants died.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">È successa</span> una cosa strana. (<span style="font-style: italic;">A strange thing happened.</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Variable auxiliary verbs</div>
<p>Some verbs can use either auxiliary depending on whether they are used transitively (with a direct object) or intransitively (without one).</p>
<p><strong>Rule of thumb:</strong> If the verb answers the question "Change/move <strong>what</strong>?", use <span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span>. If it describes the subject changing or moving itself, use <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div><strong>ESSERE +
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/cambiare/" title="Click to see conjugations for cambiare" target="_blank">cambiare</a>
:</strong> to change (intransitive)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il tempo <span class="green_emphasis">è cambiato</span> molto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The weather has changed a lot.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>AVERE +
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/cambiare/" title="Click to see conjugations for cambiare" target="_blank">cambiare</a>
+ direct object:</strong> to change something</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Tu <span class="green_emphasis">hai cambiato</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">la macchina</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You changed your car.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>ESSERE +
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/passare/" title="Click to see conjugations for passare" target="_blank">passare</a>
:</strong> to go by, to elapse, to pass through</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Sono passati</span> dieci anni. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Ten years have gone by.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>AVERE +
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/passare/" title="Click to see conjugations for passare" target="_blank">passare</a>
+ direct object:</strong> to spend (time), to pass (something)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Ho passato</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">le vacanze</span> a Roma. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I spent the holidays in Rome.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>ESSERE +
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/finire/" title="Click to see conjugations for finire" target="_blank">finire</a>
:</strong> to end, to be over</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il film <span class="green_emphasis">è finito</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The movie has ended.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>AVERE +
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/finire/" title="Click to see conjugations for finire" target="_blank">finire</a>
+ direct object:</strong> to finish/complete something</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Ho finito</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">i compiti</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I finished my homework.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>ESSERE +
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/iniziare/" title="Click to see conjugations for iniziare" target="_blank">iniziare</a>
/<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/cominciare/" title="Click to see conjugations for cominciare" target="_blank">cominciare</a>
:</strong> to start/begin (itself)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Lo spettacolo <span class="green_emphasis">è iniziato</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The show has started.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>AVERE +
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/iniziare/" title="Click to see conjugations for iniziare" target="_blank">iniziare</a>
/<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/cominciare/" title="Click to see conjugations for cominciare" target="_blank">cominciare</a>
+ direct object:</strong> to start something</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><span class="green_emphasis">Ho iniziato</span> <span class="brown_emphasis">una dieta</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I started a diet.</span>)</div>
</li>
</ul>
<p>Other verbs with this behavior include
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/scendere/" title="Click to see conjugations for scendere" target="_blank">scendere</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to go down</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/salire/" title="Click to see conjugations for salire" target="_blank">salire</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to go up</span>), and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/correre/" title="Click to see conjugations for correre" target="_blank">correre</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to run</span>). Learn more about<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_wrong_variable_auxiliary_verb/" target="_blank">Wrong variable auxiliary verbs</a>
.</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Reflexive Verbs</div>
<p>All reflexive verbs (ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-si</span>) must use <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span>. Common examples are
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/alzarsi/" title="Click to see conjugations for alzarsi" target="_blank">alzarsi</a>
(to get up),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/incontrare/" title="Click to see conjugations for incontrare" target="_blank">incontrarsi</a>
(to meet each other), and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/fingersi/" title="Click to see conjugations for fingersi" target="_blank">fingersi</a>
(to pretend to be).</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il gatto <span class="green_emphasis">si è arrampicato</span> sull'albero. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The cat climbed up the tree.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Io <span class="green_emphasis">mi sono svegliato</span> presto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I woke up early.</span>)</div>
<p>For a deeper dive into this topic, see
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_wrong_auxiliary_verb_for_reflexive/" target="_blank">Wrong auxiliary verb in reflexive verb form</a>
.</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Modal Verbs (Volere, Potere, Dovere)</div>
<p>The modal verbs
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/tangere/" title="Click to see conjugations for tangere" target="_blank">volere</a>
(to want),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/potere/" title="Click to see conjugations for potere" target="_blank">potere</a>
(to be able to), and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/dovere/" title="Click to see conjugations for dovere" target="_blank">dovere</a>
(to have to) generally take the auxiliary of the verb that follows them (the infinitive).</p><ul>
<li><div><strong>Ho</strong> mangiato → <strong>Ho</strong> voluto mangiare.</div></li>
<li><div><strong>Sono</strong> andato → <strong>Sono</strong> voluto andare.</div></li>
</ul>
<p>See our specific guides for
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_auxiliary_verb_volere/" target="_blank">volere</a>
,<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_auxiliary_verb_potere/" target="_blank">potere</a>
, and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/italian_auxiliary_verb_dovere/" target="_blank">dovere</a>
.</p>