Italian conjugation explanation
Verbs with variable auxiliary verb
<p>While most Italian verbs consistently use either
<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>
as their auxiliary in compound tenses (like the<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/123/" target="_blank">Passato prossimo</a>
), a specific group of verbs can use <strong>both</strong>.</p><p>The choice depends on whether the verb is used <strong>transitively</strong> (with a direct object) or <strong>intransitively</strong> (without a direct object).</p>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">The General Rule</div>
<ul>
<li>
<div><strong>Transitive Use → AVERE</strong></div>
<div>When the subject performs an action <strong>on something</strong> (the direct object), use
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/avere/" title="Click to see conjugations for avere" target="_blank">avere</a>
. Ideally, you can ask "what?" or "whom?" after the verb.</div></li>
<li>
<div><strong>Intransitive Use → ESSERE</strong></div>
<div>When the verb describes a state, motion, or change undergone by the subject itself (with no direct object), use
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>
. Remember that the past participle must agree with the subject.</div></li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Common Examples</div>
<p>Here are the most common verbs that follow this pattern. The verbs are marked in <span class="green_emphasis">green</span> and the direct objects in <span class="brown_emphasis">brown</span>.</p>
<ul>
<li>
<div><strong>
<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 pass / to spend)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>AVERE:</strong> <strong>Ho passato</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">le vacanze</span> a decorare la casa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I spent the holidays decorating the house.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Transitive: You passed/spent "what"? The holidays.</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>ESSERE:</strong> <strong>Sono passati</strong> diversi anni. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Several years went by.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Intransitive: The years passed (themselves).</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<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)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>AVERE:</strong> È vero che <strong>hai cambiato</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">nome</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Is it true that you changed your name?</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>ESSERE:</strong> Forse qualcosa <strong>è cambiato</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe something has changed.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><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>
</strong> (to finish / to end)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>AVERE:</strong> Verrò quando <strong>avrò finito</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">i miei compiti</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'll come when I have finished my homework.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>ESSERE:</strong> I tuoi problemi <strong>sono finiti</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Your problems are over/finished.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/iniziare/" title="Click to see conjugations for iniziare" target="_blank">iniziare</a>
</strong> / <strong><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 begin / to start)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>AVERE:</strong> <strong>Ho iniziato</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">una nuova dieta</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I have started a new diet.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>ESSERE:</strong> Sembra che le lezioni <strong>siano iniziate</strong> ieri. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It seems classes began yesterday.</span>)</div>
</li>
<li>
<div><strong>
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/salire/" title="Click to see conjugations for salire" target="_blank">salire</a>
</strong> (to go up) and <strong><a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/scendere/" title="Click to see conjugations for scendere" target="_blank">scendere</a>
</strong> (to go down)</div><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>AVERE:</strong> <strong>Ho salito</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">le scale</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I went up the stairs.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Here, "the stairs" is the direct object being climbed.</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>ESSERE:</strong> <strong>Sono salito</strong> in camera. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I went up to the room.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Here, the focus is purely on the subject's movement/relocation.</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Other Verbs</div>
<p>Other verbs that often follow this pattern include:
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/diminuire/" title="Click to see conjugations for diminuire" target="_blank">diminuire</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to decrease</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/migliorare/" title="Click to see conjugations for migliorare" target="_blank">migliorare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to improve</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/peggiorare/" title="Click to see conjugations for peggiorare" target="_blank">peggiorare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to worsen</span>),<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/apportare/" title="Click to see conjugations for apportare" target="_blank">affondare</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to sink</span>), and<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/esplodere/" title="Click to see conjugations for esplodere" target="_blank">esplodere</a>
(<span style="font-style: italic;">to explode</span>).</p>