Italian conjugation explanation
Past participle agreement when the auxiliary verb is ESSERE
<p>When forming compound tenses (like the
<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/123/" target="_blank">Passato Prossimo</a>
), if the auxiliary verb is<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ita/essere/" title="Click to see conjugations for essere" target="_blank">essere</a>
, the past participle behaves like an adjective: it <strong>must agree in gender and number</strong> with the subject.</p><p>This is different from verbs that 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>
, where the past participle typically remains invariable (ending in <span style="font-style: italic;">-o</span>).</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Agreement Patterns</div>
<p>The ending of the past participle changes based on the gender and number of the subject:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>-o</strong> for Masculine Singular</li>
<li><strong>-a</strong> for Feminine Singular</li>
<li><strong>-i</strong> for Masculine Plural</li>
<li><strong>-e</strong> for Feminine Plural</li>
</ul>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Examples</div>
<p>Here is how the verb
<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>) changes endings:</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Paolo <strong>è andat<span class="green_emphasis">o</span></strong> a scuola. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Paolo went to school.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(Subject is masculine singular.)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Maria <strong>è andat<span class="green_emphasis">a</span></strong> al lavoro. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maria went to work.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(Subject is feminine singular.)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">I ragazzi <strong>sono andat<span class="green_emphasis">i</span></strong> via. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The boys went away.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(Subject is masculine plural.)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Le mie sorelle <strong>sono andat<span class="green_emphasis">e</span></strong> fuori. (<span style="font-style: italic;">My sisters went out.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">(Subject is feminine plural.)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Reflexive Verbs</div>
<p>Reflexive verbs always 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>
as their auxiliary, so they <strong>always</strong> follow this agreement rule.</p><div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Laura <strong>si è svegliat<span class="green_emphasis">a</span></strong> presto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Laura woke up early.</span>)</div>
<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Noi <strong>ci siamo divertit<span class="green_emphasis">i</span></strong> molto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We had a lot of fun.</span>)</div>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> When referring to a mixed group (masculine and feminine subjects together), use the <strong>masculine plural</strong> form (<span style="font-style: italic;">-i</span>).</p>