This lesson will help you master the use of passato prossimo and imperfetto in Italian. We will explore how to narrate and compare past events, focusing on when to use each tense. By the end of the lesson, you’ll be able to clearly distinguish between these two important past tenses.
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In this lesson, we will compare and contrast the passato prossimo and imperfetto tenses, two crucial aspects of storytelling in Italian. These tenses are used to talk about completed actions and ongoing states or habits in the past. You will learn how to use these tenses in the right context to narrate past events effectively.
Passato Prossimo Recap
Passato Prossimo: This tense is used to describe actions that are completed in the past. It is often used for specific events or actions that happened once.
An auxiliary verb, also known as a helping verb, is a verb used alongside a main verb to form different tenses, moods, or voices. In Italian, the auxiliary verbs essere (to be) and avere (to have) are used to form compound tenses like the passato prossimo. They help indicate when the action took place and who performed it.
The passato prossimo is formed by using the present tense of the auxiliary verb essere or avere, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
| Subject | Essere/Avere | Past Participle | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Io | ho | mangiato | Ho mangiato una mela. |
| Tu | hai | letto | Hai letto un articolo. |
| Lui/Lei | ha | visto | Ha visto una serie TV. |
| Noi | abbiamo | finito | Abbiamo finito il progetto. |
| Voi | avete | parlato | Avete parlato con un collega. |
| Loro | hanno | fatto | Hanno fatto una camminata. |
| Io | sono | andato/a | Sono andato/a in ufficio. |
| Tu | sei | tornato/a | Sei tornato/a a casa tardi. |
| Lui/Lei | è | nato/a | È nato/a a Londra. |
| Noi | siamo | arrivati/e | Siamo arrivati/e in orario. |
| Voi | siete | rimasti/e | Siete rimasti/e al lavoro. |
| Loro | sono | usciti/e | Sono usciti/e insieme al parco. |
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Essere or Avere in a nutshell
When to Use essere or avere
Use avere when the action involves something else (an object, real or potential). Use essere when the action is about the subject (movement, change, or reflexive actions). Keep in mind there are exceptions, but this rule works in most cases.
1. Use avere when the action involves a real or potential object
We use avere when the action could have a direct object, even if it’s not mentioned. The action affects something else (the object).
- Ho mangiato (I ate) → You could say: Ho mangiato una pizza (I ate a pizza).
- Abbiamo visto (We saw) → You could say: Abbiamo visto un film (We saw a movie).
2. Use essere when the action revolves around the subject
Use essere when the action focuses on the subject, particularly for movement or changes in state. The action describes something about the person (the subject).
We use avere when you’re doing something to an object, even if it’s not mentioned. For example, ho mangiato (I ate) – you could add what you ate, like ho mangiato una pizza.
- Sono andato a casa (I went home) → The action is about movement, not an object.
- È diventata insegnante (She became a teacher) → The action shows a change in state.
3. Reflexive verbs always use essere
For reflexive verbs, which describe actions you do to yourself, essere is always used.
- Mi sono vestito (I got dressed).
- Si è lavato (He washed himself).
4. Exceptions
There are some exceptions. For example, the verb dormire (to sleep) doesn’t have an object, but still uses avere:
- Ho dormito (I slept).
Summary
Use avere when the action involves something outside of the subject (a real or potential object). Use essere when the action is about the subject itself (movement, change, or reflexive actions). Keep in mind that there are exceptions, but this rule applies in most cases.
Now that we’ve covered passato prossimo, let’s dive into imperfetto, which is just as important for describing actions that don’t have a clear beginning or end, like habits or background details.
Imperfetto Recap
Imperfetto: The imperfetto tense is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past. It sets the scene for stories and provides background information, often describing actions that took place over a period of time or were repeated regularly.
Unlike English, which typically uses the past continuous (“was doing”) or simple past (“used to do”), Italian uses the imperfetto for both habitual actions and ongoing events in the past.
In Italian, the imperfetto is not just a tool for indicating something that “was happening” but also for expressing background details like time, weather, emotions, and states of being. The English equivalents might use the simple past or past continuous, but Italian makes consistent use of the imperfetto in these contexts. To form the imperfetto, you remove the infinitive ending (-are, -ere, -ire) and add the appropriate subject ending.
| Subject | -are (parlare) | -ere (leggere) | -ire (dormire) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Io | parlavo | leggevo | dormivo |
| Tu | parlavi | leggevi | dormivi |
| Lui/Lei | parlava | leggeva | dormiva |
| Noi | parlavamo | leggevamo | dormivamo |
| Voi | parlavate | leggevate | dormivate |
| Loro | parlavano | leggevano | dormivano |
A helpful way to recognize regular verbs in the imperfetto is by noting that all the conjugations include the letter “v” in their endings.
Key Differences from English:
Habitual Actions: In English, we often say “used to” for repeated actions in the past, but in Italian, the imperfetto covers this: Quando ero piccolo, andavo al parco ogni giorno. (When I was little, I used to go to the park every day.)
Ongoing or Interrupted Actions: In English, we use the past continuous (“was doing”), but in Italian, the imperfetto alone suffices: Stavo leggendo un libro quando è suonato il telefono. (I was reading a book when the phone rang.)
Background Descriptions: English often uses the simple past (“It was hot”), but in Italian, background details like time, weather, and emotions require the imperfetto: Faceva molto caldo quella sera. (It was very hot that evening.)
Usage Examples:
- Quando vivevo in montagna, andavo a fare lunghe passeggiate ogni mattina. (When I lived in the mountains, I used to go for long walks every morning.) – Habitual Action
- Era incredibilmente sorpresa quando ha ricevuto la notizia. (She was incredibly surprised when she received the news.) – Describing an Emotional State
- Guardavo le stelle quando ha iniziato a piovere. (I was watching the stars when it started to rain.) – Ongoing Action Interrupted by a Specific Event
- Il vento soffiava forte quella notte. (The wind was blowing hard that night.) – Describing Weather
In summary, remember that the imperfetto is an essential tense for describing the background and setting of events in Italian. It goes beyond simple past actions, as it covers habitual actions, ongoing past events, and descriptions of states, weather, and emotions.
It is called “imperfect” because it describes actions without a clear beginning or end, focusing on the continuity of the past rather than its completion.
Unlike English, which often uses the past continuous or simple past, Italian consistently employs the imperfetto to give context to actions that unfolded over time.
When to Use Passato Prossimo vs Imperfetto
The key distinction between passato prossimo and imperfetto lies in how they convey the nature of past actions. Passato prossimo is used for actions that are completed and specific, while imperfetto describes actions that were ongoing, habitual, or lacked a defined beginning or end. You can also use them together, as they are not in conflict but complementary. Passato prossimo can highlight specific events that happen within or interrupt an ongoing action or background description set by the imperfetto.
Use Passato Prossimo when referring to specific, completed actions in the past:
- Ho letto il libro tutto d’un fiato ieri sera. (I read the book in one go last night.)
- Ho guardato tutta la stagione di una serie TV in una notte. (I watched an entire season of a TV series in one night.)
- Ho imparato a cucinare un piatto nuovo ieri sera. (I learned to cook a new dish last night.)
- Abbiamo visitato il museo l’anno scorso. (We visited the museum last year.)
- Hai incontrato il professore stamattina. (You met the professor this morning.)
- Sono partito per il viaggio venerdì scorso. (I left for the trip last Friday.)
- Ha scritto un’email importante ieri pomeriggio. (She wrote an important email yesterday afternoon.)
Use Imperfetto for habitual actions or descriptions of past situations:
- Quando vivevo a Firenze, leggevo molto. (When I lived in Florence, I used to read a lot.)
- Da ragazzo, giocavo a calcio ogni weekend. (As a teenager, I used to play football every weekend.)
- Prendevamo sempre il treno per andare in città. (We always took the train to go to the city.)
- Mi svegliavo presto ogni mattina per vedere l’alba. (I used to wake up early every morning to watch the sunrise.)
- Parlavamo per ore dopo la scuola. (We used to talk for hours after school.)
Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto Together: The two tenses are often used together, with imperfetto setting the scene and passato prossimo marking specific events that interrupt or complete an action. Together, they give a fuller picture of what was happening and what specifically took place.
- Leggevo un libro quando è suonato il telefono. (I was reading a book when the phone rang.)
- Facevamo una passeggiata quando ha iniziato a piovere. (We were taking a walk when it started to rain.)
- Lavoravo al progetto quando ho ricevuto la chiamata. (I was working on the project when I received the call.)
- Guidavo verso casa quando ho visto l’incidente. (I was driving home when I saw the accident.)
- Scrivevo una lettera quando è arrivato il corriere. (I was writing a letter when the courier arrived.)
Let’s Practice! Build Sentences with Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto
In this activity, you will practice building sentences using passato prossimo, imperfetto, or a combination of both. Use the building blocks provided to create meaningful sentences. Think about the context of each sentence to choose the correct tense.
Suggested Building Blocks:
- For Habitual Actions (Imperfetto): Di solito…, Quando ero piccolo/a…, Ogni estate…, Da giovane…
- For Specific, Completed Actions (Passato Prossimo): Ieri…, La settimana scorsa…, Due giorni fa…, Questa mattina…
- For Setting the Scene with Imperfetto, Interrupted by Passato Prossimo: Mentre…, Stavo per…, Era una giornata…, Faceva freddo/caldo…
Example Sentences:
Passato Prossimo: Ho letto il libro tutto d’un fiato ieri sera. (I read the book in one go last night.)
- Questa mattina ho finito di leggere il giornale. (This morning I finished reading the newspaper.)
- Due giorni fa abbiamo visto un documentario interessante. (Two days ago we watched an interesting documentary.)
- La settimana scorsa ho comprato un nuovo libro. (Last week I bought a new book.)
- Ieri sera abbiamo ordinato una pizza per cena. (Last night we ordered pizza for dinner.)
Imperfetto: Quando ero piccolo, giocavo ai videogiochi ogni sera. (When I was little, I played video games every evening.)
- Ogni estate andavamo al mare con la famiglia. (Every summer we used to go to the beach with the family.)
- Di solito studiavo dopo cena. (I usually studied after dinner.)
- Da giovane facevo sport tutti i pomeriggi. (When I was younger, I used to do sports every afternoon.)
- Quando vivevo a Parigi, passeggiavo lungo il fiume ogni sera. (When I lived in Paris, I used to walk along the river every evening.)
Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto Together: Mentre camminavo nel parco, ho visto un bel tramonto. (While I was walking in the park, I saw a beautiful sunset.)
- Stavo leggendo un libro quando è arrivata la posta. (I was reading a book when the mail arrived.)
- Era una giornata calda e soleggiata quando ho deciso di uscire. (It was a hot and sunny day when I decided to go out.)
- Faceva freddo quando il treno è partito. (It was cold when the train left.)
- Stavo preparando la cena quando gli ospiti sono arrivati. (I was preparing dinner when the guests arrived.)
Now it’s your turn! Use the building blocks to create sentences, practicing the correct use of each tense. Try to include both passato prossimo and imperfetto in your examples.
Exercise
Now, test your knowledge of passato prossimo and imperfetto with the following exercise. Complete the sentences by choosing the correct tense.
Esercizio
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After the Zoom Class
Here is your assignment. After the lesson, answer the questions. Your teacher will correct what you write. You will receive a confirmation by email.
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| Lesson | Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Lesson 1 | Thursday, January 16, 2025 | Talking About Past Habits (Imperfect Tense) |
| Lesson 2 | Thursday, January 23, 2025 | Narrating Past Events (Passato Prossimo vs Imperfetto) |
| Lesson 3 | Thursday, January 30, 2025 | Future Plans and Intentions (Simple Future) |
| Lesson 4 | Thursday, February 6, 2025 | Giving Advice and Making Suggestions (Present Conditional) |
| Lesson 5 | Thursday, February 13, 2025 | Talking About Experiences (Trapassato Prossimo) |
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