Imperfetto, imperfect by name and definition, is an Italian past tense of the Indicativo
The imperfetto is “imperfect”, because it describes past actions with no clear beginning or end.
Let’s see how the Italian imperfetto changes with ARE ERE or IRE verbs.
| ARE | ERE | IRE | |
|---|---|---|---|
| io | mangiavo | leggevo | capivo |
| tu | mangiavi | leggevi | capivi |
| lui / lei | mangiava | leggeva | capiva |
| noi | mangiavamo | leggevamo | capivamo |
| voi | mangiavate | leggevate | capivate |
| loro | mangiavano | leggevano | capivano |
This is the imperfetto of ESSERE and AVERE. It will come in handy when you will study the Trapassato Prossimo.
| ESSERE | AVERE | |
|---|---|---|
| io | ero | avevo |
| tu | eri | avevi |
| lui / lei | era | aveva |
| noi | eravamo | avevamo |
| voi | eravate | avevate |
| loro | erano | avevano |
We are going to see some typical examples. Listen to the correct pronunciation and solve the quiz at the bottom of the page.
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Imperfetto, an Italian past tense
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