grammar Archives | a bit of Italy

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024

ITALIAN DIRECT AND INDIRECT SPEECH

Here are five simple charts of the changes involved in the transformation from direct speech to indirect speech in Italian:

Direct speech	Indirect speech
introduced by:
colon (:)speech marks (<< >>) or quotation marks (” “)or a dash (-)	verbs as “dire, chiedere, rispondere, ordinare…” (to say, ask, reply, order…) + “che” (that)
Tu hai detto: “voglio andare al cinema.“	Lui ha detto che vuole andare al cinema.

Direct speech	Indirect speech
In the indirect speech the subject of the sentence usually changes to the third person (depending whom we are reporting the speech to):
io/tu (I/you)	lui/lei/egli (he/she)
noi/voi (we/you)	loro (they)
Tu hai detto: “voglio andare al cinema.“Tu hai detto: “voglio andare al cinema.“	Lui ha detto che vuole andare al cinema. Tu hai detto che vuoi andare al cinema.

Direct speech	Indirect speech
The possessive adjective or pronoun changes accordingly:
mio/tuo (my/youy/mine/yours) nostro/vostro (our/your/ours/yours)	suo/sua/loro (his/her/hers/their/theirs)
Tu hai detto: “voglio andare con la mia macchina.“	Lui ha detto che vuole andare con la sua macchina.

Direct speech	Indirect speech
Other elements usually change:
qui/qua (here)	lì/là (there)
questo (this)	quello (that)
ora (now)	allora (then)
oggi (today)	quel giorno (that day)
ieri (yesterday)	il giorno prima (the day before)
domani (tomorrow)	il giorno seguente, il giorno dopo, l’indomani (the following day)
venire (to come)	andare (to go)
Tu hai detto: “domani ci incontriamoqui.“	Lui ha detto che il giorno seguente si sarebbero incontrati lì.

Direct speech	Indirect speech
The verbs in the indirect speech change accordingly:
presente (when the verb introducing the speech is in the present or sometimes the passato prossimo)	presente
presente (when the verb introducing the speech is in the past)	imperfetto
imperativo	di+infinito
futuro	condizionale passato
condizionale presente	condizionale passato
passato prossimo	trapassato prossimo
passato remoto	trapassato prossimo
Tu dici sempre: “vado al cinema” ma poi non ci vai mai.Tu hai detto: “vado al cinema” ma poi non ci sei andato.Tu hai detto: “domani ci incontreremo qui.“	Lui dice sempre che va al cinema ma poi non ci va mai.Lui ha detto che andava al cinema ma poi non c’è andato.Lui ha detto che il giorno seguente si sarebbero incontrati lì.

INDIRECT QUESTIONS

The transformation from direct to indirect question is the same as that for direct/indirect speech:

Direct question	Indirect question
La mamma domanda al bambino: “Hai fatto i compiti?”	La mamma domanda al bambino se ha fatto i compiti.
La mamma domandò al bambino: “Hai fatto i compiti?”	La mamma domandò al bambino se aveva fatto i compiti.

However, when we want to emphasize the indirect question (especially in writing) the subjunctive is required instead of the indicative:

Direct question	Indirect question
La mamma domanda al bambino: “Hai fatto i compiti?”	La mamma domanda al bambino se abbia fatto i compiti.
La mamma domandò al bambino: “Hai fatto i compiti?”	La mamma domandò al bambino se avesse fatto i compiti.

Nowdays, there is an increasing tendency among Italians to use the indicative instead of the subjunctive. However, the subjunctive is required for a proper use of the language.

June 15, 2024

SPECIAL USE OF ITALIAN CONDITIONAL VERB

SPECIAL USE OF THE italian conditional of dovere/volere/potere + infinito

“Dovere, volere, potere” are called “verbi servili”, (verb that ‘serve’ – modal verbs) because they are followed by an infinitive.

They can also be used alone (especially “volere” e.g. “voglio una torta” = I want a cake) but, as modal verbs, they are used with another verb in the infinitive tense (e.g. “voglio viaggiare” = I want to travel). The verb “sapere” is also a modal verb.

In this special construction, when they are used in the conditional form, they can be confusing for English speaking students because they do not have a literal translation. Check the following examples:

Oggi io potrei andare al cinema ma tu non puoi. (I could go to the movies but you cannot.)

Oggi io vorrei andare al cinema ma tu non vuoi. (I would like to go to the movies but you do not want.)

Oggi io dovrei studiare, ma invece andrò al cinema! (I should study but instead I will go to the movies.)

They can be used also in the past conditional:

Io avrei potuto diventare una persona importante! (I could have become an important person!)

Io avrei voluto diventare una persona importante! (I would have liked to become an important person!)

Io avrei dovuto studiare per diventare una persona importante! (I should have studied in order to become an important person!)

IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTION

When the subject of a sentence is generic and not specified (people, one, they…) the Italian language uses the impersonal construction.
It is formed with “si” plus the third singular person of the verb:

In Italia si cena alle otto (in Italy people have dinner at 8)

Qui non si fuma (no smoking here)

Si deve studiare per ottenere la laurea (one has to study to obtain one’s degree)

When the verb is reflexive the particle “ci” precedes “si”:

Per andare ad una festa ci si veste bene (to go to a party, people get well dressed)

Quando il treno ritarda ci si innervosisce (when the train is late, one becomes nervous)

If an adjective follows the verb, the adjective is in the plural masculine form:

Quando si è stanchi, ci si sente nervosi (when one is tired, one feels nervous)

A tavola si mangia seduti (at the table, one eats sitting)

Note: There is a costruction which is similar to the impersonal construction but is slightly different; it is called “passive si” construction.
The impersonal construction requires the third singular person of the verb:

in questo ristorante si mangia bene (people eat well in this restaurant)

The “passive si” construction requires the third singular or plural person of the verb according to the number of the object:

in questo ristorante si mangia la pizza (people eat pizza in this restaurant or pizza is eaten in this restaurant) In this case “pizza” is singular and the verb is singular.

in questo ristorante si mangiano pesce e patatine (in this restaurant people eat fish and chips or fish and chips are eaten in this restaurant) In this case “pesce e patatine” is plural and the verb is plural.

To recognize the difference between the impersonal construction and “si passivante”, it may help you to know that in the passive construction you switch the subject.
The meaning of the sentence is the same but the construction is different.

Example

ACTIVE SENTENCE (THE SUBJECT IS PEOPLE): la gente mangia pizza in questo ristorante = people eat pizza in this restaurant
PASSIVE SENTENCE (THE SUBJECT IS PIZZA): la pizza è cotta bene in questo ristorante = pizza is well cooked in this restaurant
SI PASSIVANTE: in questo ristorante si mangia la pizza = in this restaurant one eats pizza

ATTIVA: la gente mangia pesce e patatine in questo ristorante = people eat fish and chips in this restaurant
PASSIVA: il pesce e le patatine sono preparati molto bene in questo ristorante = fish and chips are prepared very well in this restaurant
SI PASSIVANTE: in questo ristorante si mangiano pesce e patatine = in this restaurant one eats fish and chips

In the impersonal construction (e.g. “qui non si fuma”) you cannot switch the subject.

RECIPROCAL CONSTRUCTION

The particle “ci” (for “we”), “vi” (for “you” plural) and “si” (for “they”) are used to form the “reciprocal construction”:

Telefoniamoci domani (let’s call each other tomorrow)

Loro non si parlano (they don’t talk to each other)

Scrivetevi! (write to each other!)

NOTE In a reciprocal construction, compound tenses require the verb “essere”:

Non si sono più sentiti (they haven’t talked to each other anymore)

SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION: “stare per” + infinito

This construction is formed with “stare per + infinitive”:

Sto per partire (I’m about to leave)

Loro stanno per uscire (they are about to go out)

SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION: “stare” + gerundio

This construction is formed with “stare + gerundio”:

Sto mangiando (I’m eating)

Stai studiando? (are you studying?)

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024

ITALIAN ADVANCED CONSTRUCTIONS

FORMAL /INFORMAL APPROACH

In Italy, you should have a formal approach with people you don’t know or with whom you are not well acquainted (a teacher, a professor, an elderly person…), and an informal approach with friends and relatives.

To express the formal approach we change from “tu” to “Lei” and everything else changes consequently (e.g the verb and possessive adjective or pronoun change to the third person).

(Tu) hai domande? (Do you have questions? Informal)

(Lei) ha domande? (Do you have questions? Formal)

Il libro è tuo. (The book is yours. Informal)

Il libro è Suo. (The book is yours. Formal)

If we use the formal approach with a man, we still use the feminine pronoun “Lei” (She) but we keep adjectives and past participle in the masculine form:

Tu sei contento? (Lit. Are you happy? Informal)

Lei è contento? (Lit. Are you happy? Formal)

Tu sei stato in ufficio? (Lit. Have you been to the office? Informal)

Lei è stato in ufficio? (Lit. Have you been to the office? Formal)

In the plural form the formal approach is expressed with “Loro”:

Cosa desiderate? (What do you wish? Informal)

Cosa desiderano? (What do you wish? Formal)

LA NARRAZIONE

There are many ways to “narrate” or tell a fact that happened in the past. Oftentimes the choice of “how to narrate” depends on the style of those who narrate or on the emphasis that they want to give to certain aspects of the tale.

In general we can say that the imperfetto “describes” the moment in the past, or the situation we were, when something happened. It “sets-up” the action (quando ero giovane… = when I was young…)

The passato prossimo expresses a well defined action – begun and completed in the past (…sono andato a Parigi = …I went to Paris.)

Mentre andavo in ufficio, ho incontrato il mio amico.
(While I was going to the office I met my friend.)

Quando avevo dieci anni, ho visitato Roma.
(When I was ten years old, I visited to Rome.)

Abitavo a Parigi e allora ho iniziato a studiare pittura.
(I was living in Paris and so I started to study painting.)

Gli ospiti andavano via e quindi anche io ho salutato e sono andato via.
(The guests were leaving, therefore I said goodbye and left.)

The trapassato prossimo expresses an action that happened prior to the one expressed by another past tense.

Stamattina, dopo che avevo messo la camicia pulita, mi è caduto il caffè addosso.
(This morning, after I wore a clean shirt, I spilled the coffee on it).

Il passato remoto (remote-past tense) is rarely used in conversation and is widely used in writing for historical or literary narrations.

For example, in spoken language Italians generally prefer to use the passato prossimo rather than the passato remoto. They prefer to say, “Da bambino una volta sono andato a Parigi” (when I was a child once I have been to Paris) instead of “da bambino una volta andai a Parigi” (when I was a child once I went to Paris).

The use of the passato remoto depends on how much emphasis is given to the remoteness or “historicity” of the action. In some regions of Italy, however (especially in Tuscany or in the south) the passato remoto is more commonly used or sometimes even preferred to the passato prossimo.

IMPORTANT: for consistency, if you begin to narrate using the passato remoto you have to continue with the passato remoto: Da bambino, una volta andai a Parigi; poi non ebbi più occasione di fare un viaggio (As a child, once I went to Paris; then I no longer had a chance to travel).

If you start narrating using the passato prossimo, you have to continue with the passato prossimo: Da bambino, una volta sono andato a Parigi; poi non ho avuto più occasione di fare un viaggio (As a child, once I have been to Paris; then I have no longer had a chance to travel).

The imperfetto may accompany the passato prossimo or the passato remoto:

Da bambino viaggiavo sempre con i miei genitori. Una volta andai a Parigi con loro e visitammo il Louvre, poi non ebbi più occasione di viaggiare (As a child I used to travel with my parents. Once I went to Paris with them and we visited the Louvre; then I no longer had a chance to travel).

Da bambino viaggiavo sempre con i miei genitori. Una volta sono andato a Parigi con loro e abbiamo visitato il Louvre, poi non ho avuto più occasione di viaggiare (As a child I used to travel with my parents. Once I have been to Paris with them and we have visited the Louvre; then I have no longer had a chance to travel).

Please note: the translation of the Italian past tenses into English is not easy nor it can be expressed literally, as in English the use of the past tenses is different.

SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION: condizionale di dovere/volere/potere + infinito

“Dovere, volere, potere” are called “verbi servili”, (verb that ‘serve’ – modal verbs) because they are followed by an infinitive.

Oggi io potrei andare al cinema ma tu non puoi. (I could go to the movies but you cannot.)

Oggi io vorrei andare al cinema ma tu non vuoi. (I would like to go to the movies but you do not want.)

Oggi io dovrei studiare, ma invece andrò al cinema! (I should study but instead I will go to the movies.)

They can be used also in the past conditional:

Io avrei potuto diventare una persona importante! (I could have become an important person!)

Io avrei voluto diventare una persona importante! (I would have liked to become an important person!)

Io avrei dovuto studiare per diventare una persona importante! (I should have studied in order to become an important person!)

IMPERSONAL CONSTRUCTION

In Italia si cena alle otto (in Italy people have dinner at 8)

Qui non si fuma (no smoking here)

Si deve studiare per ottenere la laurea (one has to study to obtain one’s degree)

When the verb is reflexive the particle “ci” precedes “si”:

Per andare ad una festa ci si veste bene (to go to a party, people get well dressed)

Quando il treno ritarda ci si innervosisce (when the train is late, one becomes nervous)

If an adjective follows the verb, the adjective is in the plural masculine form:

Quando si è stanchi, ci si sente nervosi (when one is tired, one feels nervous)

A tavola si mangia seduti (at the table, one eats sitting)

in questo ristorante si mangia bene (people eat well in this restaurant)

The “passive si” construction requires the third singular or plural person of the verb according to the number of the object:

in questo ristorante si mangia la pizza (people eat pizza in this restaurant or pizza is eaten in this restaurant) In this case “pizza” is singular and the verb is singular.

Example

In the impersonal construction (e.g. “qui non si fuma”) you cannot switch the subject.

RECIPROCAL CONSTRUCTION

The particle “ci” (for “we”), “vi” (for “you” plural) and “si” (for “they”) are used to form the “reciprocal construction”:

Telefoniamoci domani (let’s call each other tomorrow)

Loro non si parlano (they don’t talk to each other)

Scrivetevi! (write to each other!)

NOTE In a reciprocal construction, compound tenses require the verb “essere”:

Non si sono più sentiti (they haven’t talked to each other anymore)

SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION: “stare per” + infinito

This construction is formed with “stare per + infinitive”:

Sto per partire (I’m about to leave)

Loro stanno per uscire (they are about to go out)

SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION: “stare” + gerundio

This construction is formed with “stare + gerundio”:

Sto mangiando (I’m eating)

Stai studiando? (are you studying?)

HYPOTHETICAL CONSTRUCTION (conditional clauses)

In Italian there are three forms of conditional clauses:

1) “Realtà” (reality) = expresses an action that will happen or it is very likely to happen. It uses the “Indicativo” or “Imperativo”:

Se piove, prendo l’ombrello. (If it rains, I’ll get the umbrella)
Se piove, prendi l’ombrello! (If it rains, get the umbrella!)

2) “Possibilità” (possibility) = expresses an action that might happen. It uses the “Congiuntivo imperfetto” and the “Condizionale presente” or “Imperativo”:

Se piovesse, prenderei l’ombrello. (If it rained, I would get the umbrella)
Se piovesse, prendi l’ombrello! (In case it rains: get the umbrella!) 3) “Impossibilità o irrealtà” (irreality) = expresses an action that cannot happen or could have happened but did not. Depending on the time the hypothesis refers to, it uses the “Congiuntivo trapassato” and the “Condizionale presente” or “Condizionale passato”:
Se avessi avuto l’ombrello l’avrei usato. (If I had had an umbrella, I would have used it.)
Se avessi usato l’ombrello ora non avrei il raffreddore! (If I had used the umbrella now I would not have a cold!)

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024

STRUCTURE OF THE ITALIAN SENTENCE

HOW TO WRITE AN ITALIAN SENTENCE

To become aware of the basic structure of an Italian sentence, find the subject (who is doing the action in the sentence. E.g. I, you, they, Mary, Robert etc.) and then the verb (the word indicating which action is performed. E.g. to walk, to smile, to dance, etc.)

Example: “Io dormo” (I SLEEP) = SUBJECT and VERB.

If there is an object in the sentence, it usually follows the verb.

Example: “Io guardo la televisione” (I watch TV) = subject, verb and OBJECT/noun.

Please note that the English language usually does not require articles. The Italian language almost always requires articles: LA televisione (THE television).

Sometimes, with certain verbs or certain expressions you need to add a preposition (example: parlare di):

“Il libro parla di storia.” (The book talks about history).

Adjectives usually follow the noun (a part some exceptions like “questo/quello”, numerals and adjectives indicating quantity like “molto, poco, altro, troppo…”)

Example: “Io leggo un libro interessante” (I read an interesting book) = subject, verb, object/noun and ADJECTIVE.

“Questo libro è interessante. Ho pochi libri interessanti.” (This book is interesting. I have few interesting books.)

Adverbs modify or specify the meaning of a verb, adjective or another adverb.

1.If the adverb is referring to the verb it follows the verb.

Example: “Io guardo molto la televisione” (I watch TV a lot)

2. If there is an object, the adverb is placed after the verb or at the end of the sentence.

Example: “Io guardo sempre la televisione”.

“Io guardo la televisione sempre“.

(I always watch television. I watch television always.)

3. Some adverbs (like “mai, sempre, spesso, subito, ancora, finalmente, nemmeno, neanche, neppure, certamente, forse…” – never, always, often, now, so, finally, even, of course, maybe …) with compound verbs are placed between the auxiliary and the participle.

Example: “Non ho mai visto quel film”. (I’ve never seen that movie.)

4. If an adverb refers to a noun or an adjective, it is placed in front of it.

Example: “Guardo principalmente film d’azione”.

“Sono, anche se non sembra, piuttosto stanco”. (I watch mainly action movies. I am, even though it doesn’t seem so, rather tired.)

Some adverbs can change position in the sentence and in doing so they change the meaning of the sentence.

Example: “Vado al cinema solo con Marco” = è l’unica persona con cui vado al cinema. (I’m going to the movies only with Marco = he is the only person with whom I go to the cinema.)

“Vado solo al cinema con Marco” = con Marco vado solo al cinema non faccio altro. (I’m only going to the movies with Marco = it’s all I do with Marco, nothing else.)

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024

ITALIAN ACTIVE AND PASSIVE CONSTRUCTION

In Italian the active construction the subject of the sentence is ‘active’ and the verb expresses his/her/its action: “La mamma prepara la cena“. “La mamma” (the mother) is the active subject, “prepara” (prepares) is the verb, “la cena” (the dinner) is the object.

All transitive and intransitive verbs have the active form

In the passive construction the subject is ‘passive’ and “undergoes” or “receives” the action performed by a doer (agent).

The verb changes into the passive form (using the auxiliary “essere”): “La cena è preparata dalla mamma“. “La cena” (the dinner) is the subject, “è preparata” (is prepared) is the passive verb, “dalla mamma” (the mother) is the agent.

Only the transitive verbs with an object expressed can have the passive form

The meaning of an active sentence (“La mamma prepara la cena”) and the meaning of a passive sentence (“La cena è preparata dalla mamma”) are practically the same. However, as the subject changes the emphasis of the sentence changes: in the first sentence (active) “la mamma” is the focus of the action and the most important element; in the second sentence (passive) “la cena” is the focus of the action and the most important element.

HYPOTHETICAL CONSTRUCTION (conditional clauses)

In Italian there are three forms of conditional clauses:

1) “Realtà” (reality) = expresses an action that will happen or it is very likely to happen. It uses the “Indicativo” or “Imperativo”:

Se piove, prendo l’ombrello. (If it rains, I’ll get the umbrella)

Se piove, prendi l’ombrello! (If it rains, get the umbrella!)

2) “Possibilità” (possibility) = expresses an action that might happen. It uses the “Congiuntivo imperfetto” and the “Condizionale presente” or “Imperativo”:

Se piovesse, prenderei l’ombrello. (If it rained, I would get the umbrella)

Se piovesse, prendi l’ombrello! (In case it rains: get the umbrella!)

3) “Impossibilità o irrealtà” (irreality) = expresses an action that cannot happen or could have happened but did not. Depending on the time the hypothesis refers to, it uses the “Congiuntivo trapassato” and the “Condizionale presente” or “Condizionale passato”:

Se avessi avuto l’ombrello l’avrei usato. (If I had had an umbrella, I would have used it.)

Se avessi usato l’ombrello ora non avrei il raffreddore! (If I had used the umbrella now I would not have a cold!)

June 15, 2024

AUXILIAR VERBS

AUXILIAR VERBS – TO BE, TO HAVE

“Essere” (to be) and “Avere” (to have) are called “auxiliary verbs”; they are so called because they “help” in the formation of compound tenses (“essere” + the past participle of a verb, “avere” + the past participle of a verb) and the passive construction (“essere” + a verb) etc.

ESSERE

Pronouns	Verb Essere (Presente indicativo)	To be
io	sono	I am
tu	sei	you are
lui	è	he is
lei	è	she is
Lei	è	you are (formal)
noi	siamo	we are
voi	siete	you are
loro	sono	they are

INDICATIVO
Presente	Passato Prossimo	Futuro	Imperfetto
sono (I am) sei è siamo siete sono	sono stato/a (I have been, I was) sei stato/a è stato/a siamo stati/e siete stati/e sono stati/e	sarò (I will be) sarai sarà saremo sarete saranno	ero (I used to be, I was) eri era eravamo eravate erano
Trapassato Prossimo	Passato Remoto	Trapassato Remoto	Futuro Anteriore
ero stato/a (I had been) eri stato/a era stato/a eravamo stati/e eravate stati/e erano stati/e	fui (I was) fosti fu fummo foste furono	fui stato/a (I had been, I was) fosti stato/a fu stato/a fummo stati/e foste stati/e furono stati/e	sarò stato/a (I will have been) sarai stato/a sarà stato/a saremo stati/e sarete stati/e saranno stati/e
PARTICIPIO	IMPERATIVO	CONDIZIONALE	CONDIZIONALE
Passato		Presente	Passato
stato (been)	sii (be!) sia siamo siate siano	sarei (I would be) saresti sarebbe saremmo sareste sarebbero	sarei stato/a (I would have been) saresti stato/a sarebbe stato/a saremmo stati/e sareste stati/e sarebbero stati/e
INFINITO	INFINITO	GERUNDIO	GERUNDIO
Presente	Passato	Presente	Passato
essere (to be)	essere stato/a (to have been)	essendo (being)	essendo stato (having been)
CONGIUNTIVO
Presente	Passato	Imperfetto	Trapassato
sia sia sia siamo siate siano	sia stato/a sia stato/a sia stato/a siamo stati/e siate stati/e siano stati/e	fossi fossi fosse fossimo foste fossero	fossi stato/a fossi stato/a fosse stato/a fossimo stati/e foste stati/e fossero stati/e

AVERE

Pronouns	Verb Avere (Presente indicativo)	To Have
io	ho	I have
tu	hai	you have
lui	ha	he has
lei	ha	she has
Lei	ha	you have (formal)
noi	abbiamo	we have
voi	avete	you have
loro	hanno	they have

In informal, daily and colloquial situations, Italians often combine the particle “ci” with the verb “avere”; this use of the verb “avere” is grammatically incorrect, but it is pretty common in the spoken language. Therefore you may hear someone asking “ciavete una penna?” (or spelled “c’avete una penna”) instead of “avete una penna?” (do you have a pen?) or “ciabbiamo un buon libro da leggere” instead of “abbiamo un buon libro da leggere” (we have a good book to read.) Some Italian writers (Carlo Emilio Gadda…) use the verb “avere” with the particle “ci” in their writings to convey a feeling of ‘informal, every day’ language.

INDICATIVO
Presente	Passato Prossimo	Futuro	Imperfetto
ho (I have) hai ha abbiamo avete hanno	ho avuto (I have had, I had) hai avuto ha avuto abbiamo avuto avete avuto hanno avuto	avrò (I will have) avrai avrà avremo avrete avranno	avevo (I used to have, I had) avevi aveva avevamo avevate avevano
Trapassato Prossimo	Passato Remoto	Trapassato Remoto	Futuro Anteriore
avevo avuto (I had had) avevi avuto aveva avuto avevamo avuto avevate avuto avevano avuto	ebbi (I had) avestiebbe avemmo avesteebbero	ebbi avuto (I had had) avesti avuto ebbe avuto avemmo avuto aveste avuto ebbero avuto	avrò avuto (I will have had) avrai avuto avrà avuto avremo avuto avrete avuto avranno avuto
PARTICIPIO	IMPERATIVO	CONDIZIONALE	CONDIZIONALE
Passato		Presente	Passato
avuto (had)	abbi (have!) abbia abbiamo abbiate abbiano	avrei (I would have) avresti avrebbe avremmo avreste avrebbero	avrei avuto (I would have had) avresti avuto avrebbe avuto avremmo avuto avreste avuto avrebbero avuto
INFINITO	INFINITO	GERUNDIO	GERUNDIO
Presente	Passato	Presente	Passato
avere (to have)	avere avuto (to have had)	avendo (having)	avendo avuto (having had)
CONGIUNTIVO
Presente	Passato	Imperfetto	Trapassato
abbia abbia abbia abbiamo abbiate abbiano	abbia avuto abbia avuto abbia avuto abbiamo avuto abbiate avuto abbiano avuto	avessi avessi avuto avesse avuto avessimo avuto aveste avuto avessero avuto	avessi avuto avessi avuto avesse avuto avessimo avuto aveste avuto avessero avuto

June 15, 2024June 15, 2024

ITALIAN IMPERFECT VERB

The “imperfetto” (imperfect) in Italian is used to express a habit or an action that was frequently repeated in the past. “Da bambino andavo alla spiaggia tutti i giorni” (as a child, I used to go to the beach every day, I would go to the beach every day), or to describe a situation in the past “quando vivevo a Roma” (when I was living in Rome…).

IMPERFETTO of REGULAR VERBS

The “imperfetto” of regular verbs is formed by replacing the “-re” of the infinitive with the endings of the “imperfetto”.

“Amare, Ridere, Dormire” – Imperfetto

Pronoun	Amare	Ridere	Dormire
io	am-avo (I used to love, I would love, I loved…)*	rid-evo (I used to laugh, I would laugh, I laughed…)*	dorm-ivo (I used to sleep, I would sleep, I slept…)*
tu	am-avi	rid-evi	dorm-ivi
lui	am-ava	rid-eva	dorm-iva
lei	am-ava	rid-eva	dorm-iva
Lei	am-ava	rid-eva	dorm-iva
noi	am-avamo	rid-evamo	dorm-ivamo
voi	am-avate	rid-evate	dorm-ivate
loro	am-avano	rid-evano	dorm-ivano

*Please note that in this case “would” does not indicate a conditional but a habitual or continued action.

IMPERFETTO of IRREGULAR VERBS

Most of the “irregular verbs” are regular in the formation of the “imperfetto”.

The ones that are irregular in the “imperfetto” are:

“Bere, Dire, Fare, Tradurre” – Imperfetto

Be-re (from the latin: “bev-ere”)	Di-re (from the latin: “dic-ere”)	Fa-re (from the latin: “fac-ere”)	Tradur-re (from the latin: “traduc-ere”)
bev-evo (I used to drink, I would drink, I drank…)* bev-evi bev-eva bev-evamo bev-evate bev-evano	dic-evo (I used to say, I would say, I said…)* dic-evi dic-eva dic-evamo dic-evate dic-evano	fac-evo (I used to do, I would do, I did…)* fac-evi fac-eva fac-evamo fac-evate fac-evano	traduc-evo ( I used to translate, I would translate, I tranlated…)* traduc-evi traduc-eva traduc-evamo traduc-evate traduc-evano

*Please note that in this case “would” does not indicate a conditional but a habitual or continued action.

“Essere” – Imperfetto

This verb changes stem in the “imperfetto”

Ess-ere

ero
(I used to be, I would* be, I was)
eri
era
era-vamo
era-vate
erano

TRAPASSATO PROSSIMO

The “trapassato prossimo” expresses an action that happened prior to the one expressed by another past tense: “Stamattina, dopo che avevo messo la camicia pulita, mi è caduto il caffè addosso” (This morning, after I wore a clean shirt, I spilled the coffee on it).

The “trapassato prossimo” is a “compound tense” (like the “passato prossimo”) because it is formed with one of the auxiliary verbs (“essere” or “avere”) plus the past participle of a verb.

Whether it requires “essere” or “avere” depends on the verb. If the verb is a transitive verb, it requires the auxiliary “avere”.

If the verb is intransitive (like most verbs that express movement or state of being) or if the verb is reflexive, it requires the auxiliary “essere”.

TRAPASSATO PROSSIMO of TRANSITIVE VERBS

Transitive verbs may be followed by an object to complete their meaning “leggo la lettera” (I read the letter) I read what? I read the letter.

The “trapassato prossimo” of transitive verbs is formed with the “imperfetto” of “AVERE” + the past participle of the verb.

“Mangiare, Leggere, Aprire” – Trapassato Prossimo

Pronoun	Mangiare	Leggere	Aprire
io	avevo mangiato (I had eaten)	avevo letto (I had read)	avevo aperto (I had opened)
tu	avevi mangiato	avevi letto	avevi aperto
lui	aveva mangiato	aveva letto	aveva aperto
lei	aveva mangiato	aveva letto	aveva aperto
Lei	aveva mangiato	aveva letto	aveva aperto
noi	avevamo mangiato	avevamo letto	avevamo aperto
voi	avevate mangiato	avevate letto	avevate aperto
loro	avevano mangiato	avevano letto	avevano aperto

TRAPASSATO PROSSIMO of INTRANSITIVE VERBS

Intransitive verbs don’t need an object to complete their meaning.

The “trapassato prossimo” of most intransitive verbs is formed with the “imperfetto” of “ESSERE” + the past participle of the verb (if you are not sure whether a verb requires “essere” or “avere” check the dictionary.) With “essere”, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject of the verb.

“Andare, Nascere, Venire” – Trapassato Prossimo

Pronoun	Andare	Nascere	Venire
io	ero andato/a (I had gone)	ero nato/a (I was born)	ero venuto/a (I had come)
tu	eri andato/a	eri nato/a	eri venuto/a
lui	era andato	era nato	era venuto
lei	era andata	era nata	era venuta
Lei	era andato/a	era nato/a	era venuto/a
noi	eravamo andati/e	eravamo nati/e	eravamo venuti/e
voi	eravate andati/e	eravate nati/e	eravate venuti/e
loro	erano andati/e	erano nati/e	erano venuti/e

Essere	Avere
io ero stato/a (I had been) tu eri stato/a…	io avevo avuto (I had had) tu avevi avuto…

REMEMBER

“dormire”(to sleep), “rispondere” (to answer), “viaggiare” (to travel), “vivere” (to live) though intransitive require the auxiliary “avere” (“ho dormito, ho risposto, ho viaggiato, ho vissuto…”)
verbs that express movement, like “venire” (to come), “andare” (to go), “uscire” (to go out)… require the auxiliary “essere”
verbs that express state of being, like “essere” (to be), “stare” (to stay), “rimanere” (to remain), “nascere” (to be born)… require the auxiliary “essere”
reflexive verbs require the verb “essere”
the verb “piacere” requires the auxiliary “essere”
for the position of the pronouns with compound tenses, please refer to the pronouns section

June 15, 2024

ITALIAN CONDITIONAL VERB

Generally the conditional suggests, proposes, expresses a desire, a doubt, a gentle request or it expresses an action that could occur “on condition that…”

In Italian sounds like: “Ti amerei… Potrei amarti… Avrei potuto amarti…” (I would love you…, I could love you… I could have loved you…)

MODO CONDIZIONALE Suggest the possibility – possible conditions)
Tempo Presente	Tempo Passato
io amerei (I would love) tu ameresti…	io avrei amato (I would have loved) tu avresti amato…

It has a present (condizionale presente) and a perfect form (condizionale passato).

The formation of the conditional is very similar to the formation of the future.

CONDIZIONALE PRESENTE of REGULAR VERBS

The conditional of regular verbs is formed by replacing the ending of the infinitive with the endings of the conditional.

“Amare, Ridere, Dormire” – Condizionale presente

Pronoun	Amare	Ridere	Dormire
io	am-erei (I would love)	rid-erei (I would laugh)	dorm-irei (I would sleep)
tu	am-eresti	rid-eresti	dorm-iresti
lui	am-erebbe	rid-erebbe	dorm-irebbe
lei	am-erebbe	rid-erebbe	dorm-irebbe
Lei	am-erebbe	rid-erebbe	dorm-irebbe
noi	am-eremmo	rid-eremmo	dorm-iremmo
voi	am-ereste	rid-ereste	dorm-ireste
loro	am-erebbero	rid-erebbero	dorm-irebbero

CONDIZIONALE PRESENTE of IRREGULAR VERBS

Some verbs may be irregular in the conditional but not in the present conjugation (or viceversa.)

To help you memorizing some of them, we created five categories:

“Andare, Avere, Dovere, Potere, Sapere, Vedere” – Condizionale presente

This category presents a contraction: “rei” instead of “erei”… The verb “VIVERE” (“io vivrei” – I would live) belongs to this category

And-are	Av-ere	Dov-ere	Pot-ere	Sap-ere	Ved-ere
and-rei (I would go) and-resti and-rebbe and-remmo and-reste and-rebbero	av-rei (I would have) av-resti av-rebbe av-remmo av-reste av-rebbero	dov-rei (I would have to) dov-resti dov-rebbe dov-remmo dov-reste dov-rebbero	pot-rei (I would be able to) pot-resti pot-rebbe pot-remmo pot-reste pot-rebbero	sap-rei (I would know) sap-resti sap-rebbe sap-remmo sap-reste sap-rebbero	ved-rei (I would see) ved-resti ved-rebbe ved-remmo ved-reste ved-rebbero

“Rimanere, Tenere, Venire, Volere” – Condizionale presente

This category presents a contraction and a changing of “n” or “l” into “r” in the stem, with a characteristic “double R effect”

Riman-ere	Ten-ere	Ven-ire	Vol-ere
rima-r-rei (I would stay) rima-r-resti rima-r-rebbe rima-r-remmo rima-r-reste rima-r-rebbero	te-r-rei (I would keep) te-r-resti te-r-rebbe te-r-remmo te-r-reste te-r-rebbero	ve-r-rei (I would come) ve-r-resti ve-r-rebbe ve-r-remmo ve-r-reste ve-r-rebbero	vo-r-rei (I would want) vo-r-resti vo-r-rebbe vo-r-remmo vo-r-reste vo-r-rebbero

“Dare, Dire, Fare, Stare” – Condizionale presente

This category presents a contraction

Da-re	Di-re	Fa-re	Sta-re
da-rei (I would give) da-resti da-rebbe da-remmo da-reste da-rebbero	di-rei (I would say) di-resti di-rebbe di-remmo di-reste di-rebbero	fa-rei (I would do) fa-resti fa-rebbe fa-remmo fa-reste fa-rebbero	sta-rei (I would stay) sta-resti sta-rebbe sta-remmo sta-reste sta-rebbero

“Cominciare, Mangiare, Viaggiare” – Condizionale presente

The category of verbs whose infinitive end with “ci+are” or “gi+are” (“soft sound” as “CIAO”), drops the final “i” in front of the endings of the conditional (in order to maintain a soft sound effect as “MarCEllo”)

Comin-ci-are	Man-gi-are	Viag-gi-are
cominc-erei (I would begin) cominc-eresti cominc-erebbe cominc-eremmo cominc-ereste cominc-erebbero	mang-erei(I would eat) mang-eresti mang-erebbe mang-eremmo mang-ereste mang-erebbero	viagg-erei (I would travel) viagg-eresti viagg-erebbe viagg-eremmo viagg-ereste viagg-erebbero

“Dimenticare, Pagare” – Condizionale presente

The category of verbs whose infinitive end with “c+are” or “g+are” (“hard sound” as Karl, Carlo), adds an “h” in front of the endings of the conditional (to maintain the hard sound effect)

Dimenti-c-are	Pa-g-are
dimenti-ch-erei (I would forget) dimentich-eresti dimentich-erebbe dimentich-eremmo dimentich-ereste dimentich-erebbero	pagh-erei (I would pay) pagh-eresti pagh-erebbe pagh-eremmo pagh-ereste pagh-erebbero

“Essere” – Condizionale presente

This verb changes stem in the conditional

Ess-ere

sa-rei
(I would be)
sa-resti
sa-rebbe
sa-remmo
sa-reste
sa-rebbero

June 15, 2024

ITALIAN PAST TENCE

The “passato prossimo” (past tense) in Italian is used to express an action that began and was completed in a recent past (yesterday, last week, last summer…): “ieri ho mangiato la mela” (yesterday I ate the apple, I did eat the apple, I have eaten the apple…) In many Italian regions it is used as the main form of past “l’anno scorso ho viaggiato molto” (literally: last year I have traveled a lot.)

The “passato prossimo” is a “compound tense” because it is formed with one of the auxiliary verbs (“essere” or “avere”) plus the past participle of a verb. Whether it requires “essere” or “avere”, depends on the verb. If the verb is a transitive verb, it requires the auxiliary “avere.” If the verb is intransitive (like most verbs that express movement or state of being) or if the verb is reflexive, it requires the auxiliary “essere.”

Passato prossimo of transitive verbs

Transitive verbs may be followed by an object to complete their meaning: “leggo la lettera” (I read the letter) I read what? I read the letter. The “passato prossimo” of transitive verbs is formed with “AVERE” (present indicative) + the past participle of the verb.

“Mangiare, Leggere, Aprire” – Passato prossimo

Pronoun	Mangiare	Leggere	Aprire
io	ho mangiato (I ate, I have eaten, I did eat)	ho letto (I read, I have read, I did read)	ho aperto (I opened, I have opened, I did open)
tu	hai mangiato	hai letto	hai aperto
lui	ha mangiato	ha letto	ha aperto
lei	ha mangiato	ha letto	ha aperto
Lei	ha mangiato	ha letto	ha aperto
noi	abbiamo mangiato	abbiamo letto	abbiamo aperto
voi	avete mangiato	avete letto	avete aperto
loro	hanno mangiato	hanno letto	hanno aperto

Passato prossimo of INtransitive verbs

Intransitive verbs don’t need an object to complete their meaning. The “passato prossimo” of most intransitive verbs is formed with “ESSERE” (present indicative) + the past participle of the verb (if you are not sure whether a verb requires “essere” or “avere” check the dictionary.) With “essere”, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject of the verb.

“Andare, Nascere, Venire” – Passato Prossimo

Pronoun	Andare	Nascere	Venire
io	sono andato/a (I went, I have gone, I did go)	sono nato/a (I was born)	sono venuto/a (I came, I have come, I did come)
tu	sei andato/a	sei nato/a	sei venuto/a
lui	è andato	è nato	è venuto
lei	è andata	è nata	è venuta
Lei	è andato/a	è nato/a	è venuto/a
noi	siamo andati/e	siamo nati/e	siamo venuti/e
voi	siete andati/e	siete nati/e	siete venuti/e
loro	sono andati/e	sono nati/e	sono venuti/e

Essere	Avere
io sono stato/a (I was) tu sei stato/a…	io ho avuto (I had, I did have) tu hai avuto…

REMEMBER

“dormire”(to sleep), “rispondere” (to answer), “viaggiare” (to travel), “vivere” (to live) though intransitive require the auxiliary “avere” (“ho dormito, ho risposto, ho viaggiato, ho vissuto…”)
verbs that express movement, like “venire” (to come), “andare” (to go), “uscire” (to go out)… require the auxiliary “essere”
verbs that express state of being, like “essere” (to be), “stare” (to stay), “rimanere” (to remain), “nascere” (to be born)… require the auxiliary “essere”
reflexive verbs require the verb “essere”
the verb “piacere” requires the auxiliary “essere”
for the position of the pronouns with compound tenses, please refer to the pronouns section

June 15, 2024

PARTICIPLE IN ITALIAN “PARTICIPIO”

MODO PARTICIPIO
Tempo Presente	Tempo Passato
amante (lover)	amato (loved)

The participle in Italian has a present (participio presente) and a past form (participio passato).

The present form can be replaced by a relative pronoun and the according verb: “il bambino ridente”, “il bambino che ride” (the child who laughs).

The past form may be used “almost as an adjective” or, in combination with “essere” or “avere” to create other forms of past like the “passato prossimo, passato remoto”, etc… (recent past, remote past…): “Il bicchiere rotto” (the broken glass); “ho rotto il bicchiere” (I have broken the glass).

When the participle is “used as an adjective” it must agree in gender and number with the noun to whom it refers: “il bicchiere rotto, i bicchieri rotti” (the broken glass, the broken glasses).

PARTICIPIO PRESENTE

The present participle of verbs ending with “are”, “ere”, “ire” is formed by adding “ante”, “ente”, “ente” to the stems of the infinitive.

1st Conjugation	2nd Conjugation	3rd Conjugation
Infinito in ARE: cant-are (to sing)	Participio presente: cant-ante (singer, singing)	Infinito in ERE: piang-ere (to cry)	Participio presente: piang-ente (crying)	Infinito in IRE: divertire (to amuse)	Participio presente: divert-ente (amusing)

PARTICIPIO PASSATO

Participio passato of regular verbs

The past participle of verbs ending with “are”, “ere”, “ire” is formed by adding “ato”, “ito”, “uto” to the stems of the infinitive.

1st Conjugation	2nd Conjugation	3rd Conjugation
Infinito in ARE: ball-are (to dance)	Participio passato: ball-ato (danced)	Infinito in ERE: vol-ere (to want)	Participio passato: vol-uto (wanted)	Infinito in IRE: dorm-ire (to sleep)	Participio passato: dorm-ito (slept)

PARTICIPIO PASSATO OF IRREGULAR VERBS

Several verbs have an irregular past participle:

1th Conjugation	2nd Conjugation	3rd Conjugation
dare -> dato (given)	bere -> bevuto (drunk)	aprire ->aperto (opened)
fare -> fatto (done, made)	cadere -> caduto (fell)	dire -> detto (said, told)
stare -> stato (been)	chiedere -> chiesto (asked)	morire -> morto (dead)
	chiudere -> chiuso (closed)	offrire -> offerto (offered)
	decidere -> deciso (decided)	salire -> salito (climbed, went up)
	dipingere -> dipinto (painted)	venire -> venuto (come)
	essere -> stato (been)
	leggere -> letto (read)
	mettere -> messo (put, placed)
	nascere -> nato (born)
	perdere -> perso (lost)
	prendere -> preso (taken)
	rimanere -> rimasto (remained)
	rispondere -> risposto (answered)
	scegliere -> scelto (chosen)
	scrivere -> scritto (written)
	spendere -> speso (spent)
	vedere -> visto/veduto (seen)

Essere -> stato (been)

Avere -> avuto (had)