ILGUR: Italian Language, Grammar and Usage Resource

Let us take a look at these three Italian past tenses in contrast, since it is sometimes really difficult for English speakers to know when to use one or the other.

First of all, let us group the passato prossimo and the passato remoto together, because their difference is just in the point in time they refer to, not in the quality of the action they express.

The kind of action the passato prossimo and the passato remoto express is a completed action which occurred at some point in the past. Whereas the passato prossimo is mainly used in conversation to refer to recent or less recent past actions, the passato remoto is used instead for remote past actions. In addition, the passato remoto is the only tense used in fiction.

Un’ora fa ha chiamato Maria.

Maria called an hour ago.

Mercoledì scorso sono andato al cinema con Francesco.

Last Wednesday I went to the cinema with Francesco.

Il mese scorso siamo andati in vacanza alle Barbados.

Last month we went to Barbados on holiday.

Tre anni fa prenotammo una stanza d’albergo vicino al mare.

Three years ago we reserved a hotel room near the sea.

Nel 1946 l’Italia diventò una Repubblica.

In 1946 Italy became a Republic.

(From a novel:) Laura si svegliò di soprassalto e guardò l’orologio.

Laura woke up with a start and took a look at her watch.

There is much debate among Italians about how remote an action has to be to require a passato remoto. There are two factors to consider: a regional one and an emotional one.

Regarding regional differences, people in Northern Italy tend to prefer the passato prossimo, even for actions that took place long ago. They would rather say (see example above):

Tre anni fa abbiamo prenotato una stanza d’albergo vicino al mare

Three years ago we booked a hotel room near the sea.

In the South, it is the other way round: many Neapolitans and Sicilians would rather say (see examples above):

Il mese scorso andammo in vacanza alle Barbados.

Last month we went on vacation to Barbados.

Mercoledì scorso andai al cinema con Francesco.

Last Wednesday I went to the movies with Francesco.

The emotional factor refers to the emotional proximity felt by the speaker relating a past action, which means that the past action is felt to still have an impact on the present regardless of how remote in the past it actually is. In this case, the passato prossimo would rather be used. For example, one would not normally use the passato remoto in sentences like:

Sono nato in un piccolo paesino della Sicilia. (The speaker is obviously still alive)

I was born in a small village in Sicily.

Ci siamo sposati nell’agosto del 1980. (They are still married)

We got married in August 1980.

Now let us now consider how the IMPERFETTO works. It has got at least three main functions:

1) DESCRIPTION OF A PAST SITUATION:

Ero un ragazzo introverso: parlavo poco e passavo il tempo leggendo romanzi d’avventura.

I was an introverted boy: I spoke little and spent my time reading adventure novels.

Nel 1990 vivevamo in Francia.

In 1990 we lived in France.

La nostra casa si trovava su una collina, e poco sotto iniziava una strada che portava al mare, da cui si poteva vedere un isolotto vulcanico.

Our house was located on a hill, and just below began a road that led to the sea, from where one could see a volcanic holm.

2) REPEATED OR HABITUAL PAST ACTION:

Da bambino, andavo in montagna tutti gli anni.

When I was a child, I used to go to the mountains every year.

Quando tornavo a casa, mi aspettava sempre dietro la porta per farmi uno scherzo.

When I used to return home, she used to always wait behind the door in order to play a trick on me.

3) DURATIVE PAST ACTION (that is, actions where the stress in on duration):

Mi fissava con rabbia.

He was staring at me with anger.

Ieri Paolo, mentre studiava, ascoltava la musica. (parallel durative actions, often introduced by time subordinators such as “mentre”; see below)

Yesterday Paolo, while he was studying, listened to music.

Now let us finally see the passato remoto/passato prossimo tenses in contrast to the imperfetto.

I said that the passato prossimo/passato remoto group refers to completed actions that took place at some point in the past. In contrast, the imperfetto focuses on the duration of an action rather than on its completeness (which is irrelevant here). This contrast is particularly evident when the tenses are used in combination, as in the following examples:

- passato prossimo/passato remoto + passato prossimo/passato remoto

(= A series of completed past actions, one following the other in temporal succession)

Sono tornato a casa e l’ho chiamata. (with the passato prossimo)

I came back home and I called her.

Prima accesi la TV e poi mi misi a letto. (with the passato remoto)

First I turned on the TV and then got into bed.

Graphically speaking, we can see each passato prossimo/passato remoto action as a single vertical arrow (the point in time) hitting the time line. So, the first example could be represented as follows:

- imperfetto + imperfetto

(= Parallel durative actions)

Mentre ascoltava la radio, fumava una canna.

While he was listening to the radio, he was smoking a joint.

Graphically speaking, these actions in the imperfetto can be seen as two parallel horizontal segments along the time line. So, the example could be represented as follows:

- imperfetto + passato prossimo/passato remoto

Mentre parlavo con Maria, è squillato il telefono.

While I was talking to Maria, the telephone rang.

Anna passava per quella strada proprio nell’istante in cui l’auto esplose.

Anna was going by that street just at that moment when the car exploded.

Finally, we can combine the above symbols in the following representation of the first example:

Below are some exercises (answers are located in the comments).  Please study #210 that explains the use of potere, riuscire and sapere.

Instructions: In the sentences below, fill the appropriate conjugation and tense of potere, riuscire a, or sapere.

1. (io)  __________  portarti al centro commerciale ma devi andare a casa in autobus.

2.  Non _________ trovare le mie chiavi perche’ la mia scrivania è in disordine.

3.  (io) __________ giocare a tennis come un professionista, ma, scusami, domani non _______  giocare.  Ho un colloquio.

4. (tu) _________  prestarci la tua macchina?  La nostra non parte.

5. Fagli un’offerta che non (lui) _________ rifiutare.

6. Non (loro) ____________  accettare i tuoi soldi – sono troppo orgogliosi!

7. Sapevo che __________ spiegargli tutta la situazione, però quando l’ho visto stamattina ho cominciato a tremare e non ____________ dire una parola.

8. Quando sono ritornato a casa, sapevo di non ________ entrarci.  Ho capito di aver lasciato le chiavi sul tavolo e non ________ proprio.

9.  Ho tentato di aprire la porta molte volte con la chiave, ma alla fine non ___________.

10.  (io) __________ guardare i bambini mentre ti fai la doccia.

11. (io) ___________ aprire il barratolo.  Ho le mani bagnate.

12.  Ho tentato di aprire la porta del mio ufficio, ma non ________ perché avevo la chiave sbagliata. Ho frugato nelle tasche, ma non ___________ trovare quella giusta, e poi ho capito di averla lasciata sul tavolo della cucina. Si, __________ vederla dalla finestra ma _________ prenderla!  Mannaggia!  Non _______ entrarci!  Ma allora ho pensato che _________ telefonare a mia madre per un aiuto.

13. Mi ricordo l’estate scorsa.  Cercavo questo paesino chiamato Villari e mi sono perso.  Ho chiesto ad un passante, ma non (lui) _________ aiutarmi perche’ anche lui era uno sconosciuto li.  Ho telefonato ad Aldo per un aiuto, presumendo che conoscesse la zona, e, per fortuna, alla fine (lui) ___________ aiutarmi a trovare questo posto.

Answers:

The answer key is located in the comments below.  If you have a question or require an explanation, leave a comment, and one of us will respond shortly!

Do you ever get confused when to use essere and when to use stare?

Use of essere:

Essere can express existence, which refers to an intrinsic quality or a condition, both temporary and permanent, and can be followed by an adjective (felice, depresso, annoiato, stanco, allergico, malato, etc.):

Sei una persona magnifica.
You are a wonderful person.

Sono stanchissimo. Posso riposarmi un minuto?
I’m very tired. Do you mind if I rest for a moment?

Come sei brutto con questo maglione rosa!
How ugly you are with that pink sweater on!

Essere can also be used to express a state, indicating the place where one is (as a synonym for the verb trovarsi):

Sarò a Roma il prossimo fine-settimana.
I will be in Rome next week-end.

Non piangere. Sono qui per aiutarti.
Don’t cry. I am here to help you.

Sono in piedi davanti a voi; non mi vedete?
I’m standing still in front of you; can’t you see me?

Quanti saremo alla festa?
How many of us will be at the party?

Cultural Note: In the south of Italy, it’s not uncommon to hear people use ‘stare’ with adjectives, as in “sto stanco”, “sto depresso”, to indicate a temporary condition, as well as with a locative meaning, as in “sto a casa”, “sto per strada”. Nevertheless, these are regional, non-standard usages (derived from the Spanish language) which are considered inappropriate by native speakers themselves in official contexts and in writing.

Use of stare:

Stare indicates a temporary physical condition, as an answer to the question, “Come stai?” (and is followed by an adverb: sto bene/benissimo, sto male/malissimo, sto meglio di ieri, sto peggio di ieri ecc.):

Come stai oggi?
How are you today?

Sto benissimo, grazie!
I’m very well, thanks!

Let’s look at the following example where both verbs are used in contrast:

Come stanno i tuoi genitori? (‘come’=interrogative adverb, so ‘stare’ is used)
Sono esausti; hanno viaggiato tutta la giornata. (‘esausto’=adjective, so ‘essere’ is used)

How are your parents?
They’re exhausted; They travelled all day long.

Stare can also be used to describe a physical position, indicating the stillness and persistence of a condition, as a synonym for the verb ‘restare’ (stay):

Sto qui ad aspettarti da un’ora!
I’ve been waiting here for you for an hour!

Sta’ zitto! Ho mal di testa!
Shut up! [literally: stay silent] I’ve got a headache!

Stava con le mani sui fianchi.
She was akimbo.

With adjectives that can express both intrinsic qualities and physical positions, the contrast in meaning between “essere” and “stare” becomes more evident:

Sii fermo e risoluto e avrai successo in ogni situazione.
Be firm and resolute and you’ll succeed every time.

Sta’ fermo un attimo! Mi stai innervosendo!
Hold still for a moment! You are annoying me!

In the following example, we can see a clear contrast between the indication of a position and the persistence of that position:

Dov’è seduta tua madre? Non la vedo.
Where is your mother seated? I can’t see her.

Dille di stare seduta ancora un po’.
Tell her to stay seated a little longer.

Other grammatical uses of stare and essere:

Stare is used to form the present and past progressive (il presente progressivo and il passato progressivo):

Sto andando al supermercato.
I’m going to the supermarket. (That is, you are going right now)

Non ti arrabbiare! Stavamo solo scherzando!
Don’t be mad! We were only joking!

Essere is used, along with avere, as the auxiliary verb in compound tenses such as the passato prossimo:

Sono stato alla biblioteca oggi.
I was at the library today.

Sono arrivati alle 5 di mattina.
They arrived at 5am.

NB: Take note that stato is the past participle for essere and stare.

Essere is also used in passive constructions:

Le piccole squadre come la nostra sono sempre penalizzate!
Small teams like ours are always penalised!

Stare per + infinitive means to be about to do something:

Il treno sta per partire.
The train is about to depart.

created and edited by Vittorio Tavini
and Keith Preble

The word, can, can have one of several different translations.  As I have to come to find out (almost painfully!), it can be difficult for non-native speakers of Italian to grasp this.

In order to clear up any confusion, let’s look at how can is used:

In English

In English, can is used to express ability, permission, and logical possibility:

ability: I can swim well.

permission: Can I have something to drink?

logical possibility: I can see your house from the window.

In Italian

In Italian, can can be expressed with the verbs sapere + infinito, riuscire a + infinito, or potere.  Let’s study this in greater detail:

capacità:

In Italian, acquired skill/ability is expressed with the verb, sapere + infinitive (can or to know how to do something):

So nuotare bene!

I can swim well!

Capability can also be expressed with riuscire, if the skill/ability that is acquired is temporary in nature:

Riesco a sentirti da qui.

I can hear you from here.

permesso:

Permission or permesso is expressed with the verb, potere:

Puoi prendere il libro se ti serve.

You can take the book if you need it.

possibilità logica:

Potere can be used to express a logical possibility:

Si può vedere la torre da questa finestra.

One can see the tower from this window.

Therefore, potere does not possess the idea of skill/ability that can possesses — and in order to express this idea we use two verbs, according to whether the skill/ability is acquired or temporary in nature:

In genere so cantare benissimo, ma in questo momento non ci riesco perché sono raffreddato.

Usually I know how to sing/can sing very well, but right now I am not able to because I have a cold.
[In general, I can sing well, but at this moment in time I am not capable of it because I am sick]

In the example above, there’s an implication that the speaker attempted to sing.

Let’s look at this example:

In genere so cantare benissimo, ma in questo momento non posso perché sono raffreddato.

Usually I know how to sing very well, but right now I cannot because I have a cold.
[In general, I can sing well, but at this moment in time it is impossible for me because I am sick]

In this example above, the speaker made no attempt to try to sing since he/she knew full well that it would be an impossibility.

In the first example where we contrast sapere and riuscire (a + infinito), we can see a contrast between an acquired skill (so cantare) versus a momentary incapacity (non ci riesco). In the second example, there’s a contrast between an acquired skill versus an objective obstacle (the cold which sprang up on the speaker).

It helps to practice because it can be confusing — click here for some exercises.

created by Vittorio Tavini and Keith Preble

The modal verbs (i verbi modali) — potere, volere and dovere — have special considerations when used in compound tenses (such as the passato prossimo) and the imperfetto.

In compound tenses:

- Modals take the auxiliary (il verbo ausiliare), avere, when they are used by themselves in the passato prossimo:

Le ho voluto tanto bene.

I loved her so much.

- Modals, when followed by an infinitive, take the auxiliary, essere or avere, that the infinitive would take:

Ho voluto comprare una giacca nuova.

I wanted to buy a new jacket.

Sono dovuta andare al supermercato.

I had to go to the supermarket.

- When modals are followed by reflexive verbs:

- if the reflexive pronoun is attached to the infinitive, avere is used:

Ha dovuto sposarsi in chiesa perché sua madre ci teneva tanto!

She had to get married in church because it was very important to her mother.

- if the reflexive pronoun comes before the auxiliary, then essere is used:

Si è dovuta sposare in chiesa perché sua madre ci teneva tanto!

She had to get married in church because it was very important to her mother.

- When modals are followed by essere, the auxiliary, avere, is used:

Ho dovuto essere a casa per le cinque.

I had to be at home by five o’clock.

When modals are used in the imperfetto, they can often indicate or describe an uncertainty of an action’s outcome, but that outcome does not necessarily nor does it always remain so. This is best explained with examples, as seen below:

dovere:

Dovevo finire il lavoro entro le cinque; per questo ho perfino saltato il pranzo. Alla fine l’ho consegnato perfettamente in orario!

I had to finish the work by five o’clock; for this I even skipped lunch.  In the end I handed it in perfectly on time.
[Initially there was trepidation that the assignment would not be completed, but in the end, the subject perserveres]

Dovevo finire il lavoro entro le cinque, ma era così tanto che alla fine non ce l’ho fatta.

I had to finish the work by five o’clock, but it was too much that in the end I didn’t manage to do it.
[Initially there was trepidation that the assignment would not be completed, and, in the end, it was not -- it proved to be too much]

potere:

Potevo andare sul sicuro regalandogli l’ennesimo libro, e allora non mi sono scervellato più di tanto: sono andato in libreria e gli ho comprato il solito romanzo d’avventura.

I could play it safe giving him the umpteenth book, and then I didn’t wrack my brains too much: I went to the bookstore and bought him the usual adventure novel.
[I knew that I could play it safe and ended up doing so by buying the usual gift]

Potevo andare sul sicuro regalandogli l’ennesimo libro, ma mi sembrava banale: alla fine ho rischiato e gli ho comprato un vaso cinese.

I could play it safe giving him the umpteenth book, but it seemed banal to me: in the end I took a risk and bought him a Chinese vase.
[I knew that I could play it safe but changed my mind in the end and decided to take a risk and buy a vase]

volere:

Volevo risolvere la situazione senza litigare, e lei lo ha percepito fin da subito e si è calmata.

I wanted to resolve the situation without arguing, and she detected it right away and calmed down.
[I desired to resolve the situation, and in the end it resolved as I wanted - without arguing]

Volevo risolvere la situazione senza litigare, ma lei ha cominciato a rinfacciarmi delle cose assurde e allora ho perso le staffe e ho preso a urlarle contro.

I wanted to resolve the situation without arguing, but she started to hold some absurd things against me and then I lost my temper and started to show at her.
[I desired to resolve the situation without arguing, but it didn't go the way I wanted, and we fought]

When modals are used in the passato prossimo, they refer to an action that has been realized within a given context:

Ho dovuto finire il lavoro entro le cinque perché alle sei avevo un appuntamento importante.

written by Keith Preble & Vittorio Tavini
last updated: 6 may 2011