NOTES
(by DuoItalian)
The Italian passato prossimo (present perfect) is used to express a completed action that has happened in the past, but with some relation to the present. It is actually formed by combining two verbs.
- Ho mangiato una fragola per colazione. (I ate a strawberry for breakfast.)
- Sono andato al cinema per vedere un film. (I went to the cinema to see a movie.)
AUXILLARY
The present tense of one of the two auxiliary verbs avere or essere.
→ Click here for a brief explanation: AVERE or ESSERE?
PAST PARTICIPLE
The participio passato (past participle) expresses the meaning and is formed by changing the ending of an infinitive verb (-are, -ere, or -ire) as follows:
- Infinitive verbs ending in “-are“ become –ato (lavorare → lavor-ato)
- Infinitive verbs ending in “-ere“ become –uto (sapere → sap-uto)
- Infinitive verbs ending in “-ire“ become –ito (finire → fin-ito)
There are however some verbs that have a past participle which is completely irregular. Listed below are some of the more important ones to remember.
aprire | to open | aperto |
bere | to drink | bevuto |
chiedere | to ask | chiesto |
chiudere | to close | chiuso |
correre | to run | corso |
decidere | to decide | deciso |
dire | to say | detto |
essere | to be | stato |
fare | to do | fatto |
leggere | to read | letto |
mettere | to put | messo |
morire | to die | morto |
nascere | to be born | nato |
piangere | to cry | pianto |
prendere | to take | preso |
ridere | to laugh | riso |
rimanere | to remain | rimasto |
rispondere | to answer | risposto |
rompere | to break | rotto |
scegliare | to choose | scelto |
scrivere | to write | scritto |
sorridere | to smile | sorriso |
stare | to stay | stato |
succedere | to happen | successo |
vedere | to see | visto |
venire | to come | venuto |
vincere | to win | vinto |
vivere | to live | vissuto |
TIP: Keep in mind, the past participle is a “verbal adjective” and is subject to various rules.
- Verbs conjugated with a third person direct object clitic (lo, la, l’, li, le) must match in gender and number.
- If the auxiliary verbs is essere, it must match the gender and number of the subject.
- In all other cases, the masculine singular form must be used.
VOCABULARY
(from Duolingo)
avuto | had |
ho fatto | I have done |
siamo venuti | we have come |
hanno bevuti | they have drank |
hai detto | you have told |
siamo conosciuti | we have met |
sono andati | they went |
ho voluto | wanted |
ha preso | has taken |
sono arrivati | they have arrived |
ha dato | he has given |
ha portata | she has brought |
ha messo | he has put |
ha pensata | she has thought |
ho lasciato | I have left |
siamo diventate | we have become |
ho sentito | I have heard |
ho creduto | I have believed |
ha tenuta | she has kept |
ho capito | I have understood |
ha chiesto | he has asked |
è rimasto | he has stayed |
hanno lavorati | they have worked |
abbiamo vissuti | we have lived |
è passato | it has passed |
sono aperti | they are open |
hai seguito | you have followed |
è morto | he has died |
ho aspettato | I have waited |
hanno guardati | they have watched |
ho chiamato | I have called |
siamo piaciuti | we have liked |
ha vinto | he has won |
ho perso | I have lost |
ho iniziato | I have started |
ho ricevuto | I have received |
ho deciso | I have decided |
ha scritta | she had written |
ho tentato | I have tried |
ha insistito | he has insisted |
siamo incontrati | we have met |
ha prodotto | it has produced |
è cambiato | it has changed |
abbiamo cominciati | we have started |
ho pagato | I have paid |
Ciao,
shouldn’t there be “ha preso” insted of “ha presso”?
Ciao David!
Thanks for pointing out the error, it has been corrected.
I hope you are enjoying the site!