You generally use avere [to have] when the main verb is followed by a direct object — an answer to the question “what/who(m)?” — and essere [to be] if it is not. What if specific verbs take both? Read on to learn the rules and the exceptions!
Table of Contents
You generally use avere [to have] when the main verb is followed by a direct object — an answer to the question “what/who(m)?” — and essere [to be] if it is not. What if specific verbs take both? Read on to learn the rules and the exceptions! Here are two examples: Both sentences above are in passato prossimo, but in the first one, the verb studiato is introduced by ho (a form of avere [to have]); while in the second one, the verb partito is introduced by sono (a form of essere [to be]). Even though the English present perfect tense is structurally similar to the Italian one, it differs from it in the auxiliary verbs used: in English this tense is formed mainly with “to have” as shown in the example above. In Italian though, the two auxiliary verbs avere and essere are used alternatively. How can you choose between avere and essere? Knowing how to choose between avere and essere is fundamental for learners of Italian every time they have to deal with passato prossimo. This will also help when using the other compound tenses formed by the combination of avere/essere conjugated in different tenses + the past participle. Given that the use of avere or essere depends on the main verb, you can easily choose between the two auxiliaries by asking yourself a simple question: “what/who(m)?” right after the main verb. Let’s see how it works:'Avere' vs 'essere' auxiliary verbs
Rules to help you choose between 'avere' and 'essere'
'Avere' with TRANSITIVE verbs (= answering the question what/who(m))
Let’s say we have to turn the following infinitive into passato prossimo:
The verb comprare [to buy] is the main verb we want to change into passato prossimo; so, let’s ask ourselves: ‘To buy what?’ The answer to the question “what?” is un regalo [a present], which we call “direct object,” a word not introduced by a preposition. Verbs that take direct objects are called “transitive” and are introduced by the auxiliary verb avere.
The same with the question, “who(m)?”
We ask ourselves, “incontrare [to meet] who(m)?” “Lucia” is the answer to “who(m)?” and is not introduced by any preposition. Therefore, the verb incontrare is transitive and takes avere.
So far, so good. But what if the main verb cannot be followed by a direct object, or an answer to “what/who(m)”?
'Essere' with INTRANSITIVE verbs (= not answering the question what/who(m))
When the main verb cannot be followed by a direct object, generally, you can use the auxiliary verb essere with the following four categories:
Intransitive verbs that indicate an action experienced by the subject
Sono nato. I was born.
Sono cresciuto. I have grown up.
BUT you use the auxiliary verb avere with:
Intransitive verbs that indicate an action actually performed by the subject
Ho parlato di te. I have talked about you.
Ho creduto a te. I have believed you.
Reflexive verbs (the action is performed and reflects back to the subject)
Mi sono preparato per uscire.
I got ready to go out. (lit. I prepared myself to go out).
Impersonal verbs (the subject is not a person)
Questa cosa è appena successa. This thing has just happened.
Exception!
You’ve got the rule…Here is the exception!
Verbs that indicate the weather or atmospheric phenomena can also use the auxiliary verb avere. You can say:
ha piovuto AND è piovuto It has rained.
ha nevicato AND è nevicato It has snowed.
etc.
Intransitive verbs of movement and status answering “where?”
Io sono andato a scuola ieri. I went to school yesterday.
(I went where? - to school)
Tu sei rimasto a casa tutto il giorno. You stayed at home all day long.
(You stayed where? - at home)
Exception!
But remember! Movement verbs such as
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are exceptions and take avere:
Ho viaggiato in lungo e in largo. I have traveled far and wide.
‘Avere’ and ‘essere’ with the same verb
Ready for a big surprise? Look at the following examples with the verb passare:
Oggi Anna ha passato tutta la mattina a casa.
Today Anna has spent all morning at home.
Oggi Anna è passata all’ufficio postale.
Today Anna passed by the post office.
Both sentences are correct, so, what to do when a verb can be introduced by both avere and essere, then?
With verbs that take both avere and essere, depending on their use, the key question “what/who(m)?” is again of great help. The verb passare, when used to talk about spending time (transitive use), takes avere; when used to talk about passing by (going) somewhere (intransitive use), it takes essere.
Oggi Anna ha passato tutta la mattina a casa.
Today Anna has spent (what?) all morning at home.
Oggi Anna è passata all’ufficio postale.
Today Anna passed (where?) by the post office.
If you look closely, you’ll notice another key difference in the two examples: the past participle endings change (ha passato vs è passata). Why? With avere, the past participle does not agree in number and gender with the verb's subject, Anna, but with essere, it does. That’s due to the agreement rules that regulate the structure of sentences in Italian. Keep in mind that the same rules and exceptions apply to all the compound tenses in Italian: passato prossimo, trapassato prossimo [past perfect], futuro anteriore [future perfect], and trapassato remoto [past anterior]. In the meantime,let’s see how it works for the passato prossimo.
Summary
In conclusion,
The use of avere and essere depends on the verbs they ‘help,’ that is, the verbs they precede.
(Video) Italian Verbs - AVERE and ESSERE in the PASSATO PROSSIMOThe key question “what/who(m)?” is of great help for learners of Italian who do not have a dictionary handy to check whether a verb is transitive or intransitive.
And now, buona fortuna [good luck] with our exercises.
External Links
https://web.uvic.ca/~hisitaex/exercises/italian/italian100/verbi/passprat1.htm
https://web.uvic.ca/~hisitaex/exercises/italian/italian100/verbi/passprat3.htm
https://web.uvic.ca/~hisitaex/exercises/italian/italian100/verbi/prossess2.htm
https://web.uvic.ca/~hisitaex/exercises/italian/italian100/verbi/prossimo2.htm
http://coursework.mansfield.edu/bholtman/1101-ital/esercizi/04/pass-pross-2.htm
http://coursework.mansfield.edu/bholtman/1101-ital/esercizi/04/pass-pross-3.htm
http://coursework.mansfield.edu/bholtman/1101-ital/esercizi/04/pass-pross-1.htm
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FAQs
What are the auxiliary verbs in passato prossimo? ›
Passato prossimo is something known as a compound tense, which means that it's made up of two verbs. The first of the two is some form of either essere (to be) or avere (to have). These are called auxiliary verbs, because they are there to support the main act, which is created by making a past participle of a verb.
Which are the auxiliary verbs in Italian that help you to make the passato prossimo and the trapassato prossimo? ›In English this happens when we say, "I have eaten," or "I had eaten," "I am eating," or "I would have eaten": those have and had and am are the English counterparts of Italian auxiliaries and those tenses translate to the Italian passato prossimo, trapassato prossimo, gerund, and condizionale passato.
How do you know which auxiliary verb to use in Italian? ›The answer is simpler than it seems. If the verb has an intransitive use, meaning that it is not followed by an object complement, then the auxiliary will be essere. Instead if the verb has a transitive use, meaning that it is followed by an object complement, then the auxiliary will be avere.
What are the two parts of passato prossimo? ›As you can see from the above phrases, the passato prossimo is made up of two entities: an auxiliary or helping verb and a past participle. The first part, “ho“, is called an auxiliary. The second part, “parlato” is called a past participle. The passato prossimo is always made up of these two entities.
What is the difference between essere and avere in passato prossimo? ›How can you choose between auxiliary verbs 'avere' and 'essere' in the 'passato prossimo'? You generally use avere [to have] when the main verb is followed by a direct object — an answer to the question “what/who(m)?” — and essere [to be] if it is not.
What is the rule of passato prossimo? ›The passato prossimo is a compound tense (formed with 2 words). The first one is the present tense (presente) of an auxiliary verb, the second word is the past participle (participio passato) of the verb that we are conjugating.
How the passato prossimo using Avere works in the Italian language? ›The Italian Present Perfect tense, or passato prossimo, is one of the most used tenses. The Present Perfect tense of avere is formed by the Present simple of the auxiliary verb avere (to have) + its past participle: avuto. Passato prossimo can be translated in English both with the Simple Past and with Present Perfect.
Is essere or Avere present perfect in Italian? ›In Italian, there are two irregular verbs that function as auxiliary verbs in compound tenses (e.g. in the present perfect): essere to be and avere to have.
What are the irregular verbs in passato prossimo? ›Some of them are "avere" ("avuto"), "essere" ("stato"), fare ("fatto"), dire ("detto"), "chiedere" ("chiesto"), "scrivere" ("scritto"), "vivere" ("vissuto"), "morire" ("morto"), and "mettere" ("messo").
How many essere verbs are there in Italian? ›...
Passato prossimo.
| Io sono stato | I have been |
|---|---|
| Noi siamo stati | We have been |
| Voi siete stati | You have been |
| Essi sono stati | They have been |
How do you conjugate trapassato prossimo in Italian? ›
To form the trapassato prossimo, we simply use the imperfetto (imperfect) of avere / essere + the past participle of the conjugated verb.
How can you tell passato prossimo or imperfetto? ›How do you know when to use imperfetto or passato prossimo? The imperfecto is used to describe the action that we were taking when something interfered with it. The passato prossimo describes the shorter-term “interrupting” action, while the imperfetto describes the ongoing “background” action.
What is the trapassato prossimo in Italian? ›The trapassato prossimo is the Italian equivalent of the English past perfect tense. Much like in English, the Italian past perfect is used to express an action that had been completed before a second action was also completed.
Does Potere use essere or avere? ›In the following tables, we will use the verb avere (to have) as the auxiliary to build compound tenses. Don't forget, though, that potere also takes essere (to be) when the verb it is helping need that auxiliary.
Is essere essere or avere? ›In fact, there's plenty of gray area, which we'll delve into further on, but very generally speaking, when the verb is transitive (can take a direct object), the auxiliary verb is avere (to have) and when the verb is intransitive (cannot take a direct object), the auxiliary verb is essere (to be).
Is passato prossimo the same as present perfect? ›The passato prossimo (present perfect) is used in Italian to describe events that have been completed in the recent past or were completed in the distant past but still affect the present. The passato prossimo is a one of four compound verb tenses in Italian.
Is the passato prossimo the perfect tense? ›The passato prossimo (perfect tense) is a past tense: it literally means “the near past”.
What are the three types of verbs in Italian? ›- 1st conjugation: -are (amare "to love", parlare "to talk, to speak");
- 2nd conjugation: -ere (credere "to believe", ricevere "to receive"); ...
- 3rd conjugation: -ire (dormire "to sleep");
In English, you can use a preposition at the end of a question (for instance: who did you come with?) but you can't do so in Italian. Italian prepositions are always placed in front of another word and never at the end of a question or at the end of a sentence.
How do you use Avere in Italian sentences? ›Uses of the Italian verb avere
Stefano ha sete (Stefano is thirsty) Abbiamo freddo (we're cold) I bambini hanno sonno (the children are sleepy)
What type of verb is essere? ›
Essere is used for Intransitive verbs, verbs where actions cannot pass from the actor to the object. As we're dealing with Essere, we need to be mindful of gender and number. Intransitive verbs are commonly referred to as "walking verbs" for they usually have something to do with motion.
What words are essere? ›Essere is auxiliary to verbs that express state of being: vivere (to live), stare (to stay), nascere (to be born), diventare (to become), durare (to last), crescere (to grow). In those verbs, the action affects only the subject and in fact stops within the subject, intransitive only.
What is the verb of Avere? ›Verb: avere (to have)
What is the meaning of Avere? ›Verb. avere. (transitive) To have. (transitive) To need.
What are the 3 irregular verbs in Spanish? ›The verbs ser (to be), ir (to go), and ver (to see) are completely irregular in the imperfect tense.
What are the 3 irregular verbs in French? ›The most used irregular verbs in French
These common irregular verbs are: être - to be. aller - to go. avoir - to have.
- Io sono (I am)
- Tu sei (You are): Informal.
- Lui è (He is)
- Lei è (She is)
- Lei è (You are): Formal.
- Noi siamo (We are)
- Voi siete (You all are)
- Loro sono (They are)
The conjugation of verbs in Italian is fairly easy. It doesn't take much memorizing, and there are only 12 tenses. The simplest way to conjugate Italian verbs is to identify the verb's infinitive form (the base form of the verb) and then add the appropriate ending to it.
What is your name in Italy? ›“come ti chiami?”
What is the difference between passato prossimo and imperfetto o trapassato? ›Imperfetto is used to talk about past habits or past repetitive actions. So, going to catechism was a repetitive action I did every Saturday. Passato prossimo, instead, is used to talk about a past temporary action that usually has still effects on the present.
How do you tell the difference between past perfect and present perfect in Spanish? ›
Like its English counterpart, the Spanish past perfect is used to talk about actions which happened or started in the past, or generally about experiences the subject has had in their life. The present perfect is normally used to express some relevant past information that has to do with the current situation.
How can you tell the difference between imperfect and perfect in French? ›The imperfect tense is used for an ongoing action that was interrupted by a sudden action – in the perfect tense. For example: Je regardais la télé quand tu as téléphoné. – I was watching TV (imperfect) when you phoned (perfect.)
Does passato prossimo agree with gender? ›There's a rule that if the verb is in the passato prossimo, the past participle can agree in gender and number with the direct object pronoun.
What are the most important verb tenses in Italian? ›- The present: Io vado – I'm going, I go. Use it for now, for the future, for routines. ...
- The near past: Io sono andato – I went, I have been. Essential for talking about things you've done or did. ...
- The imperfect: Io andavo – I used to go, I was going, I went (repeatedly)
Helping verbs, helping verbs, there are 23! Am, is, are, was and were, being, been, and be, Have, has, had, do, does, did, will, would, shall and should. There are five more helping verbs: may, might, must, can, could!
What are the 27 auxiliary verbs? ›be, can, could, dare, do, have, may, might, must, need, ought, shall, should, will, would. The status of dare (not), need (not), and ought (to) is debatable and the use of these verbs as auxiliaries can vary across dialects of English.
What are the 16 auxiliary verbs? ›Give some examples of auxiliary verbs.
Am, is, are, was, were, will, have, has, had, may, might, can, could, shall, should, must, ought to, would, etc., are some examples of auxiliary verbs.
The three primary auxiliary verbs are 'be', 'have' and 'do'. There are ten common modal auxiliary verbs and they are 'can', 'could', 'will', 'would', 'shall', 'should', 'may', 'might', 'must' and 'ought'. Modal auxiliary verbs often express the ideas of necessity and possibility.
What are the 5 auxiliary verbs? ›An auxiliary verb helps the main (full) verb and is also called a "helping verb." With auxiliary verbs, you can write sentences in different tenses, moods, or voices. Auxiliary verbs are: be, do, have, will, shall, would, should, can, could, may, might, must, ought, etc.
What are the 6 auxiliary verbs? ›The modal verbs 'can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would' are also included as auxiliary verbs.
What are the 24 auxiliary verbs sentences? ›
- I must go.
- Go I must.
- He must have gone.
- He must be a liar.
- You must do this.
- You must not tell a lie.
- You must be a rich man.
- You must have been absent.
There are nine modal auxiliary verbs: shall, should, can, could, will, would, may, must, might. There are also quasi-modal auxiliary verbs: ought to, need to, has to. Why only quasi?
How do you use trapassato prossimo in Italian? ›To form the trapassato prossimo, we simply use the imperfetto (imperfect) of avere / essere + the past participle of the conjugated verb.
How do you know when to use imperfect or passato prossimo? ›How do you know when to use imperfetto or passato prossimo? The imperfecto is used to describe the action that we were taking when something interfered with it. The passato prossimo describes the shorter-term “interrupting” action, while the imperfetto describes the ongoing “background” action.
What are the list of auxiliary verbs in Spanish? ›Auxiliary verbs that precede infinitive verbs are: poder, ir a, venir a, volver a, haber de, tener que, deber (de), llegar a, acabar de, and alcanzar a. Auxiliary verbs that precede a gerund are: estar, ir, venir, seguir, and andar. Finally, the auxiliary verb that precedes past participles is: haber.
What is an auxiliary verb give examples? ›Auxiliary verbs, also known as helper verbs or helping verbs, are minor verbs that support the sentence's main verb to communicate complex grammar concepts like aspects of time or modality. For example, in this sentence, “I have finished the report,” the auxiliary verb have supports the main verb finish.
What are the 11 primary auxiliary verbs? ›Auxiliary verbs are also called special verbs or anomalous verbs. There are twelve words: be, do, have, can, may, shall, will, must, ought, used (to), need, dare.