Passato Prossimo
Learn to form and use the most common past tense using auxiliary verbs 'avere' and 'essere'.
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I went / I have gone (masc.)
The first-person singular of the verb 'andare' (to go) in the passato prossimo, used by a male speaker. Because it expresses movement, it requires the auxiliary verb 'essere', forcing the past participle to agree in gender and number.
Ieri sono andato dal barbiere a farmi tagliare i capelli.
Yesterday I went to the barber to get a haircut.
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I went / I have gone (fem.)
The first-person singular of the verb 'andare' (to go) in the passato prossimo, used exclusively by a female speaker. The ending changes to '-ata' to match the feminine gender required by the auxiliary verb 'essere'.
Sabato scorso sono andata al centro commerciale con la mia amica.
Last Saturday I went to the mall with my friend.
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I ate / I have eaten
The first-person singular of the regular '-are' verb 'mangiare' (to eat) in the passato prossimo. It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere', meaning the past participle 'mangiato' remains unchanged regardless of the speaker's gender.
Stasera ho mangiato un panino al volo perché non avevo tempo di cucinare.
Tonight I ate a sandwich on the fly because I didn't have time to cook.
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I drank / I have drunk
The first-person singular of the verb 'bere' (to drink) in the passato prossimo. It uses 'avere' as its auxiliary verb and features the irregular past participle 'bevuto', derived from its historical Latin root 'bevere'.
Ieri sera ho bevuto un paio di birre con i colleghi dopo il lavoro.
Last night I drank a couple of beers with coworkers after work.
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I was / I have been (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the verbs 'essere' (to be) and 'stare' (to stay/be) for a male speaker. It utilizes 'essere' as its auxiliary, meaning the participle ending reflects the speaker's masculine gender.
Scusa se non ho risposto, sono stato bloccato in una riunione tutto il pomeriggio.
Sorry I didn't answer, I was stuck in a meeting all afternoon.
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I was / I have been (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of 'essere' (to be) and 'stare' (to stay/be) used by a female speaker. The past participle changes its ending to '-ata' to achieve grammatical agreement with the feminine subject.
Sono stata a Roma la settimana scorsa per motivi di lavoro.
I was in Rome last week for work reasons.
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I did / I made / I have done
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'fare' (to do/make). It pairs with the auxiliary 'avere' and uses the irregular past participle 'fatto'.
Stamattina ho fatto una corsa al parco prima di andare in ufficio.
This morning I went for a run in the park before heading to the office.
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I said / I told / I have said
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'dire' (to say/tell). It forms the passato prossimo with the auxiliary 'avere' and uses the irregular past participle 'detto'.
Ti ho detto mille volte di non lasciare le scarpe davanti alla porta!
I've told you a thousand times not to leave your shoes in front of the door!
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I saw / I have seen
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'vedere' (to see). It pairs with the auxiliary 'avere' and utilizes the irregular past participle 'visto' (though the regular form 'veduto' exists, it is rarely used in modern contexts).
Ieri sera ho visto un bel film di fantascienza su Netflix.
Last night I saw a great sci-fi movie on Netflix.
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I took / I caught / I got
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'prendere' (to take). It takes the auxiliary 'avere' and features the highly irregular past participle 'preso', commonly used for taking objects, catching transport, or ordering food.
Stamattina ho preso il treno al volo perché ero in ritardo.
This morning I caught the train on the fly because I was running late.
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I gave / I have given
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'dare' (to give). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and uses the regular-sounding past participle 'dato' to express handing something over or providing information.
Ho dato un'occhiata alla tua relazione e mi sembra davvero ben fatta.
I took a look at your report and it seems really well done.
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I spoke / I talked
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'parlare' (to speak/talk). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is the standard way to express that you have had a conversation with someone.
Oggi pomeriggio ho parlato con il capo del mio aumento di stipendio.
This afternoon I spoke with the boss about my pay raise.
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I heard / I felt / I smelled
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' verb 'sentire' (to hear/feel/smell). It utilizes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and covers physical sensations, auditory perception, or hearing a piece of news.
Ho sentito una gran botta provenire dalla strada e sono corso alla finestra.
I heard a loud bang coming from the street and ran to the window.
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I slept
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' verb 'dormire' (to sleep). Despite being an intransitive verb indicating a state, it traditionally takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' in the passato prossimo.
Finalmente stanotte ho dormito otto ore filate senza mai svegliarmi.
Finally tonight I slept for eight hours straight without ever waking up.
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I opened
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'aprire' (to open). It requires the auxiliary verb 'avere' and forms the past tense with the irregular past participle 'aperto'.
Fa un caldo pazzesco qua dentro, così ho aperto tutte le finestre.
It's crazily hot in here, so I opened all the windows.
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I closed / I shut
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'chiudere' (to close). It matches with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and features the irregular past participle 'chiuso'.
Sei sicuro di aver spento la luce? Io ho chiuso la porta a chiave.
Are you sure you turned off the light? I locked the door.
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I wrote / I have written
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'scrivere' (to write). It functions with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and uses the irregular past participle 'scritto'.
Ti ho scritto un messaggio su WhatsApp un'ora fa ma non mi hai ancora risposto.
I wrote you a message on WhatsApp an hour ago but you haven't replied to me yet.
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I read / I have read
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'leggere' (to read). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and uses the irregular past participle 'letto'.
Ho letto quell'articolo che mi hai consigliato e l'ho trovato molto interessante.
I read that article you recommended and found it very interesting.
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I put / I placed / I wore
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'mettere' (to put/place). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and features the irregular past participle 'messo'; it can refer to placing objects or putting on clothes.
Ho messo le chiavi sul tavolo del salotto, vai a dare un'occhiata.
I put the keys on the living room table, go take a look.
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I wanted / I intended
The first-person singular past tense of the modal verb 'volere' (to want). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and uses the regularized past participle 'voluto' to show a decisive choice or desire executed in the past.
Non ho voluto dirti niente per non rovinarti la sorpresa del compleanno.
I didn't want to tell you anything so as not to ruin your birthday surprise.
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I could / I was able to
The first-person singular past tense of the modal verb 'potere' (to be able to/can). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and the past participle 'potuto' to indicate that a specific action was successfully managed or permitted in the past.
Grazie al tuo aiuto ho potuto finire il trasloco in tempo.
Thanks to your help, I was able to finish moving in time.
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I had to / I must have
The first-person singular past tense of the modal verb 'dovere' (to have to/must). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and the past participle 'dovuto' to express a past necessity or obligation that was carried out.
Ieri sera ho dovuto fare gli straordinari e sono tornato a casa distrutto.
Last night I had to work overtime and I came home completely wiped out.
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I found out / I learned
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'sapere' (to know facts). In the passato prossimo, its meaning shifts from 'knowing' a fact to dynamically 'finding out' or 'learning' a piece of news for the first time.
Ho saputo solo ora che ti sposi, ma che bella notizia!
I only just found out that you're getting married, what wonderful news!
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I met / I got to know
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'conoscere' (to know people/places). In the past tense, it specifically refers to the precise moment of meeting someone for the first time or getting acquainted with a place.
Ho conosciuto la mia attuale ragazza a un concerto rock tre anni fa.
I met my current girlfriend at a rock concert three years ago.
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I understood / I got it
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' (isc-type) verb 'capire' (to understand). It is universally used with the auxiliary verb 'avere' to confirm that a concept, instruction, or situation has been fully grasped.
Tranquillo, ho capito al volo cosa intendi dire.
Don't worry, I instantly understood what you mean to say.
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I bought / I purchased
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'comprare' (to buy). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is standard for describing daily commerce, grocery shopping, or retail purchases.
Ho comprato quel maglione che abbiamo visto in vetrina l'altro giorno.
I bought that sweater we saw in the shop window the other day.
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I sold
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ere' verb 'vendere' (to sell). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and the regular past participle 'venduto' to talk about a completed commercial transaction.
Alla fine ho venduto la mia vecchia macchina su internet a un buon prezzo.
In the end, I sold my old car online for a good price.
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I received / I got
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ere' verb 'ricevere' (to receive). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is common when talking about receiving mail, packages, phone calls, or digital alerts.
Non ho ancora ricevuto l'email di conferma con i biglietti dell'aereo.
I haven't received the confirmation email with the plane tickets yet.
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I offered / I treated
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'offrire' (to offer). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and uses the irregular past participle 'offerto'; it is frequently used to say you treated someone to food, drinks, or a meal.
Ieri sera a cena ho offerto io perché era il compleanno di mio fratello.
Last night at dinner I treated everyone because it was my brother's birthday.
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I asked / I requested
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'chiedere' (to ask/request). It matches with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and takes the irregular past participle 'chiesto' to denote asking a question or requesting a favor.
Ho chiesto informazioni al passante per capire come arrivare in centro.
I asked the passerby for information to figure out how to get downtown.
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I answered / I replied
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'rispondere' (to answer/reply). It requires the auxiliary verb 'avere' and uses the irregular past participle 'risposto' to show you have replied to a person, message, or phone call.
Scusa se ci ho messo tanto, ma ho risposto solo ora alle tue chiamate.
Sorry it took me so long, but I only just replied to your calls.
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I found / I came across
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'trovare' (to find). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and can refer to physically finding an object or discovering a solution to a problem.
Finalmente ho trovato un appartamento in affitto perfetto per le mie esigenze.
I finally found a rental apartment that is perfect for my needs.
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I lost / I missed
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'perdere' (to lose/miss). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and the irregular past participle 'perso'; it can describe losing an object, missing public transport, or losing a game.
Che sfortuna, ho perso l'autobus per un soffio e ora devo aspettare mezz'ora.
What bad luck, I missed the bus by a whisker and now I have to wait half an hour.
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I kept / I held
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'tenere' (to keep/hold). Formed with the auxiliary 'avere' and the irregular past participle 'tenuto', it means to physically hold something or keep an item in your possession.
Ti ho tenuto il posto vicino al finestrino, vieni a sederti qui.
I kept you the seat by the window, come sit here.
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I followed / I took (a course)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' verb 'seguire' (to follow). It pairs with 'avere' and is frequently used to mean following directions, keeping up with a television show, or attending a university class.
L'anno scorso ho seguito un corso di fotografia digitale davvero interessante.
Last year I took a really interesting digital photography course.
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I drove
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'guidato' (to drive). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and describes the act of operating a car or navigating a vehicle.
Sono stanchissimo stasera, ho guidato per cinque ore senza mai fermarmi.
I'm exhausted tonight, I drove for five hours without ever stopping.
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I washed
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'lavare' (to wash). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and applies to washing specific objects like clothes, dishes, or a car.
Nel pomeriggio ho lavato tutti i piatti che erano rimasti nel lavandino.
In the afternoon I washed all the dishes that had been left in the sink.
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I cleaned
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' (isc-type) verb 'pulire' (to clean). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and the past participle 'pulito' to talk about tidying up physical spaces or objects.
Ho pulito tutta la casa da cima a fondo prima che arrivassero gli ospiti.
I cleaned the whole house from top to bottom before the guests arrived.
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I cooked
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'cucinare' (to cook). Combined with the auxiliary verb 'avere', it is used to express preparing a full hot meal or cooking a specific dish.
Stasera ho cucinato le lasagne seguendo la ricetta tradizionale di mia nonna.
Tonight I cooked lasagna following my grandmother's traditional recipe.
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I prepared / I made
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'preparare' (to prepare/make). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is incredibly common when talking about packing bags, getting things ready, or making a quick meal or coffee.
Ho già preparato la valigia per il weekend, sono pronto a partire.
I've already packed my suitcase for the weekend, I'm ready to leave.
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I finished / I have finished
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'finire' (to finish). When used transitively with a direct object or followed by the preposition 'di' and an infinitive, it takes the auxiliary verb 'avere'.
Finalmente ho finito di studiare per l'esame, ora mi rilasso.
I finally finished studying for the exam, now I'm going to relax.
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I started / I began
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'iniziare' (to start/begin). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' when an active subject initiates a specific task, project, or hobby.
Lunedì scorso ho iniziato un nuovo lavoro e mi trovo benissimo.
Last Monday I started a new job and I really love it.
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I continued
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'continuare' (to continue). It utilizes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is commonly followed by the preposition 'a' and an infinitive to denote a prolonged action.
Nonostante la pioggia battente, ho continuato a correre nel parco.
Despite the pouring rain, I continued running in the park.
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I changed
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'cambiare' (to change). It requires the auxiliary verb 'avere' when used transitively to show that the speaker altered or swapped something.
Oggi ho cambiato idea e ho preso il treno invece della macchina.
Today I changed my mind and took the train instead of the car.
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I improved
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'migliorare' (to improve/make better). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' to indicate that the speaker actively enhanced a skill, situation, or condition.
Guardando film in lingua originale ho migliorato un sacco il mio inglese.
By watching movies in their original language, I improved my English a lot.
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I made worse / I worsened
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'peggiorare' (to worsen/make worse). When used transitively to express that the speaker's action made a situation more problematic, it takes 'avere'.
Volevo chiarire con Marco, ma parlandogli ho solo peggiorato la situazione.
I wanted to clear things up with Marco, but by talking to him I only made the situation worse.
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I increased / I turned up
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'aumentato' (to increase/raise). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' to describe raising a quantity, volume, speed, or weight.
Faceva freddo in salotto, quindi ho aumentato la temperatura del riscaldamento.
It was cold in the living room, so I turned up the heating temperature.
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I decreased / I reduced
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' verb 'diminuire' (to decrease/reduce). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' when a person actively scales back or lowers an amount, pace, or volume.
Questo mese ho diminuito le ore passate sui social media.
This month I reduced the hours spent on social media.
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I spent
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'spendere' (to spend). It is constructed with the auxiliary 'avere' and the irregular past participle 'speso', and can apply to spending money or energy.
Oggi ho speso un patrimonio per fare la spesa al supermercato.
Today I spent a fortune buying groceries at the supermarket.
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I earned / I gained
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'guadagnare' (to earn/gain). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' to talk about earning money from work or gaining an advantage/time.
Facendo i turni di notte questo mese ho guadagnato qualcosa in più.
By working the night shifts this month, I earned a little extra money.
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I wasted time
An idiomatic phrase combining the past tense of 'perdere' (to lose) with 'tempo' (time). It is used to express that one squandered, dithered, or delayed in doing an action.
Oggi ho perso tempo sui social e alla fine non ho concluso nulla.
Today I wasted time on social media and in the end, I didn't get anything done.
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I passed / I spent (time)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'passare'. It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' when used transitively to describe spending time, handing over an object, or clearing an exam.
Ho passato tutto il fine settimana a guardare la mia serie preferita.
I spent the whole weekend binge-watching my favorite series.
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I brought / I took
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'portare'. It uses 'avere' as its auxiliary and means to physically carry, bring, or transport someone or something to a location.
Stamattina ho portato la macchina dal meccanico per il controllo annuale.
This morning I took the car to the mechanic for the annual checkup.
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I pulled / I threw
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'tirare'. It pairs with the auxiliary 'avere' and can describe pulling an object toward oneself or throwing/kicking a ball.
Ho tirato la corda più forte che potevo, ma il nodo non si è sciolto.
I pulled the rope as hard as I could, but the knot didn't loosen.
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I pushed / I urged
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'spingere'. It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and the irregular past participle 'spinto' to mean physically moving something away or metaphorically motivating someone.
La mia macchina è rimasta a secco, quindi l'ho spinta fino al benzinaio.
My car ran out of gas, so I pushed it all the way to the gas station.
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I hit / I struck / I impressed
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' (isc-type) verb 'colpire'. It takes the auxiliary 'avere' and can refer to physically striking an object or deeply impressing/affecting someone emotionally.
Ho colpito accidentalmente lo spigolo del tavolo con il ginocchio e fa malissimo.
I accidentally hit the corner of the table with my knee and it hurts like crazy.
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I hurt / I injured
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' (isc-type) verb 'ferire'. It utilizes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and can denote causing physical injury to someone or hurting someone's feelings.
Con quelle parole dure ho ferito i suoi sentimenti e ora mi dispiace.
With those harsh words, I hurt his feelings and now I feel bad.
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I killed
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'uccidere'. It forms the passato prossimo with 'avere' and the irregular past participle 'ucciso', used for taking a life or colloquially to describe extreme exhaustion.
C'era una zanzara enorme in camera che non mi faceva dormire, ma alla fine l'ho uccisa.
There was a huge mosquito in the bedroom keeping me awake, but in the end, I killed it.
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I saved / I rescued
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'salvato'. It takes the auxiliary 'avere' and applies to rescuing a living being, keeping money/resources, or saving digital files on a computer.
Meno male che ho salvato il documento prima che il computer si spegnesse.
Thank goodness I saved the document before the computer shut down.
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I helped / I assisted
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'aiutare'. It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' to state that you provided support, assistance, or relief to another person.
Ieri ho aiutato mio fratello a montare i nuovi mobili del salotto.
Yesterday I helped my brother assemble the new living room furniture.
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I thanked
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'ringraziare' (to thank). It forms the passato prossimo with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is used to express gratitude shown to someone in the past.
Ho ringraziato il cameriere per l'ottimo servizio prima di lasciare la mancia.
I thanked the waiter for the excellent service before leaving a tip.
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I said goodbye / I greeted
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'salutare' (to greet / say goodbye). It pairs with the auxiliary 'avere' and can mean either welcoming someone upon arrival or saying farewell upon departure.
Stamattina ho salutato i miei vicini mentre uscivo di casa.
This morning I greeted my neighbors as I was leaving the house.
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I hugged / I embraced
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'abbracciare' (to hug). It requires the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is used to describe physically hugging someone or, metaphorically, embracing an idea.
Non la vedevo da anni, quindi l'ho abbracciata forte appena è scesa dal treno.
I hadn't seen her in years, so I hugged her tightly as soon as she got off the train.
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I kissed
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'baciare' (to kiss). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and describes a completed action of affection.
Prima di andare al lavoro ho baciato i miei figli sulla fronte.
Before going to work, I kissed my kids on the forehead.
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I loved
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'amare' (to love). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and can describe deep romantic love, love for a deceased relative, or historical appreciation for a place or hobby.
Ho amato quella città fin dal primo momento in cui ci ho messo piede.
I loved that city from the very first moment I set foot in it.
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I hated
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'odiare' (to hate). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is often used colloquially in daily life to express strong distaste for a past situation, weather condition, or task.
A scuola ho sempre odiato la matematica, preferivo di gran lunga la storia.
In school, I always hated math; I vastly preferred history.
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I preferred
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' (isc-type) verb 'preferire' (to prefer). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is used to indicate a choice or preference made over an alternative in the past.
C'era troppa fila per la mostra, così ho preferito fare una passeggiata in centro.
The line for the exhibit was too long, so I preferred to take a walk downtown instead.
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I chose / I picked
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'scegliere' (to choose). It is formed using the auxiliary 'avere' and features the highly irregular past participle 'scelto'.
Ho scelto il menù degustazione per provare tutte le specialità del ristorante.
I chose the tasting menu to try all of the restaurant's specialties.
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I rejected / I turned down
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'rifiutare' (to refuse / reject). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is common when discussing turning down job offers, invitations, or requests.
Alla fine ho rifiutato quell'offerta di lavoro perché lo stipendio era troppo basso.
In the end, I turned down that job offer because the salary was too low.
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I accepted
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'accettare' (to accept). It functions with the auxiliary verb 'avere' to confirm agreement to conditions, job offers, or invitations.
Ci ho pensato un po' su e alla fine ho accettato l'invito alla sua festa.
I thought about it for a bit and in the end, I accepted the invitation to his party.
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I decided / I have decided
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'decidere' (to decide). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and uses the irregular past participle 'deciso' to state a firm resolution or choice made in the past.
Alla fine ho deciso di iscrivermi in palestra per rimettermi in forma.
In the end, I decided to join a gym to get back in shape.
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I hoped / I have hoped
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'sperare' (to hope). It utilizes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and is commonly followed by a clause introducing a past desire or expectation.
Ho sperato fino all'ultimo che non piovesse, ma purtroppo ha iniziato a diluviare.
I hoped until the very last minute that it wouldn't rain, but unfortunately, it started pouring.
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I feared / I was afraid
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ere' verb 'temere' (to fear). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and describes a past feeling of anxiety, apprehension, or worry about a specific outcome.
Quando ho visto arrivare la polizia ho temuto il peggio, ma cercavano solo informazioni.
When I saw the police arrive I feared the worst, but they were just looking for information.
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I enjoyed / I relished
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ere' verb 'godere' (to enjoy). It pairs with the auxiliary 'avere' and is often followed by the preposition 'di' to express having fully enjoyed a specific experience, privilege, or landscape.
Durante le vacanze mi sono rilassato e ho goduto di ogni singolo momento di pausa.
During the holidays I relaxed and enjoyed every single moment of the break.
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I suffered / I went through
The first-person singular past tense of the verb 'soffrire' (to suffer). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and features the irregular past participle 'sofferto' to indicate experiencing physical pain or emotional distress.
In passato ho sofferto molto di mal di schiena, ma lo yoga mi ha aiutato tantissimo.
In the past I suffered a lot from back pain, but yoga helped me a ton.
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I cried / I wept
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'piangere' (to cry). It takes the auxiliary verb 'avere' and uses the irregular past participle 'pianto' to describe shedding tears of sadness, relief, or joy.
Ho pianto come un bambino guardando la scena finale di quel film drammatico.
I cried like a baby watching the final scene of that drama movie.
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I laughed
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'ridere' (to laugh). Formed with the auxiliary 'avere' and the irregular past participle 'riso', it is used to express that something caused you to laugh heartily.
Stasera a cena ho riso così tanto con i ragazzi che mi faceva male la pancia.
Tonight at dinner I laughed so much with the guys that my stomach hurt.
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I shouted / I yelled
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'gridato' (to shout/yell). It uses the auxiliary verb 'avere' and describes raising one's voice loudly out of anger, excitement, or to get someone's attention.
Ho gridato il suo nome per strada, ma c'era troppo traffico e non mi ha sentito.
I shouted his name in the street, but there was too much traffic and he didn't hear me.
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I whispered
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'sussurrare' (to whisper). It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'avere' and denotes speaking in a very quiet, hushed tone to maintain secrecy or privacy.
Gli ho sussurrato il segreto all'orecchio perché non volevo che gli altri sentissero.
I whispered the secret in his ear because I didn't want the others to hear.
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I walked
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'camminare' (to walk). Even though walking is a verb of movement, it focuses on the duration or action of traveling by foot rather than a specific change of location, so it requires the auxiliary verb 'avere'.
Oggi ho camminato per più di dieci chilometri e adesso ho i piedi distrutti.
Today I walked for more than ten kilometers and now my feet are wrecked.
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I ran / I have run
The first-person singular past tense of 'correre' (to run) using the auxiliary verb 'avere'. It is chosen when the focus is strictly on the physical activity, duration, or distance of running rather than moving toward a specific destination.
Stamattina ho corso per quaranta minuti sul tapis roulant in palestra.
This morning I ran for forty minutes on the treadmill at the gym.
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I ran / I rushed (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of 'correre' (to run) using the auxiliary verb 'essere' for a male speaker. It is required when the running involves a change of location or a specific destination, causing the past participle to agree in gender.
Appena ho sentito l'allarme, sono corso subito fuori in strada.
As soon as I heard the alarm, I rushed straight out into the street.
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I ran / I rushed (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of 'correre' (to run) using the auxiliary verb 'essere' for a female speaker. The ending shifts to '-a' to show grammatical agreement because the action implies rushing toward a specific place.
Quando mi hai chiamata sono corsa subito a casa perché mi sono spaventata.
When you called me, I rushed home immediately because I got scared.
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I fell / I have fallen (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the intransitive verb 'cadere' (to fall) for a male speaker. It uses the auxiliary verb 'essere', which requires the past participle ending to match the masculine subject.
C'era una lastra di ghiaccio sul marciapiede e sono caduto all'indietro.
There was a sheet of ice on the sidewalk and I fell backward.
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I fell / I have fallen (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the intransitive verb 'cadere' (to fall) for a female speaker. Because it forms the past tense with the auxiliary 'essere', the participle ends in '-ata' for feminine agreement.
Sono caduta dalle scale mentre scendevo di corsa e mi sono slogata la caviglia.
I fell down the stairs while running down and sprained my ankle.
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I went out / I left (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'uscire' (to go out/exit) for a male speaker. It uses the auxiliary 'essere' to indicate a movement away from an enclosed space or going out socially.
Stasera sono uscito un po' prima dall'ufficio per evitare il traffico.
Tonight I left the office a bit earlier to avoid the traffic.
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I went out / I left (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'uscire' (to go out/exit) for a female speaker. It pairs with the auxiliary 'essere', which triggers the feminine past participle ending '-ita'.
Ieri sera sono uscita a bere qualcosa con le mie amiche del liceo.
Last night I went out to grab a drink with my friends from high school.
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I entered / I went in (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'entrare' (to enter) for a male speaker. It takes the auxiliary verb 'essere' to describe moving into a physical room, building, or space.
Sono entrato in negozio solo per dare un'occhiata, ma ho finito per comprare una giacca.
I went into the shop just to take a look, but I ended up buying a jacket.
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I entered / I went in (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'entrare' (to enter) for a female speaker. It uses 'essere' as its auxiliary verb, dynamically changing the participle ending to the feminine '-ata'.
Quando sono entrata in casa ho sentito subito un profumo delizioso di cena.
When I entered the house, I immediately noticed a delicious smell of dinner.
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I left / I departed (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' verb 'partire' (to leave/depart) for a male speaker. It represents a definitive change of location or the start of a trip, demanding the auxiliary 'essere'.
Alla fine sono partito per le vacanze con il primo treno delle sei del mattino.
In the end, I left for vacation on the very first train at six in the morning.
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I left / I departed (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-ire' verb 'partire' (to leave/depart) for a female speaker. Because it represents a change of location, it requires the auxiliary verb 'essere', which changes the past participle ending to '-ita'.
Sono partita da Milano con un'ora di ritardo a causa dello sciopero.
I left Milan an hour late because of the strike.
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I arrived (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'arrivare' (to arrive) for a male speaker. It indicates reaching a destination and requires the auxiliary 'essere', keeping the masculine ending '-ato'.
Scusa se ti rispondo solo ora, ma sono arrivato in hotel un minuto fa.
Sorry for the late reply, but I arrived at the hotel just a minute ago.
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I arrived (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'arrivare' (to arrive) for a female speaker. It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'essere', which shifts the past participle ending to the feminine '-ata'.
Sono arrivata alla festa in anticipo e non c'era ancora nessuno.
I arrived at the party early and nobody was there yet.
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I returned / I came back (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'tornare' (to return/come back) for a male speaker. It describes returning to a place of origin or home and takes the auxiliary verb 'essere'.
Sono tornato stanchissimo dal viaggio e mi sono buttato subito sul divano.
I came back from the trip completely exhausted and threw myself straight onto the couch.
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I returned / I came back (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the regular '-are' verb 'tornare' (to return/come back) for a female speaker. It uses the auxiliary verb 'essere', modifying the past participle to the feminine form '-ata'.
Meno male che sono tornata a casa prima che iniziasse a grandinare.
Thank goodness I returned home before it started to hail.
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I stayed / I remained (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'rimanere' (to stay/remain) for a male speaker. Verbs of staying in a place require 'essere' as their auxiliary, matching the masculine irregular participle 'rimasto'.
Non mi andava di uscire ieri sera, quindi sono rimasto a casa a guardare la TV.
I didn't feel like going out last night, so I stayed home to watch TV.
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I stayed / I remained (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'rimanere' (to stay/remain) for a female speaker. The auxiliary 'essere' forces the irregular past participle to take the feminine ending '-asta'.
Sono rimasta senza parole quando mi ha detto quanto costava quel vestito.
I was left speechless when she told me how much that dress cost.
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I grew up (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'crescere' (to grow up) for a male speaker. When describing the personal life process of growing up, it functions as an intransitive verb and requires 'essere'.
Sono cresciuto in un piccolo paese di campagna, ma ora vivo a Milano.
I grew up in a small country village, but now I live in Milan.
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I grew up (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'crescere' (to grow up) for a female speaker. The auxiliary verb 'essere' requires the past participle to adapt to the feminine ending '-uta'.
Sono cresciuta ascoltando la musica dei cantautori italiani degli anni Ottanta.
I grew up listening to the music of Italian singer-songwriters from the eighties.
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I was born (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'nascere' (to be born) for a male speaker. In Italian, this is an active past tense construction utilizing the auxiliary verb 'essere'.
Sono nato a Torino, ma la mia famiglia si è trasferita al sud quando ero piccolo.
I was born in Turin, but my family moved to the south when I was little.
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I was born (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'nascere' (to be born) for a female speaker. It is constructed using the auxiliary verb 'essere', which automatically requires the past participle to end in the feminine form '-ata'.
Sono nata a Firenze nel millenovecentonovantacinque, ma ho sempre vissuto a Roma.
I was born in Florence in 1995, but I have always lived in Rome.
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I died / I am dead (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'morire' (to die) for a male speaker. While literally meaning 'I died', it is predominantly used in modern conversational Italian as a hyperbolic idiom meaning 'I was dying (of exhaustion, heat, or laughter)'.
Oggi in ufficio c'era un'aria condizionata pessima e sono morto di caldo tutto il giorno.
The air conditioning in the office was terrible today and I died of heat all day long.
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I died / I am dead (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the irregular verb 'morire' (to die) for a female speaker. It takes the auxiliary verb 'essere', shifting the irregular past participle to the feminine ending '-orta', and is frequently used as a dramatic exaggeration in casual contexts.
Quando ho visto la mia foto sulla carta d'identità sono morta dal ridere.
When I saw my photo on my ID card, I died laughing.
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I woke up (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the reflexive verb 'svegliarsi' (to wake up) for a male speaker. Because all reflexive verbs in Italian strictly require the auxiliary verb 'essere' in compound tenses, the past participle adapts to match the masculine gender.
Stamattina mi sono svegliato di soprassalto perché ho sognato di cadere.
This morning I woke up with a start because I dreamed I was falling.
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I woke up (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the reflexive verb 'svegliarsi' (to wake up) for a female speaker. The presence of the auxiliary verb 'essere' causes the past participle to take the feminine ending '-ata'.
Mi sono svegliata tardi perché ieri sera ho fatto le ore piccole con le mie amiche.
I woke up late because last night I stayed up late with my friends.
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I had fun / I enjoyed myself (masc.)
The first-person singular past tense of the reflexive verb 'divertirsi' (to have fun) for a male speaker. It combines the reflexive pronoun 'mi' with the auxiliary 'essere' and the masculine past participle 'divertito'.
Mi sono divertito un sacco al concerto ieri sera, la band ha suonato benissimo.
I had a ton of fun at the concert last night; the band played incredibly well.
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I had fun / I enjoyed myself (fem.)
The first-person singular past tense of the reflexive verb 'divertirsi' (to have fun) for a female speaker. It pairs with the auxiliary verb 'essere', which mandates the feminine past participle ending '-ita'.
Grazie mille per la splendida serata, mi sono divertita davvero molto.
Thank you so much for the wonderful evening, I really had a great time.