How to Use Present Perfect Tense (Passato Prossimo) in Italian

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Present perfect tense or passato prossimo refers to that action which has already taken place in the past but has still has its effect in the present.

   For example:
   I have eaten.
2. 2

   Step 2: in Italian the passato prossimo is formed with the present indicative of essere or avere + the past participle of the main verb.

   For example:
   Io ho mangiato (I have eaten) , ARE
   - cantare (to sing)
   - cantato ERE
   - credere (to believe)
   - creduto IRE
   - dormire (to sleep)
   - dormito ,, These can be called 'Past participle agreement'.
   
   I.e., when 'essere' (to be) is used the past participle agrees with the subject, both in number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine).
   
   For example:
   Gloria è andata in discoteca sabato sera. (Gloria went to the disco Saturday evening) In the above example since Gloria is female, the past participle 'andare' becomes 'andata'.
   
   If it had been a male then it would have been 'andato'.
   
   Another example:
   Siamo tornati dalle vacanze da poco e ora non abbiamo voglia di lavorare. (We returned from vacation recently and now we don't want to work) In the above example since the past participle 'tornare' is in the plural form.
   
   When 'avere' is used there is usually no need for past participle agreement.
   
   For example:
   Cinzia ha ordinato una birra gelata. (Cinzia has ordered a really cold beer) When past participle follows a direct object pronoun the agreement is optional.
   
   For example:
   Vi hanno sentito/ti cantare giovedi sera a teatro. (They heard you sing at the theatre on Thursday evening) , When the pronouns lo, la, l'
   
   li, and le, are used with 'avere'
   
   then the agreement is necessary.
3. 3

   Step 3: Many verbs have a regular form of the past participle.

4. 4

   Step 4: Some of the common irregular past participle are : aprire (to open) - aperto bere (to drink) - bevuto chiedere (to ask) - chiesto chiudere (to close) - chiuso dire (to say/tell) - detto fare (to do/make) - fatto prendere (to take) - preso scrivere (to write) - scritto tradurre (to translate) - tradotto vivere (to live) - vissuto vedere (to see) - visto (veduto)

5. 5

   Step 5: there are certain rules that must be kept in mind.

6. 6

   Step 6: But there is an exception.

Detailed Guide

About the Author