Absolute past tense (passato remoto) in Italian
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The passato remoto is a simple tense that belongs to the indicative mood.
The passato remoto is used to refer to an action that took place and was concluded in the distant past. It has no links to the present, neither chronologically nor psychologically.
Example:
Nowadays the passato remoto is not frequently used. Its use depends on the geographic area of the speaker.
In the South of Italy, people may use the passato remoto to refer to events that took place in the recent past.
In the North of Italy people may use the passato prossimo to refer to events that took place in the distant past.
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Here is a list of marker words that can be found with the passato remoto.
Example:
Example | Translation |
---|---|
Da piccolo/quando ero piccolo | When I was little/a child |
1/5/10 anni fa | 1/5/10 years ago |
L'anno scorso | Last year |
Molto tempo fa | A long time ago |
Nel 1300/1500/1900 | In 1300/1500/1900 |
The passato remoto is formed as follows:
The passato remoto is formed by adding a certain ending to the root of the verb.
The endings depend on the conjugation the verb belongs to.
These verbs add the endings -ai, -asti, -ò, -ammo, -aste, -arono to the root of the verb.
Example amare (to love)
Root | Ending | Example | Translation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Io | am | ai | Io amai quel libro | I loved that book |
Tu | am | asti | Tu amsti quel libro | You loved that book |
Egli/Ella | am | ò | Egli amò quel libro | He lived that book |
Noi | am | ammo | Noi amammo quel libro | We loved that book |
Voi | am | aste | Voi amaste quel libro | You loved that book |
Essi/Esse | am | arono | Essi amarono quel libro | They loved that book |
These verbs add the endings -ei/etti, -esti, -é/ette, -emmo, -este, -erono/ettero to the root of the verb.
Example temere (to fear)
Root | Ending | Example | Translation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Io | tem | ei/etti* | Io temei/temetti di aver perso le chiavi | I feared I had lost my keys |
Tu | tem | esti | Tu temesti di aver perso le chiavi | You feared you had lost your keys |
Egli/Ella | tem | é/ette* | Egli temé/temette di aver perso le chiavi | He feared he had lost his keys |
Noi | tem | emmo | Noi tememmo di aver perso le chiavi | We feared we had lost our keys |
Voi | tem | este | Voi temeste di aver perso le chiavi | You feared you had lost your keys |
Essi/Esse | tem | erono/ettero* | Essi temerono/temettero di aver perso le chiavi | They feared they had lost their keys |
*Some verbs such as temere (to fear), battere (to beat), ricevere (to receive) have both a regular conjugation and an alternative one. So both the following sentences are correct:
e.g. Io ricevei una mail (I received an e-mail)
Io ricevetti una mail (I received an e-mail)
These verbs add the endings -ii, -isti, -ì, -immo, -iste, -irono to the root of the verb.
Example servire (to serve)
Root | Ending | Example | Translation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Io | serv | ii | Io servii i pasti al ristorante | I served meals in the restaurant |
Tu | serv | isti | Tu servisti i pasti al ristorante | You served meals in the restaurant |
Egli/Ella | serv | ì | Egli servì i pasti al ristorante | He served meals in the restaurant |
Noi | serv | immo | Noi servimmo i pasti al ristorante | We served meals in the restaurant |
Voi | serv | iste | Voi serviste i pasti al ristorante | You served meals in the restaurant |
Essi/Esse | serv | irono | Essi servirono i pasti al ristorante | They served meals in the restaurant |
Irregular verbs in the passato remoto are numerous and they mainly belong to the -ere conjugation.
These verbs have to be studied by heart, but there are a few tips and rules that can help you to learn these verbs:
Example scendere (to get off/to descend)
The participio passato of scendere is SCESO.
Passato remoto | Example | Translation | |
---|---|---|---|
Io | scesi | Io scesi dal pullman una volta arrivato in piazza | When I got to the square, I got off the bus |
Tu | scendesti | Tu scendesti dal pullman una volta arrivato in piazza | When you got to the square, you got off the bus |
Egli/Ella | scese | Egli scese dal pullman una volta arrivato in piazza | When he got to the square, he got off the bus |
Noi | scendemmo | Noi scendemmo dal pullman una volta arrivati in piazza | When we got to the square, we got off the bus |
Voi | scendeste | Voi scendeste dal pullman una volta arrivati in piazza | When you got to the square, we got off the bus |
Essi/Esse | scesero | Essi scesero dal pullman una volta arrivati in piazza | When they got to the square, they got off the bus |
Here you can find a list of the main irregular verbs:
Bere (to drink) | Chiedere (to ask) | Chiudere (to close) | Correre (to run) | Cuocere (to cook) | Crescere (to grow) | Dipingere (to paint) | Nascere (to bear/ to be born) | Rompere (to break) | Venire (to come) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Io | bevvi/bevetti | chiesi | chiusi | corsi | cossi | crebbi | dipinsi | nacqui | ruppi | venni |
Tu | bevesti | chiedesti | chiudesti | corresti | c(u)ocesti | crescesti | dipingesti | nascesti | rompesti | venisti |
Egli/Ella | bevve/bevette | chiese | chiuse | corse | cosse | crebbe | dipinse | nacque | ruppe | venne |
Noi | bevemmo | chiedemmo | chiudemmo | corremmo | c(u)ocemmo | crescemmo | dipingemmo | nascemmo | rompemmo | venimmo |
Voi | beveste | chiedeste | chiudeste | correste | c(u)oceste | cresceste | dipingeste | nasceste | rompeste | veniste |
Essi/Esse | bevvero/bevettero | chiesero | chiusero | corsero | cossero | crebbero | dipinsero | nacquero | ruppero | vennero |
Auxiliary verbs are irregular verbs so their conjugation has to be studied by heart.
Essere (to be) | Avere (to have) | |
---|---|---|
Io | fui | ebbi |
Tu | fosti | avesti |
Egli/Ella | fu | ebbe |
Noi | fummo | avemmo |
Voi | foste | aveste |
Essi/Esse | furono | ebbero |
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My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
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Hi, guys! My name is Lucia and I would like to invite you to learn Italian with me.
I am both a native speaker and a QUALIFIED teacher, as I hold a post-graduate degree in “Teaching Italian as a second language” and a national certification as teacher of Italian to not-native speaking.
My teaching method is COMMUNICATION-oriented and involves also the study of Italian culture and grammar. Indeed, as it happens in your mother language, the knowledge of spare words is not enough to get able to speak (i.e. INTERACT!) properly and conveniently.
I’ll prepare for you all teaching materials, tailoring lessons to your needs and interests, taking advantage from both the huge number of textbooks I hold and my creativity!
I offer lessons for all levels, from absolute beginners to advanced, as well as support in preparation to certification exams (I am also qualified ad examiner for the oral part of CELI).
Do not hesitate to get in contact with me to find a suitable time-slot for your trial lesson!
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Lucia is wonderful! She speaks clearly, is encouraging and engaging. The material she provides is relevant and makes learning fun!
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Hello, everybody ! My name is Elena. I’m a native Italian speaker, I’m 49 years old and live in Turin. I am a certified CEDILS teacher, I graduated in Foreign Languages and Literature in Milan and have been working as a teacher of Italian for more than 10 years. I speak English and German. I attended specialization courses for Italian L2 teachers and I am interviewer for C1 PLIDA exam.
Are you seeking a friendly and dynamic study environment ? I got what you need. I am looking forward to being in touch with new students and organize pleasant, interesting and fruitful courses.
Do you wish to learn or improve your Italian to speak with your parents or friends? Do you need Italian for work or study ? Do you simply love Italian language and culture ? Do you need to improve your writing skills ?
My classes are tailored on your needs and considering your level of knowledge, I create a proper course plan. Classes focus on language and on the possibility for you to improve your ability to speak and understand Italian in your daily life or in work.
I offer 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 tuition, general Italian courses (grammar, conversation, listening, reading and writing), preparation to Italian examinations (all levels, also Italian for residence permit) and Italian and culture courses.
Grammar, vocabulary exercises, reading articles and magazines and talking together are all tools to feel at ease with the Italian language and then be able to practice it.
I have worked with children, adolescents and adults for all levels of Italian, from beginner to advanced. I have experience in preparing students to international certification (CILS, PLIDA). I was an A2/B1 Telc examiner.
Learning Italian can be closely related to culture, literature, music, sport and any other interest of my students.
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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I asked Daniela to help me with pronunciation. She pays careful attention, and corrects my pronunciation as needed.
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