Italian conjugation explanation

Choosing the correct auxiliary verb

<p>Most Italian verbs use <span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span> as an auxiliary verb. The verbs that use <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> are intransitive (=<strong>not taking a direct object</strong>) verbs that usually indicate <strong>motion or change of state</strong>. The most common verbs that always use <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> are:</p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>essere:</strong> to be</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>stare:</strong> to be</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>venire:</strong> to come</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Sono venuto</strong> appena ho potuto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I came as soon as I could.</span>)</div>

<li>

<div><strong>andare:</strong> to go</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Io pensavo che <strong>fosse andato</strong> bene. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I thought it went well.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>morire:</strong> to die</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">I fiori <strong>sono morti</strong> per mancanza d'acqua. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The flowers died for lack of water.</span>)</div>

<li>

<div><strong>partire:</strong> to leave</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Disse che <strong>sarebbe partito</strong> presto. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He said he'd be leaving soon.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>succedere:</strong> to happen</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>È successa</strong> una cosa terribile. (<span style="font-style: italic;">A terrible thing has happened.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>riuscire:</strong> to succeed</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>È riuscito</strong> a risolvere il problema. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He succeeded in solving the problem.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>tornare:</strong> to return, to come back</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Sapevo che <strong>saresti tornato</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I knew you'd come back.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>arrivare:</strong> to arrive</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">L'inverno <strong>è arrivato</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Winter has come.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>entrare:</strong> to enter</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Noi <strong>siamo entrati</strong> nel ristorante e abbiamo pranzato. (<span style="font-style: italic;">We entered the restaurant and had lunch.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>The following verbs also use <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> every time: <span style="font-style: italic;">sembrare, rimanere, uscire, diventare, piacere, restare, etc.</span></p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Variable auxiliary verbs</div>

<p>There are verbs that use either <span style="font-style: italic;">avere</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> depending on whether they have a direct object or not. Examples (the direct object is colored brown when there is one): </p>

<ul>

<li>

<div><strong>ESSERE + passare:</strong> to go by, to elapse</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Sono passati</strong> diversi anni. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Several years went by.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>AVERE + passare + direct object:</strong> to spend (time)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Ho passato</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">le vacanze</span> a decorare la casa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I spent the holidays decorating the house.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>ESSERE + iniziare:</strong> to begin, to be started</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Sembra che le lezioni <strong>siano iniziate</strong> ieri. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It seems classes began yesterday.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>AVERE + iniziare + direct object:</strong> to begin something</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Ho iniziato</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">una nuova dieta</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I have begun a new diet.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>ESSERE + cambiare:</strong> to change, to become different</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Forse <strong>è cambiato</strong> qualcosa. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Maybe something's changed.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>AVERE + cambiare + direct object:</strong> to change, to alter, to modify</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">È vero che <strong>hai cambiato</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">nome</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Is it true that you changed your name?</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>ESSERE + finire:</strong> to end, to be finished</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">I tuoi problemi <strong>sono finiti</strong>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Your problems are over.</span>)</div>

</li>

<li>

<div><strong>AVERE + finire + direct object:</strong> to finish, to complete</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Verrò quando <strong>avrò finito</strong> <span class="brown_emphasis">i miei compiti</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I'll come when I have done my homework.</span>)</div>

</li>

</ul>

<p>The same rules apply to many other verbs, for example: <span style="font-style: italic;">cominciare, terminare, diminuire, salire, scendere, migliorare, peggiorare</span>.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Reflexive verbs</div>

<p>Reflexive verbs always use <span style="font-style: italic;">essere</span> as an auxiliary verb:</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Il gatto <strong>si è arrampicato</strong> sull'albero. (<span style="font-style: italic;">The cat climbed up the tree.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Io <strong>mi sono incontrato</strong> con lui oggi. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I met with him today.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence"><strong>Vi siete scordati</strong> di spegnere la luce. (<span style="font-style: italic;">You forgot to turn off the light.</span>)</div>