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