Past tense with essere and avere

In Italian, the past tense is formed using the auxiliary verbs essere (to be) and avere (to have). Understanding how to use these verbs correctly and their agreement with the subject is essential for constructing accurate past tense sentences.

Using avere as the auxiliary verb

The verb avere is used as the auxiliary verb for most verbs in the past tense. Here's how the past tense is formed using avere:

1. Take the present tense form of avere that agrees with the subject.
2. Add the past participle of the main verb.

For example, let's conjugate the verb parlare (to speak) in the past tense with avere:

• Io ho parlato (I spoke)
• Tu hai parlato (You spoke)
• Lui/lei ha parlato (He/she spoke)
• Noi abbiamo parlato (We spoke)
• Voi avete parlato (You all spoke)
• Loro hanno parlato (They spoke)

Note: The past participle of parlare is parlato, and it agrees in gender and number with the subject when using avere as the auxiliary verb.

Using essere as the auxiliary verb

The verb essere is used as the auxiliary verb for a group of verbs that indicate movement, change of state, or a change of location. Here's how the past tense is formed using essere:

1. Take the present tense form of essere that agrees with the subject.
2. Add the past participle of the main verb.

For example, let's conjugate the verb andare (to go) in the past tense with essere:

• Io sono andato/a (I went)
• Tu sei andato/a (You went)
• Lui/lei è andato/a (He/she went)
• Noi siamo andati/e (We went)
• Voi siete andati/e (You all went)
• Loro sono andati/e (They went)

Note: The past participle of andare is andato/a, and it agrees in gender and number with the subject when using essere as the auxiliary verb.

Agreement with the subject

When using essere as the auxiliary verb, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject. This means that the ending of the past participle changes to match the gender and number of the subject.

For example:

• Io sono stato/a (I have been)
• Noi siamo stati/e (We have been)

On the other hand, when using avere as the auxiliary verb, the past participle does not agree with the subject. It remains in its original form.

For example:

• Io ho parlato (I have spoken)
• Noi abbiamo parlato (We have spoken)

Summary

• Use avere as the auxiliary verb for most verbs in the past tense.
• Use essere as the auxiliary verb for verbs indicating movement, change of state, or a change of location.
• The past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject when using essere as the auxiliary verb.
• The past participle does not agree with the subject when using avere as the auxiliary verb.