Passato Prossimo vs. Imperfetto (parte 2ª)

When to use Passato Prossimo and when to use Imperfetto is a common challenge for English-speaking Italian learners.
This continuation from the previous post will share additional distinctions in using one or the other.

When using the adverb, sempre:
– when referring to a habitual action in the past that no longer occurs in the present
(“used to”), the imperfetto is used:

Da piccoli, io e mio fratello                            As children, my brother and I always
litigavamo sempre.                                         used to fight.

– when indicating an action that always occurred/existed in the past and continues in the present, passato prossimo is used:

Ho sempre amato il colore verde.                I have always loved the colour green.

Additionally, passato prossimo is used:

• To speak of actions in succession or in a list, when the duration or time in which they happened is not relevant:

Nella mia vita, ho vissuto a Londra per un anno, ho frequentato università, ho lavorato come avvocato, e ora sono in pensione.
In my life, I lived in London for a year, I attended university, I worked as a lawyer, and now I am retired.

Conversely, imperfetto* is used:

• To speak of simultaneous events in the past, or events that occur in the same time period.

Mentre io parlavo al telefono, i miei figli facevano i compiti.
While I spoke on the telephone, my kids were doing their homework.

*Note that in the examples above the actions do not interrupt another ongoing action. In such a case, the action that interrupts is expressed by passato prossimo, typically with the imperfetto introduced by mentre:

Mentre facevamo colazione, abbiamo ricevuto una chiamata da mio zio.
While we were eating breakfast, we received a call from our lawyer.
 
Mentre Luca scriveva una e-mail, il computer ha smesso di funzionare.
While Luca was writing an email, the computer stopped working.
 
Studiavamo quando le luci si sono spente improvvisamente.
We were studying when the lights suddenly went out.

In storytelling, both passato prossimo and imperfetto are used, but in different cases:
Passato prossimo is used:

• To move the story along, to advance the development of events.

La festa è stata un successo! Tutti gli ospiti sono rimasti soddisfatti e hanno fatto i complimenti agli organizzatori, poi sono tornati a casa con un sorriso stampato sulle labbra.
The party was a success! All of the guests were satisfied, and they complimented the organizers, then they returned home with a smile on their lips.

Imperfetto is used:

• To describe the setting and the context in which the event occurs.

Faceva caldissimo. Il sole splendeva nel cielo e non c'era neanche una nuvola. e Le ragazze ballavano e i bambini si tuffavano in mare.
It was unbelievably hot. The sun shone in the sky, and there wasn't even one cloud. Girls were dancing, and  kids were jumping into the sea.

Domande? Lasciatele nei commenti.

Continueremo la prossima volta con la terza parte.