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When to use Passato Prossimo and when to use Imperfetto is a common challenge for English-speaking Italian learners. This final post of the 3-part series will share additional distinctions in using one or the other. Let’s take a look now at the use of the passato prossimo and imperfetto with modal/helping verbs, which can create quite a bit of confusion as to which to choose. With the verbs dovere, potere, sapere, and volere it is possible to use both the imperfetto and passato prossimo depending on what is being communicated. The passato prossimo of modal verbs is used when the result is certain. Esempi:
In these instances, the listener or reader understands that the desired action was completed or fulfilled. On the other hand, the imperfetto of modal/helping verbs is used when the result of the action is uncertain. Esempi:
In the above cases, we might add some information to clarify the circumstances and whether the actions were completed, if it is not already clear:
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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:
– when indicating an action that always occurred/existed in the past and continues in the present, passato prossimo is used:
Additionally, passato prossimo is used:
Conversely, imperfetto* is used:
*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:
In storytelling, both passato prossimo and imperfetto are used, but in different cases: Passato prossimo is used:
Imperfetto is used:
Domande? Lasciatele nei commenti. Continueremo la prossima volta con la terza parte.
When to use Passato Prossimo and when to use Imperfetto is a common challenge for English-speaking Italian learners. While many learners were taught that imperfetto is used for expressing "used to [do]" and "was [doing]", and Passato Prossimo for past actions like "have [done]", English also uses simple past (did, went, slept...) for many past events, while Italian makes a distinction. One quick way to make a distinction is to pay attention to time expressions:
Passato Prossimo esempi:
Imperfetto esempi:
NOTA BENE If the time period is indefinite but the action occurred a specific number of times, the passato prossimo is used:
Domande? Lasciatele nei commenti! Continueremo la prossima volta con la seconda parte.
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