Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to form the passive voice in Italian using essere + past participle. This lesson teaches the basic structure, including subject-verb agreement, and provides examples such as "Il film è scelto da me." Understand how the passive expresses the subject receiving the action and how agents are introduced. Ideal for A1 learners, it also includes useful vocabulary and compares Italian passive forms with English.
  1. The passive form uses essere + past participle.
Frase attiva (Active sentence)Frase passiva (Passive sentence)
Io scelgo il film (I choose the film)Il film è scelto da me (The film is chosen by me)
Il teatro organizza lo spettacolo (The show is organised by the theatre)Lo spettacolo è organizzato dal teatro (The show is organised by the theatre)
L'amico compra i biglietti (The friend buys the tickets)I biglietti sono comprati dall'amico (The tickets are bought by the friend)
Il gruppo suona la musica (The group plays the music)La musica è suonata dal gruppo (The music is played by the group)

Exercise 1: La forma passiva con essere + participio

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

è organizzato, è invitata, è scelto, è visto, è ballata, sono servite, è accompagnata, sono comprati

1. Organizzare:
Il teatro ... dal comune locale.
(The theatre is organised by the local council.)
2. Vedere:
L'attore ... spesso alla pizzeria vicino.
(The actor is often seen at the nearby pizzeria.)
3. Ballare:
La canzone ... da tutti in discoteca.
(The song is danced to by everyone in the nightclub.)
4. Invitare:
L'attrice ... al concerto di venerdì.
(The actress is invited to the Friday concert.)
5. Servire:
Le birre ... insieme ai drink.
(The beers are served together with the drinks.)
6. Scegliere:
Il film ... dal gruppo di amici.
(The film is chosen by the group of friends.)
7. Comprare:
I biglietti ... ieri sera.
(The tickets were bought last night.)
8. Accompagnare:
La cena ... da un buon vino.
(The dinner is accompanied by a good wine.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Il programma ___ scelto dai partecipanti per la serata.

(The program ___ chosen by the participants for the evening.)

2. Le cene di venerdì ___ organizzate dal ristorante vicino.

(Friday dinners ___ organized by the nearby restaurant.)

3. Gli inviti ___ mandati dagli amici per la festa.

(Invitations ___ sent by friends for the party.)

4. La musica ___ suonata dal gruppo locale durante la serata.

(The music ___ played by the local band during the evening.)

5. Le prenotazioni ___ fatte dalla segreteria del teatro.

(Bookings ___ made by the theater office.)

6. Il film ___ scelto da noi per la serata di venerdì.

(The film ___ chosen by us for Friday evening.)

Understanding the Passive Form with essere + Past Participle

This lesson focuses on how to use the passive voice in Italian, specifically with the verb essere followed by the past participle. In Italian, the passive form expresses situations where the subject is the recipient of the action. This differs from the active voice, where the subject performs the action.

Core Structure and Examples

The basic construction is essere (to be) + the past participle of the main verb. For example:

  • Io scelgo il film (I choose the movie) becomes Il film è scelto da me (The movie is chosen by me).
  • Il teatro organizza lo spettacolo (The theater organizes the show) becomes Lo spettacolo è organizzato dal teatro (The show is organized by the theater).

Notice how the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject in the passive form.

Key Points and Usage

  • The subject in a passive sentence receives the action.
  • Essere is conjugated according to the subject's number and person.
  • The past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number.
  • The agent performing the action is introduced by da + the agent (person or thing).

Useful Vocabulary

  • essere – to be
  • scelto – chosen
  • organizzato – organized
  • comprato – bought
  • suonato – played (music)

Comparing Italian Passive to English

In English, the passive voice is formed by combining a form of to be + past participle, similar to Italian. However, Italian requires agreement of the participle with the subject in gender and number, which English does not. For example, "The tickets are bought by the friend" translates to I biglietti sono comprati dall'amico, with comprati matching the masculine plural subject i biglietti. Also, Italian often uses essere in the passive voice, while English can also use get+ past participle in some contexts.

Remember these simple passive structures to communicate effectively about actions received by the subject in Italian, an essential skill even at the A1 beginner level.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Tuesday, 15/07/2025 04:30