Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn the Italian passive form using essere + participio passato, with examples like "Il film è scelto" and "La musica è suonata." Master key verbs such as scegliere, organizzare, comprare, and suonare.
  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 in Italian

This lesson focuses on how to form and use the passive voice in Italian by combining the verb essere (to be) with the past participle of the main verb. This is an essential grammatical structure at the A1 level, helping you express actions where the subject receives the action rather than performing it.

What You Will Learn

  • How to transform active sentences into passive ones using essere + past participle
  • Understanding the subject's role in passive constructions
  • Common verbs and their past participles used in passive forms

Key Examples

Active SentencePassive Sentence
Io scelgo il filmIl film è scelto da me
Il teatro organizza lo spettacoloLo spettacolo è organizzato dal teatro
L'amico compra i bigliettiI biglietti sono comprati dall'amico
Il gruppo suona la musicaLa musica è suonata dal gruppo

How the Passive Form Works

In passive sentences, the subject is the receiver of the action, which is carried out by someone or something else. The passive is constructed by using the appropriate form of essere followed by the past participle of the verb. For example:

  • Il film è scelto da me (The film is chosen by me)
  • Lo spettacolo è organizzato dal teatro (The show is organized by the theater)

Differences Compared to English

In English, the passive voice is also formed with a form of to be plus the past participle, similar to Italian. However, note that in Italian, the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject because essere is a verb of state, whereas in English, the past participle does not change.

Useful Italian words in this topic include è (is), sono (are), and past participles like scelto (chosen), organizzato (organized), comprati (bought), and suonata (played).

Summary

By mastering the passive form with essere + past participle, you will be able to understand and create sentences where the focus is on the action being received rather than who performs it, a common and useful structure in everyday Italian.

Written by

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 11:42