L'infinito passato si usa per parlare di azioni che sono successe prima di altre azioni.
(The past infinitive is used to talk about actions that happened before other actions.)
- It is formed with 'avere' or 'essere' in the infinitive + past participle.
- It is used after prepositions such as 'dopo', 'di', 'prima di', 'senza'.
- Usually, the subject in the main clause and in the dependent clause is the same.
| Infinito presente (Present infinitive) | Infinito passato (Past infinitive) | Esempio (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Spedire (To send) | Avere spedito (To have sent) | Ti ho chiamato dopo avere spedito la lettera. (I called you after having sent the letter.) |
| Scrivere (To write) | Avere scritto (To have written) | Non credo di avere scritto molto. (I don’t think I have written much. ) |
| Andare (To go) | Essere andato (To have gone) | Dopo essere andato all'ufficio postale, sono andato in banca. (After going to the post office, I went to the bank.) |
| Entrare (To enter) | Essere stato (To have been) | Sono felice di essere stato al negozio oggi. (I’m happy to have been at the shop today.) |
Exceptions!
- Direct, indirect, combined pronouns, and the particles 'ci' and 'ne' go after the infinitive. Example: "sposarsi" -> "essermi sposato"
Exercise 1: Multiple choice
Instruction: Choose the correct answer
1. Ti ho scritto un messaggio dopo ________ la cartolina.
I wrote you a message after ________ the postcard.2. Prima di ________ all'ufficio postale, ho comprato i francobolli.
Before ________ to the post office, I bought the stamps.3. Mi dispiace di non ________ il file nell'email.
I'm sorry for not ________ the file in the email.4. Grazie di ________ il messaggio al destinatario così in fretta.
Thank you for ________ the message to the recipient so quickly.Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence.
Exercise 3: Rewrite the phrases
Instruction: Rewrite the sentences by joining the two actions with the perfect infinitive (avere/essere + past participle) after 'dopo', 'di', 'prima di' or 'senza', as in the example: I phoned. Before that I had finished the work. → I phoned after having finished the work.
-
⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ExampleSono andato in banca dopo essere passato all’ufficio postale.(I went to the bank after stopping by the post office.)
-
⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ExampleNon credo di avere scritto molto oggi.(I don't think I wrote much today.)
-
⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ExampleLei è uscita dall’ufficio dopo avere chiuso il computer.(She left the office after shutting down the computer.)
-
⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ExampleMarco è andato a dormire dopo avere spedito l’e-mail al collega.(Marco went to bed after sending the email to his colleague.)
Exercise 4: Grammar in action
Instruction: In pairs, describe the sequence of actions and solve any problems encountered.
- Cosa hai fatto dopo avere spedito la lettera o la cartolina? (What did you do after sending the letter or postcard?)
- Prima di avere inviato il messaggio, quali dati del destinatario hai controllato e perché? (Before sending the message, which recipient details did you check and why?)
- dopo avere spedito la busta, ho inviato un'email (after having mailed the envelope, I sent an email)
- prima di avere allegato il file, ho controllato il destinatario (before having attached the file, I checked the recipient)
- senza avere messo la firma, non posso spedire la lettera (without having signed, I can't send the letter)
- dopo avere + participio passato (after having + past participle)
- prima di avere + participio passato (before having + past participle)
