This lesson explains the Italian "infinito passato," used with auxiliary verbs avere or essere + past participle, as in "avere spedito" or "essere andato," typically after prepositions like "dopo" or "prima di." Learn to express completed actions before others, using verbs like spedire, scrivere, andare, and entrare.
- 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 subjects in the main and subordinate clause agree.
| 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 having gone to the post office, I went to the bank.) |
| Entrare (Enter) | Essere stato (To have been) | Sono felice di essere stato al negozio oggi. (I am happy to have been to the shop today.) |
Exceptions!
- Direct, indirect, combined pronouns and the particles ci and ne go after the infinitive. Example: "sposarsi" -> "essermi sposato"
Exercise 1: L'infinito passato
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
essere andato, essere stato, aver chiuso, aver capito, aver letto, essersi svegliato, aver allegato, aver finito
1.
Andare:
Dopo ... all'ufficio postale, sono andato in banca.
(After having gone to the post office, I went to the bank.)
2.
Svegliarsi:
Dopo ..., ha controllato la posta.
(After waking up, he checked the mail.)
3.
Leggere:
Ti ho risposto senza ... il messaggio.
(I answered you without having read the message.)
4.
Allegare:
Ha inviato la mail dopo ... il file.
(He sent the email after attaching the file.)
5.
Finire:
Dopo ... le cose da fare, è tornato a casa.
(After having finished the things to do, he returned home.)
6.
Stare:
Sono felice ... al negozio oggi.
(I am happy to have been to the shop today.)
7.
Capire:
Non credo di ....
(I don't think I understood.)
8.
Chiudere:
Dopo ... le finestre, sono uscito di casa.
(After having closed the windows, I left the house.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence that uses the past infinitive according to the indicated rules.
1.
Error: the correct form of the past infinitive is missing; it should say 'after having read'.
Error: 'avuto' (having had) is not used in this construction; the correct form is 'after having read'.
2.
Error: the auxiliary 'essere' (to be) in the infinitive is missing to form the past infinitive.
Error: the verb 'arrivare' (to arrive) is not used with the reflexive pronoun in this form; correct is 'after being arrived'.
3.
Error: incorrect use of the past infinitive and lack of agreement with the subject.
Error: incorrect form, missing auxiliary 'having' and the correct past participle.
4.
Error: after 'without' the past infinitive is used to indicate an action already completed.
Error: incorrect use of 'essere' (to be) with the transitive verb 'finire' (to finish); 'having' + past participle is required.
