This lesson explains the Italian past tenses: imperfetto for habits and descriptions (e.g., votavo, parlava), passato prossimo for completed actions (ho votato, ha parlato), and trapassato prossimo for actions before another past event (avevo votato, avevamo deciso).
| Tempo (Tense) | Uso (Use) | Esempio (Example) |
|---|---|---|
| Imperfetto | Abitudine o contesto passato (Habit or past context) | Io votavo sempre lì (I always voted there) |
| Descrizione o azione non conclusa (Description or unfinished action) | Il sindaco parlava spesso con noi (The mayor used to speak often with us) | |
| Passato prossimo | Azione passata e conclusa (Completed past action) | Ieri io ho votato al seggio (Yesterday I voted at the polling station) |
| Evento specifico nel passato (Specific event in the past) | Lei ha parlato con il presidente (She has spoken with the president) | |
| Trapassato prossimo | Azione passata anteriore a un'altra (Past action anterior to another) | Io avevo votato prima del discorso (I had voted before the speech) |
| Evento precedente a un altro passato (Event prior to another past event) | Noi avevamo deciso prima delle elezioni (We had decided before the elections) |
Exercise 1: I tempi del passato (riassunto)
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
parlava, avevo mangiato, avevo votato, avevamo deciso, andavo, è stato, ho visto
1.
Decidere:
Noi ... di partecipare alle elezioni insieme.
(We had decided to take part in the elections together.)
2.
Mangiare:
Prima di partire, io ... con il nuovo sindaco.
(Before leaving, I had eaten with the new mayor.)
3.
Parlare:
Lei spesso ... di politica con i cittadini.
(She often talked about politics with the citizens.)
4.
Essere:
Lui ... sindaco della città l'anno scorso.
(He was the mayor of the city last year.)
5.
Andare:
Quando ero studente, ... solo alle elezioni comunali.
(When I was a student, I only went to the local elections.)
6.
Vedere:
Ieri ... il Parlamento.
(Yesterday I saw the Parliament.)
7.
Parlare:
Durante le elezioni, il sindaco ... alla radio.
(During the elections, the mayor was speaking on the radio.)
8.
Votare:
Prima del referendum, ... in un altro seggio.
(Before the referendum, I had voted at another polling station.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence based on the appropriate use of past tenses: imperfect, present perfect, or past perfect. Read carefully and select the right option.
1.
Past perfect not appropriate without reference to another prior past action.
Imperfect used improperly for a single and completed action in the past.
2.
Present perfect improper for a habitual and repeated action in the past.
Past perfect incorrect for habit; the imperfect is used.
3.
Present perfect not suitable to express action prior to another past action.
Imperfect not suitable to indicate a completed action prior to another.
4.
Present perfect incorrect for habitual action; the imperfect is used.
Past perfect not suitable for a habitual action, but for an action prior to another.
