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Passato Prossimo with Avere

Build your first past-tense sentences using avere as the helper verb.

Most Italian verbs build their past tense with avere (to have) plus a past participle — the same pattern as English 'I have eaten', except Italians use it for any completed past action, not just recent ones.

Building the participle

  • -are verbs → -ato: parlare → parlato (spoken)
  • -ere verbs → -uto: vendere → venduto (sold)
  • -ire verbs → -ito: dormire → dormito (slept)

Ho parlato con Marco ieri.

I spoke with Marco yesterday.

ho (I have) + parlato (spoken) — the pattern never changes for -are verbs.

Some common verbs break the pattern with an irregular participle — you already met three in the grammar hub (fatto, detto, visto). Add these ones now: preso (taken, from prendere), letto (read, from leggere), scritto (written, from scrivere).

Vocabulary in this lesson

  • ho lavorato

    I worked

    Ho lavorato tutto il giorno.

  • ho mangiato

    I ate

    Ho mangiato la pasta.

  • ho preso

    I took

    Ho preso il treno.

  • ho scritto

    I wrote

    Ho scritto una lettera.

Check yourself

Instant feedback as you answer each question.

What's the participle of parlare (to speak)?
"I read a book" — which is correct?

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