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Flip to reveal answersHow do you form the passato prossimo?
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All 14 Flashcards — Passato prossimo
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Question
How do you form the passato prossimo?
Answer
Present of avere OR essere + past participle: ho mangiato, sono andato/a.
Question
Regular past-participle endings
Answer
-are → -ato (parlato), -ere → -uto (creduto), -ire → -ito (dormito).
Question
parlare → passato prossimo (io)
Answer
ho parlato (avere-verb, participle invariable).
Question
andare → passato prossimo (io, female)
Answer
sono andata (essere-verb, participle agrees with the subject).
Question
Which verbs take essere?
Answer
Movement / change of state (andare, venire, partire, tornare, uscire, nascere, morire…) and all reflexives.
Question
With avere, does the participle agree?
Answer
No — it stays invariable: «ho comprato tre biglietti», never «comprati».
Question
With essere, how does the participle end?
Answer
It agrees: -o (male io/lui), -a (female), -i (male/mixed plural), -e (all-female plural).
Question
fare → past participle
Answer
fatto (irregular): ho fatto i compiti.
Question
dire → past participle
Answer
detto (irregular): ho detto la verità.
Question
prendere → past participle
Answer
preso (irregular): ho preso l'autobus.
Question
leggere → past participle
Answer
letto (irregular): ho letto un libro.
Question
essere → past participle
Answer
stato/a (irregular): sono stato a Roma; è stata una bella giornata.
Question
When do you use the passato prossimo?
Answer
For single, completed past actions — what you DID (ieri, la settimana scorsa, già).
Question
Common passato prossimo error to avoid
Answer
«ho andato» → use essere: «sono andato»; and agree after essere: «Maria è andata».
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Full study notes for Passato prossimo
Topic 3.2 hub
Past & future tenses
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Italian B exam skills
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