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Grammar Lesson:
Some verbs conjugate with AVERE to form the past tenseand others conjugate with ESSERE to form the past tense.
To create the past tense:
1. conjugate the verb AVERE or ESSERE in the present tense
2. follow it with the past participle of the verb you are looking to put in the past
To create the past participle:
1. Take the base of the verb
2. Add the following endings:
- are verbs: base + ATO
- ere verbs: base + UTO
- ire verbs: base + ITO
Some verbs have irregular past participles:
Here are some IRREGULAR verbs that conjugate in the past with the verb AVERE:
VERB INFINITIVE
PAST PARTICIPLE
ENGLISH DEFINITION
fare
fatto
to do/make
chiedere
chiesto
to ask for
chiudere
chiuso
to close/to shut
correre
corso
to run
decidere
deciso
to decide
dipingere
dipinto
to paint
leggere
letto
to read
mettere
messo
to put or put on / to place
perdere
perso
to lose/miss
prendere
preso
to take
rispondere
risposto
to respond
scrivere
scritto
to write
vedere
visto
to see
bere
bevuto
to drink
aprire
aperto
to open
dire
detto
to say / to tell
offrire
offerto
to “treat” to offer
Here are some IRREGULAR verbs that conjugate in the past with the verb ESSERE:VERB INFINITIVE
PAST PARTICIPLE
ENGLISH DEFINITION
essere
stato/a
to be
rimanere
rimasto/a
to remain
nascere
nato/a
to be born
morire morto/a to die When to conjugate with ESSERE:- states of being such as coming, going, becoming or staying (think of being born as coming into life and think of dying as going out of life)NOTE: When making the passato prossimo with ESSERE, you must change the last letter of ATO, UTO or ITO to be masculine or feminine and singular or plural.