is there a simple rule to follow for when to use them when expressing the past in italian?
2006-12-20 02:06:33 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
To simplify enormously: avere ed essere, il primo de' quali serve al concetto di azione, il secondo al concetto di stato, condizione.
In other words: an action verb will always be with avere "ho mangiato, ho giocato, ho visto, ho masticato, ho dormito". when it express a situation or a condition "sono cresciuto, sono ingrassato, sono affamato, sono vissuto". For movement verbs, it is an action when it express the action movement "ho corso, ho passeggiato, ho nuotato", but a situation when it expresses the going somewhere "sono andato a Parigi, sono corso a comprare...". There are lots of verbs that can use both, depending on the sense, and some that seems to use either or...
A full rule would be http://www.accademiadellacrusca.it/faq/faq_risp.php?id=5060&ctg_id=93, but it is a bit complex.
2006-12-20 02:21:58 · answer #1 · answered by OneLilithHidesAnother 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With transitive verbs (those where action involves an object) we use "avere". (ho suonato, ho scritto) . With intransitive verbs (in particular those of movement) we are generally using "essere"
(sono uscito,sono andato). There are however a few exceptions
(for example "il cane ha abbaiato" or "abbiamo chiacchierato molto") that in spite of being clearly intransitive are formed by using "avere".
A few verbs change their meaning if we use "avere" instead of "essere". For istance the verb "finire" in the intransitive form used as "to come to an end" will be always with essere ("il film è finito") while if it's used as "to bring something to an end" (that's a transitive meaning) we will use always avere ("ho finito il pranzo" ).
"Essere" must be used with all the reflexive verbs (vedersi, voltarsi, dimenticarsi will become mi sono visto, mi sono voltato, mi sono dimenticato). The forms "ho visto,ho voltato,ho dimenticato" are not from the reflexive verbs but from the similar transitive verbs vedere,voltare,dimenticare.
If you use "essere" the participe must be made agree with the gender and the number of the subject (lui è andato,lei è andata, loro sono andati) and in this case it's a kind of an adjectif.
If you use "avere" the participe is unchanged when the object follows the verb (ho mangiato la mela) while must be made agree exactly as when you use "essere" if the direct object comes ahead the verbal form ( La mela ?? L'ho mangiata -
I ragazzi ?? Non li ho visti).
Very simple,isnt't ?
2006-12-20 03:09:39 · answer #2 · answered by martox45 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An easy way to work out which to use is - if you can say "what "before the verb then, you use avere, if not then it is essere. It works most times but there are exceptions. This advice comes from my Italian tutor who is Italian.
2006-12-20 08:52:00 · answer #3 · answered by alec A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Avere" and all its forms are the most commonly used. Think of it as being something that isn't permanent-like falling down the stairs. As for "essere", it's something that doesn't change easily without effort (movement) or never changes--like nationality.
Here's a good way to remember it: "You won't always have what you have, but you'll always be what you'll be." That's the way I did it.
2006-12-20 02:15:18 · answer #4 · answered by Danagasta 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Essere is always used with movements, so it's 'sono andata' and 'sei caduto''. Avere is used a lot, for example they don't say 'I am cold' but 'I have cold' (ho freddo). If you learn a few of these trends it becomes quites simple.
2006-12-20 02:12:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's like ser and estar in Portuguese (and I believe Spanish too)
Sou Ingles...I am English......Permanent
Estou gordo...I am fat......temporary state (hopefully)
2006-12-20 03:48:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋