The Trapassato Prossimo / Past perfect is the ‘past of past’.
Example:
|
Italian |
English |
Declarative Sentence |
Aveva lavorato. |
He had worked. |
Negative Declarative Sentence |
Non aveva lavorato. |
He had not worked. |
Question |
Aveva lavorato? |
Had he worked? |
How to form the Trapassato Prossimo / Past perfect?
The Trapassato Prossimo consists of two parts:
- Auxiliary verb - avere / essere (to have / to be)
- Paricipio Passato (Past Participle)
Usage of the auxiliary verb:
- essere: with verbs of movement and non-movement
- avere: with all other verbs
Forms of the auxiliary verbs:
avere - to have
| Italian | English |
avevo |
I had |
avevi |
you had |
aveva |
he / she / it had |
avevamo |
we had |
avevate |
you had |
avevano |
they had |
essere - to be
| Italian | English |
ero |
I was |
eri |
you were |
era |
he / she / it was |
eravamo |
we were |
eravate |
you were |
erano |
they were |
The Participio Passato (past participle) is the second part of the Trapassato Prossimo.
List of some important verbs which form the trapassato Prossimo with “essere” (to be):
Infinitive |
Participio Passato |
English |
andare |
andato |
to go |
arrivare |
arrivato |
to arrive |
cadere |
caduto |
to fall |
diventare |
diventato |
to become |
entrare |
entrato |
to enter |
morire |
morto |
to die |
nascere |
nato |
to be born |
partire |
partito |
to leave |
restare |
restato |
to stay |
rimanere |
rimasto |
to stay |
salire |
salito |
to get on (the train) |
scendre |
sceso |
to get out, to exit |
stare |
stato |
to stand, to stay |
tornare |
tornato |
to return |
uscire |
uscito |
to go out |
venire |
venuto |
to come |
Reflexive Verbs in the Trapassato Prossimo
Reflexive verbs always form the Trapassato Prossimo with the auxiliary verb “essere” - to be.
Example:
Dopo che si era alzato, è andato al centro per bere un caffè.
When is the Participio Passato adjusted?
There is NO adjustment of the Participio Passato, when:
- the auxiliary verb “avere” - to have is used > aveva ascoltato
There is an adjustment of the Participio Passato in the following cases:
| -o > male, singular | -a > female, singular |
-i > male, plural |
-e > female, plural |
- the auxiliary verb “essere” - to be > era salita
- reflexive verbs > si era alzata
- complements (direct object) > l’aveva vista
A verb that forms the Trapassato Prossimo with “avere - to have”: mangiare
| Italian | English |
avevo mangiato |
I had eaten |
avevi mangiato |
you had eaten |
aveva mangiato |
he / she / it had eaten |
avevamo mangiato |
we had eaten |
avevate mangiato |
you had eaten |
avevano mangiato |
they had eaten |
A verb that forms the Trapassato Prossimo with “essere - to be”: andare
| Italian | English |
ero andato / a |
I had gone |
eri andato / a |
you had gone |
era andato / o |
he / she / it had gone |
eravamo andati / e |
we had gone |
eravate andati / e |
you had gone |
erano andati / e |
they had gone |
Usage:
The Trapassato Prossimo is the “past of the past“.
Examples:
| Italian | English |
Mi ha presentato la sua amica dopo che era arrivato. |
He has introduced me to hid girl-friend after she had arrived. |
Non l’aveva mai visto prima. |
She had never seen him before. |
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