Verb Tenses

Question 1

What does “imperfect” mean?

Answer 1

Incomplete

Question 2

What does the imperfect tense express?

Answer 2

The imperfect expresses an action or state of being that was incomplete, continuous, or habitual in the past.

Question 3

Examples of when imperfect is used.

Answer 3

1.) Express an action in the past that went on simultaneously with another action.
2.) To express an action that was ongoing as another action occurred. “I was watching TV when you called.”
3.) To indicate a past action, desire, condition that took place habitually. “When we were in Italy, we often went to Rome.”
4.) To describe an earlier mental, emotional, or physical condition. “When I was a child, I played football”
5.) To refer to a routine time of day in the past. “What time did you used to….”
6.) To quote someone indirectly in the past. “He said that he was coming” “Lui ha detto che veniva…”

Question 4

What is the Passato Remoto?

Answer 4

The past absolute.

Question 5

When do you use the Past absolute?

Answer 5

To express an action that was completed in the relatively remote past. Used in a historical setting. “My parents go married 30 years ago.”

Question 6

What is the Passato Prossimo?

Answer 6

The Present Perfect tense?

Question 7

When do you use the Present Perfect?

Answer 7

To refer to simple actions in the recent past. “I sold my car”.

Question 8

What is the trapasato prossimo?

Answer 8

The pluperfect indicative.

Question 9

When do you use the pluperfect indicative.

Answer 9

To describe an action that occured before another action. “He told me that he had spoken to her.” “Lui mi ha detto che le aveva parlato.”

Question 10

Present indicative example (To eat)

Answer 10

I eat, you eat, he eats
Io mangio, tu mangi, lui mangia

Question 11

Imperfect indicative example (To eat)

Answer 11

I was eating, I used to eat - Io mangevo
You were eating, You used to eat - Tu mangevi

Question 12

Pluperfect indicative (To eat)

Answer 12

I ate, you ate, he ate

Question 13

Present Perfect (To eat)

Answer 13

I have eaten - Io Ho mangiato
You have eaten - Tu hai mangiato
He has eaten - Lui ha mangiato

Question 14

Pluperfect Indicative (To eat)

Answer 14

I had eaten - Avevo mangiato
You had eaten - Avevi mangiato
He had eaten - Aveva mangiato

Question 15

Future perfect (To eat)

Answer 15

I will have eaten - Avrò mangiato
You will have eaten - Avrai mangiato
He will have eaten - avrà mangiato