Which is the difference between "imperfetto" and "passato prossimo" in Italian? When do you use the firts and when do you use the second?

The difference between the Italian imperfetto and passato prossimo can be tricky but it is important to understand it well and to demonstrate its correct use at GCSE level. We use passato prossimo for: -actions completed in the past, with precite time references (a month ago, in 1998, in the summer...): for example: "sabato sono andato al cinema" We use imperfetto for: - action incompleted with starting or ending time left vague and unspecified: for example "ero triste" - taliking about childhood: "da bambino vivevo con mia nonna" - action repeated: "ogni estate andavo al mare coi miei genitori"