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Essere o Avere? Which auxiliary verb must I use?

Ah! the famous auxiliary verbs. Here is a handy guide - You use "avere" with ACTIVE TRANSITIVE verbs. Here is an example Io HO mangiato - I have eaten. The verb "eaten" describes an actio...
GU
Answered by Giusy U. • Italian tutor
3645 Views

How can I construct the 'periodo ipotetico'?

The periodo ipotetico is a construct in Italian that is useful to express hypothetical actions, following the "if...then..." structure. There are three different periodi ipotetici : della realtà , ...
GA
Answered by Giulia A. • Italian tutor
6036 Views

What is the difference between the verbs 'essere' and 'stare'?

Both of the Italian verbs 'stare' and 'essere' can be translated into English as 'to be' in certain contexts. 'Essere' means 'to be' or 'to exist' whilst 'stare' usually means 'to stay.' 'Essere' is most com...
BC
Answered by Bethany C. • Italian tutor
76149 Views

When do I use the auxiliary verb "essere" and when "avere" in compound tenses?

When building a compound tense it is necessary to use the auxiliar "essere" when the verb is a reflexive verb, and/or when the verb is intransitive ( it cannot take a direct object). It is instead ...
AB
Answered by Alice B. • Italian tutor
2649 Views

what does it mean to "dare del lei" to somebody?

In Italian when you have to show respect to a person (somebody you don't know, an older person, a colleague, a teacher... basically everybody who's not a friend) you don't address him a "tu" (you) ...
RP
Answered by Riccardo P. • Italian tutor
4437 Views