Intro. Understanding Italian Past Tenses
In Italian, the Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto are two fundamental past tenses that serve completely different functions in storytelling and communication. While both refer to past events or states, they differ dramatically in how actions unfold: whether complete or ongoing, repeated or singular, central to the narrative or part of the background context.
These differences make the tenses non-interchangeable, as each one conveys a distinct aspect of past experience. The Passato Prossimo answers "What happened?" while the Imperfetto answers "What was it like?" or "What used to happen?"
Understanding when to use each tense will transform your ability to tell stories, describe past experiences, and communicate naturally in Italian. Together with proper usage combinations, these are the most frequently used tenses for narrating past events in Italian.
1. When to Use Passato Prossimo
1.1 Completed Actions in the Past
The Passato Prossimo is one of the most frequently used past tenses in Italian and serves a narrative function. It reports actions that were completed in the past, whether they lasted a short or long time, occurred once, or took place a limited number of times. These actions are typically tied to a specific moment or time frame.
Use the Passato Prossimo to describe actions or events that have a clear beginning and end and are fully completed. These actions are considered finished and no longer ongoing.
Examples:
Ho finito i compiti.
I finished my homework.
I miei genitori hanno gestito un ristorante per vent'anni.
My parents ran a restaurant for twenty years.
1.2 Events That Occurred at a Specific Time
This tense is used for actions that happened at a clearly defined point in the past, often introduced by time expressions such as ieri (yesterday), lunedì scorso (last Monday), due ore fa (two hours ago), or stamattina (this morning). The emphasis is on when the action took place.
Examples:
Abbiamo mangiato alle otto.
We ate at eight.
Ho incontrato Maria stamattina.
I met Maria this morning.
1.3 Actions That Happened Once or a Limited Number of Times
Another common use of the Passato Prossimo is to express non-habitual actions that occurred once or only a few times. These are past events that are countable and clearly completed.
Examples:
Ho visto quel film una volta.
I saw that movie once.
Luca ha viaggiato in Giappone due volte.
Luca has traveled to Japan twice.
2. When to Use Imperfetto
2.1 Habitual Actions in the Past
The Imperfetto serves a descriptive function. It's commonly used to describe habits or routines in the past. These actions are not tied to a specific moment but instead reflect patterns of behavior that occurred over time. They suggest continuity and repetition without a defined beginning or end.
The Imperfetto is usually accompanied by temporal expressions or frequency adverbs like da bambino (as a child), ogni giorno (every day), sempre (always), spesso (often), di solito (usually), in genere (generally).
Examples:
Da bambino, guardavo i cartoni animati ogni pomeriggio.
As a child, I used to watch cartoons every afternoon.
Ogni estate andavamo al mare.
Every summer we went to the seaside.
2.2 Repeated Actions Without Specific Count
The Imperfetto is used for actions repeated multiple times, especially when the number of occurrences is undefined. These are ongoing patterns rather than isolated events.
Examples:
Giocavamo spesso a calcio dopo scuola.
We used to play soccer a lot after school.
Beveva sempre un caffè prima del lavoro.
He/she always used to have a coffee before work.
2.3 Description and Background Settings
The Imperfetto is the go-to tense for setting the scene in narration. It's used to describe time, age, weather, and general background conditions in the past. These descriptions create context and atmosphere, rather than highlighting specific events.
Examples:
Erano le otto di sera.
It was eight o'clock in the evening.
Aveva solo dieci anni.
He/she was only ten years old.
Faceva freddo e pioveva.
It was cold and it was raining.
Mi sentivo triste quel giorno.
I felt sad that day.
2.4 Emotional, Mental, and Physical States
The Imperfetto describes internal states in the past – whether emotional, mental, or physical. Common verbs include avere (to have), essere (to be), amare (to love), credere (to believe), desiderare (to desire), pensare (to think), potere (to be able to), ricordare (to remember), sapere (to know), sperare (to hope), and volere (to want).
Examples:
Pensavo a lui spesso.
I used to think about him often.
Avevo mal di testa.
I had a headache.
3. Simultaneous vs. Sequential Actions: A Comparison
One of the clearest ways to distinguish between Imperfetto and Passato Prossimo is by examining how each tense expresses the flow of time within a sentence.
Simultaneous Actions (Imperfetto):
I bambini giocavano e la nonna cucinava.
The children were playing and the grandmother was cooking.
In this case, the Imperfetto shows that both events were happening at the same time, continuously, with no defined beginning or end. These actions provide background scene-setting.
Sequential Actions (Passato Prossimo):
I bambini hanno finito di giocare e poi sono andati a dormire.
The children finished playing and then went to bed.
Here, both verbs are in Passato Prossimo. These are discrete, completed actions that move the story forward step by step, creating a timeline where each completed action marks a new development.
4. Combined Use of Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto
4.1 Background + Interruption
In storytelling and everyday conversation, Italian speakers often use Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto together. The Imperfetto describes an ongoing action in the background, which is then interrupted by a specific event expressed with Passato Prossimo.
Example:
Mentre studiavo, è arrivato Marco.
While I was studying, Marco arrived.
4.2 Habitual Past + One-Time Event
This structure contrasts a recurring or ongoing past condition with a single, specific action that took place during that time.
Example:
Quando vivevo a Roma, ho incontrato il Papa una volta.
When I lived in Rome, I met the Pope once.
4.3 Scene Setting vs. Main Action
Often in narration, the Imperfetto sets the scene – describing weather, mood, or background – before a key event is introduced with Passato Prossimo.
Example:
Era una serata tranquilla. Faceva freddo e nevicava. All'improvviso, qualcuno ha bussato alla porta.
It was a quiet evening. It was cold and snowing. Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.
5. Using Mentre + Imperfetto and Quando + Passato Prossimo
5.1 Mentre + Imperfetto
Mentre introduces an action that was unfolding in the background – something continuous or in progress. This kind of action is expressed with the Imperfetto.
Examples:
Mentre leggevo un libro, è suonato il telefono.
While I was reading a book, the phone rang.
Mentre camminavo nel parco, ho incontrato un vecchio amico.
While I was walking in the park, I ran into an old friend.
5.2 Quando + Passato Prossimo
Quando often introduces a specific event that occurs at a particular point in time, marking a turning point or interruption. This event is typically expressed with Passato Prossimo.
Examples:
Stavamo cenando, quando è arrivata mia sorella.
We were having dinner when my sister arrived.
Quando è cominciato il film, parlavamo ancora.
When the movie started, we were still talking.
6. Subtle Differences in Meaning Between the Two Tenses
6.1 Change in Meaning with Certain Verbs
Some verbs in Italian shift in meaning depending on whether they are used in the Imperfetto or Passato Prossimo.
Conoscere:
- Imperfetto: "to know" or "to be familiar with" someone over time
- Passato Prossimo: "to meet" for the first time
Examples:
Conoscevo un banchiere famoso.
I knew a famous banker.
Ho conosciuto un banchiere famoso.
I met a famous banker.
Sapere:
- Imperfetto: knowing something over time
- Passato Prossimo: "to find out" or "to learn" for the first time
Examples:
Sapevo che Mario ha divorziato.
I knew Mario divorced.
Ho saputo che Mario ha divorziato.
I found out that Mario divorced.
6.2 Dovere, Potere, and Volere: Intention vs. Action
When used in the Imperfetto, these modal verbs express intent, possibility, or desire without indicating whether the action was completed. In Passato Prossimo, they signal that the action was carried out.
Dovere (to have to / must / to be supposed to)
Dovevamo fare molte commissioni.
We were supposed to do many errands.
In the imperfetto, dovere suggests an obligation or expectation, but the outcome remains uncertain.
Abbiamo dovuto fare molte commissioni.
We had to do many errands.
In the passato prossimo, the obligation is presented as something that was fulfilled.
Potere (to be able to / can)
Mi potevano prestare il motorino.
They could lend me the moped.
With imperfetto, potere indicates the potential or ability to do something, without confirming whether the action took place.
Mi hanno potuto prestare il motorino.
They were able to lend me the moped.
In passato prossimo, it refers to a specific instance in which the action was successfully completed.
Volere (to want)
Volevano fare due chiacchiere.
They wanted to chat.
Used in the imperfetto, volere expresses a past desire or intention, again without indicating the result.
Hanno voluto fare due chiacchiere.
They insisted on chatting.
In the passato prossimo, volere shows that the desire was acted upon – often with emphasis or insistence.
7. Past Tenses in Context: Italian Short Story
The following short story demonstrates both Passato Prossimo and Imperfetto in action. Notice how each tense serves its specific function in creating a vivid narrative. In the text below, Imperfetto verbs are bolded and Passato Prossimo verbs are italic to help you identify their usage patterns:
Ho lasciato casa dei miei genitori da anni ormai e, a causa del mio lavoro, non torno spesso a trovarli. Ma quando finalmente riesco a farlo, io e mia madre non perdiamo occasione per dedicarci a ciò che da sempre amiamo di più: fare shopping insieme! E così sabato scorso, senza pensarci due volte, siamo partite per la nostra "caccia all'affare", cariche di aspettative. La giornata non era delle migliori, il cielo era grigio e il clima era umido, ma niente poteva fermarci.
Appena siamo arrivate al centro commerciale, mia madre si è diretta subito verso il suo negozio di scarpe preferito. Mentre io mi aggiravo incerta tra gli scaffali, mia madre, più risoluta che mai aveva già davanti a sé quattro paia di scarpe da provare: "una per ogni occasione".
La "caccia" è continuata da un negozio di abbigliamento e accessori all'altro. Mia madre ha sempre avuto un talento innato nello scovare i capi giusti al primo colpo. Appena siamo entrate nel "negozio giusto" ha adocchiato un cappotto in tweed grigio che le stava benissimo. Non ci ha pensato due volte e lo ha comprato. Ha detto:« È perfetto per l'occasione». Io non sapevo quale, ma non aveva importanza.
Poi ha preso di mira le borse e di nuovo con un colpo d'occhio magistrale ha individuato la borsa adatta al cappotto e alle scarpe.
Io, intanto, pensavo di non trovare più nulla per me. Ero sul punto di arrendermi quando, all'improvviso, mia madre mi ha indicato una giacca in velluto bordeaux, perfetta per la stagione. L'ho indossata e mia madre ha approvato con convinzione. Affare fatto!
Penso di non sbagliare se dico che abbiamo percorso chilometri e quando finalmente ci siamo fermate a prendere un caffè abbiamo ricordato quando io ero piccola e facevamo shopping insieme vicino casa. Mia madre conosceva tutti i negozi per bambini del quartiere. «Ti ricordi quel negozio dove abbiamo comprato il tuo vestito per il primo giorno di scuola? Abbiamo saputo che ha chiuso, ora è diventato un centro benessere.»
Quando a fine giornata siamo tornate a casa cariche di buste e sacchetti, e abbiamo mostrato "i nostri affari" anche a papà mi sentivo felice. Non tanto per gli acquisti (anche per quelli, ovviamente!), ma per quella sensazione di normalità e complicità familiare che, ogni volta, riscopro quando torno a casa.
8. Test Your Knowledge: Grammar Quiz
Test your skills and see what you’ve learned from this lesson on the Italian past tenses by completing the following quiz.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 🙋♀️
What is the difference between Imperfetto and Passato Prossimo?
Imperfetto describes continuous, habitual, or background actions without a clear beginning or end. Passato Prossimo focuses on specific, completed actions or events that happened at a defined time.
Is it possible to use the Passato Prossimo instead of the Imperfetto to describe past habits?
No, the Imperfetto is specifically used for habits and repeated actions in the past. Using Passato Prossimo would imply a specific, completed action rather than something habitual or ongoing.
How do you use mentre (while) or quando (when)?
Use mentre + Imperfetto to introduce continuous or ongoing actions. Use quando + Passato Prossimo to introduce specific events that interrupt or occur during the ongoing action. Example: Mentre studiavo, quando è arrivato Marco (While I was studying, when Marco arrived).
What is the difference between using the Imperfetto and Passato Prossimo of modal verbs?
In Imperfetto, modal verbs express intention, desire, or ability without confirming action completion. In Passato Prossimo, they indicate the action was actually carried out. Example: Volevo chiamarti (I wanted to call you - uncertain if I did) vs. Ho voluto chiamarti (I wanted to call you and I did).
Adriana Rossi is a certified teacher of Italian as a foreign language from Rome, Italy, and has been part of the Giulia team since 2024. With a Modern Literature degree and advanced studies in Modern Philology, she specializes in tracing the origins and evolution of Italian words, bringing expertise in diction and expressive reading to help preserve and share Italy’s linguistic heritage with learners worldwide.
