Passato prossimo
Passato prossimo is a core everyday past tense built with avere or essere plus the participle.
Examples
ItalianTranslation
Ho letto il messaggio e sono uscita subito.
I read the message and went out immediately.
Abbiamo finito tardi ieri sera.
We finished late yesterday evening.
Lei è arrivata in anticipo.
She arrived early.
Pattern
avere/essere + participle
How it works
Passato prossimo is a core everyday past tense built with avere or essere plus the participle. This pattern typically appears as avere/essere + participle and becomes easier when you meet it again in short, readable examples.
What to notice
- Some verbs take essere and often show agreement in the participle.
- Avere is common with direct objects and many transitive verbs.
Why it matters
Learn to describe completed action and action in progress more naturally.
Use in context
Like German Perfekt or Spanish pretérito perfecto, this tense quickly unlocks diary-style narration.