B1grammar· 7 min· +35 XP
Imperfetto vs Passato Prossimo
The big past-tense decision in Italian: a completed action or an ongoing scene?
| Use passato prossimo for… | Use imperfetto for… |
|---|---|
| A specific event that happened and ended | An ongoing or repeated past action |
| Ieri sono andato al cinema. (I went — once) | Andavo al cinema ogni sabato. (I went — always) |
| Ho mangiato una pizza. (I ate, once) | Mangiavo sempre la pizza il venerdì. (I always ate) |
| A sudden, interrupting action | A description, background, the weather, age |
A classic pairing: imperfetto for the scene, passato prossimo for the interrupting action.
Ero a casa quando il telefono ha suonato. "I was at home when the phone rang."
Choose the correct tense
Fill in the blank: choose the right past tense
Translate the mix
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