Auxiliary verbs (essere, avere) in Italian
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Sign up for freeItalian language uses mainly to auxiliary verbs, namely essere (to be) and avere (to have).
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.Function of essere and avere
- 2.How to choose the correct auxiliary verb
- 2.1.Usage of avere
- 2.1.1.List of verbs with avere as auxiliary
- 2.2.Usage of essere
- 2.2.1.List of verbs with essere as auxiliary
- 2.3.Verbs with both essere and avere
- 2.3.1.List of some verbs with both avere and essere as auxiliary verbs
- 3.Exercises
- 3.1.Choose the correct form between essere or avere for the following verbs
Function of essere and avere
The auxiliary verbs are characterized by two main aspects:
- they have their own meaning: essere expresses the state of being and the existence of someone or of something; avere expresses possession;
- they are used to form the compound tenses of the verbs.
| Verbs | Proper meaning | Auxiliary value |
|---|---|---|
| Essere | Io sono suo figlio. (I am her son) | Loro sono uscite insieme. (They went out together) |
| Avere | Voi avete una bellissimo gatto. (You have a beautiful cat) | Noi non avevamo capito nulla. (We didn't understand nothing) |
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How to choose the correct auxiliary verb
Usage of avere
Avere as auxiliary is used with:
- transitive verbs in its active voice;
e.g. Io ho visto un bel film ieri. (I saw a good movie yesterday); - intransitive verbs with an agent as its subject;
e.g. Tu hai parlato con loro. (You talked with them); Voi avete camminato per ore. (You walked for hours).
List of verbs with avere as auxiliary
| Infinitive verb | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Lavorare | Tu hai lavorato fino a tardi. | You worked till late. |
| Camminare | Egli ha camminato per arrivare a casa tua. | He walked to reach your house. |
| Ridere | Perché avete riso così tanto? | Why did you laugh so much? |
| Dormire | Il bambino ha dormito tutto il pomeriggio. | The child slept for all the afternoon. |
Usage of essere
Essere as auxiliary is used with:
- intransitive verbs as moving, stative and changing verbs:
e.g. La nonna è rimasta a casa. (Grandma stayed at home). - reflexive verbs: e.g. Mi sono lavato. (I washed myself);
- impersonal verbs: e.g. Si era capito che non aveva studiato. (It was clear he hasn't studied).
List of verbs with essere as auxiliary
| Infinitive form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Arrivare | Mia zia è arrivata ieri mattina. | My aunt arrived yesterday morning. |
| Scoppiare | Sono scoppiati tutti i palloncini. | All the baloons have burst. |
| Cadere | Il bambino è caduto mentre correva. | The boy has fallen while he was running. |
| Andare | Come è andato il tuo esame? | How was your exam? |
| Venire | Ieri è venuta con noi. | She came with us yesterday. |
| Stare | Credevo saresti stata a casa di tuo fratello. | I thought you would have stayed at your brother's. |
| Tornare | Come mai siete tornate qui? | Why did you come back here? |
| Nascere | Ieri è nata mia cugina. | Yesterday my cousin is born. |
| Chiamarsi | Quella città è chiamata la Città del Sole. | That city is called the City of Light. |
| Arrabbiarsi | Voi vi siete arrabbiati molto. | You really got angry. |
| Lavarsi | Tu ti sei sempre lavato la sera. | You have always washed yourself in the evening. |
Verbs with both essere and avere
There are some verbs that don't follow strictly this distinction.
Remember! You could find verbs with both essere and avere.
Unfortunately, there are not a clear way to identify these verbs.
The presence of essere or avere could depend on:
- the subject, if it's animate or inanimate:
e.g. L'uomo ammalato è migliorato. (The sick man is getting better); Il tempo è migliorato. (The weather cleared). - the meaning:
e.g. L'aereo ha volato per ore. (The plane has flown for hours); L'aereo è volato a Los Angeles. (The plane flew to Los Angeles).
List of some verbs with both avere and essere as auxiliary verbs
| Infinitive form | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Vivere | Ho vissuto in Inghilterra. Sono vissuto in Inghilterra. | I lived in England. |
| Correre | Sono corso alla fermata dell'autobus. Ho corso una maratona. | I ran to the bus station. I ran the marathon. |
| Finire | Hai finito presto i compiti. Il film è finito tardi. | You have finished your homework soon. The movie finished late at night. |