Preterite perfect tense (trapassato remoto) in Italian
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The preterite perfect (trapassato remoto) is a compound tense that belongs to the indicative mood.
The trapassato remoto is usually used in literary contexts. In everyday language* it is rarely used, except in very formal contexts.
*In everyday language the trapassato remoto is usually replaced with the passato remoto or the trapassato prossimo.
The trapassato remoto refers to an action that took place in the past before another action introduced by the passato remoto.
Therefore, the trapassato remoto can be usually found in subordinate clauses.
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The trapassato remoto can be introduced by the following marker words:
Example | Translation |
---|---|
Dopo che | After |
Quando | When |
Non appena | As soon as |
Finché | Until |
Examples:
Th trapassato remoto is formed as follows:
Passato remoto of the auxiliary verb essere/avere + participio passato (past participle) of the main verb
Here you can find three examples of regular verbs in the trapassato remoto tense.
Example mangiare (to eat)
Passato remoto auxiliary verb | Participio passato main verb | Example | Translation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Io | ebbi | mangiato | Io ebbi mangiato una mela | I had eaten an apple |
Tu | avesti | mangiato | Tu avesti mangiato una mela | You had eaten an apple |
Egli/Ella | ebbe | mangiato | Egli ebbe mangiato una mela | He had eaten an apple |
Noi | avemmo | mangiato | Noi avemmo mangiato una mela | We had eaten an apple |
Voi | aveste | mangiato | Voi aveste mangiato una mela | You had eaten an apple |
Essi/Esse | ebbero | mangiato | Essi ebbero mangiato una mela | They had eaten an apple |
Example credere (to believe)
Passato remoto auxiliary verb | Participio passato main verb | Example | Translation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Io | ebbi | creduto | Io ebbi creduto alle sue bugie | I had believed to his lies |
Tu | avesti | creduto | Tu avesti creduto alle sue bugie | You had believed to his lies |
Egli/Ella | ebbe | creduto | Egli ebbe creduto alle sue bugie | He had believed to his lies |
Noi | avemmo | creduto | Noi avemmo creduto alle sue bugie | We had believed to his lies |
Voi | aveste | creduto | Voi aveste creduto alle sue bugie | You had believed to his lies |
Essi/Esse | ebbero | creduto | Essi ebbero creduto alle sue bugie | They had believed to his lies |
Example dormire (to sleep)
Passato remoto auxiliary verb | Participio passato main verb | Example | Translation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Io | ebbi | dormito | Io ebbi dormito tutto il giorno | I had slept all day |
Tu | avesti | dormito | Tu avesti dormito tutto il giorno | You had slept all day |
Egli/Ella | ebbe | dormito | Egli ebbe dormito tutto il giorno | He had slept all day |
Noi | avemmo | dormito | Noi avemmo dormito tutto il giorno | We had slept all day |
Voi | aveste | dormito | Voi aveste dormito tutto il giorno | You had slept all day |
Essi/Esse | ebbero | dormito | Essi ebbero dormito tutto il giorno | They had slept all day |
Verbs that form the participio passato irregularly, have to be studied by heart.
Here are some examples:
Vedere (to see) | Morire (to die) | Vivere (to live) | Scrivere (to write) | Leggere (to read) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Io | ebbi visto | fui morto/a* | ebbi vissuto | ebbi scritto | ebbi letto |
Tu | avesti visto | fosti morto/a* | avesti vissuto | avesti scritto | avesti letto |
Egli/Ella | ebbe visto | fu morto/a* | ebbe vissuto | ebbe scritto | ebbe letto |
Noi | avemmo visto | fummo morti/e* | avemmo vissuto | avemmo scritto | avemmo letto |
Voi | aveste visto | foste morti/e* | aveste vissuto | aveste scritto | aveste letto |
Essi/Esse | ebbero visto | furono morti/e* | ebbero vissuto | ebbero scritto | ebbero letto |
*Remember that when you use the auxiliary verb essere, the participio passato must agree with the subject in gender and number!
The auxiliary verbs form the trapassato prossimo as follows:
Essere (to be) | Avere (to have) | |
---|---|---|
Io | fui stato/a | ebbi avuto |
Tu | fosti stato/a | avesti avuto |
Egli/Ella | fu stato/a | ebbe avuto |
Noi | fummo stati/e | avemmo avuto |
Voi | foste stati/e | aveste avuto |
Essi/Esse | furono stati/e | ebbero avuto |
Examples:
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I am a private teacher in English, German and Italian. I am a Master's graduate in Translation and Interpreting at the University of Genoa, Italy. I am Italian native speaker. I know English and German at C2 level and Russian at B2 level.
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Daniela is an extraordinary teacher and has helped me become very confident in speaking Italian and I really like every lesson, thanks Daniela.
Daniela V.Dear Pip, thank you for your positive feedback and thank you for your trust !. You're doing an exceptional job, keep it up :-)
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Hi everyone!
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Hi everyone!
My name is Daniela, I am Italian and I come from a small town in Sicily, Southern Italy. I am a qualified Italian language teacher and a CELI examiner! I work in two language schools teaching Italian and I also teach English at school.
I love foreign languages, translating, reading and listening to music. Are you ready to start your language learning path with me? We are going to learn many things and to talk a lot, if you allow me to! Don’t worry if you’ve never studied the language before: everyone can attend my classes – from beginner to advanced students. You just need passion for what you're going to do and... a good Internet connection. Materials are provided by me!
See you online!
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Very Nice communication, easy to study and practice Italiano, I am a Beginner and She has the patience to understand me.
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Hello Everybody
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I am available for any explanations also via e mail
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My Italian lessons with Giorgio have been so worthwhile. Each lesson is very structured and well- prepared. The teaching material is excellent. His friendly demeanor throughout the lesson always inspires interest, encourages and fosters self-confidence. Giorgio is capable of treating his students according to their individual needs. I continuously progress in my studies. He's always willing to go an extra- mile in order to clear any doubts or uncertainties. I highly recommend Giorgio to anyone who wants to learn, improve and master Italian on a high level and who's looking for a teacher out of the ordinary.
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My name is Jay and I'm from Morocco I love to teach English and share my knowledge of Moroccan and western culture with young students.
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Hello Everybody
My name is Luisa and I teach Italian for foreign students, English, French and German for Italian students
Since 1994, I have dedicated myself to translating and teaching thanks to my travels, abroad studies, foreign reading and writing. I provide fun and customized lessons based on the student's goals. I also triy to minimize English speaking during the lessons. I give homework exercises, and my lessons are intermixed with grammar, conversation, customs and traditions. My goal is to make certain that each student finds learning Italian exciting.
I am available for any explanations also via e mail
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Luisa is fantastic! We are just doing conversation because that is what I need, and requested from Luisa. Easy flow and no lacking of topics to talk about with her. I highly recommend Luisa!!!
Luisa A.Thank you so much !!! It's a pleasure for me !!!
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