How are the tenses used? Flashcards
(84 cards)
When is the present tense used except for the present tense?
To express near future when the context makes it clear (super common in spoken italian), ie: Domani parto per Roma. – Tomorrow I leave for Rome.
What is the difference between the passato prossimo and imperfetto?
Passato prossimo is: Completed actions in the past; actions that happened once or a specific number of times; events with a clear time reference (e.g., ieri, una volta, l’anno scorso)
Imperfetto is: Ongoing or habitual actions in the past; descriptions (weather, age, emotions, physical states); background context in a narrative; two actions happening at the same time in the past
What is the meaning of the imperfetto with if clauses “se”?
se + imperfetto = imperfetto
it translates more as “whenevr x happened, y happened too” or “everytime this happened___”
When is the trapassato prossimo used?
describes an action that had already happened before another action in the past. it uses the imperfect of avere or essere + past participle. the other clause in the past tense will be either passato prossimo or imperfetto.
When is the condizionale presente used?
hypothetical “would”, polite requests, informal past future
When is the condizionale passato used?
hypothetical’s in the past, regret with dovere/potere, formal past future
Which pronouns are used for the imperative in modern italian?
tu, Lei, noi, and voi.
When is the passato remoto used?
in literature + historical texts AND as the past tense in the south (Sicily, Calabria, and parts of Campania and Puglia)
When is the trapassato remoto used?
Rarely used except in formal historical writing - it is in conjunction with the passato remoto in these context and comes before it.
→ Appena ebbe terminato, si alzò. (As soon as he had finished, he got up.) It is auxiliary in passato remoto plus past participle.
How is the futuro anteriore used?
futuro anteriore - otherwise used in writting for “I will have …”
& common in speech for speculation about the past (they must have…”
What is the difference between the futuro semplice and the andare + a + infintive.
The andare + a + infinitive is the colloquial of an immediate and planned future. Someone is “about to …”.
The futuro semplice is a neutral and formal of a general/less immediate future (ie. predictions, assumptions, and promises) as well as speculation about the present and time clauses refering to the future that in English would be present (ie. Quando arriverai, mangeremo & “Avranno fame” they are probably hungry).
When is the congiuntivo presente used?
its a present tense that comes after a main clause that expresses uncertainty, emotion or in its own clause, triggers such as benché, sebbene – although; affinché – so that; a meno che – unless; & prima che – before
How is the congiuntivo passato used?
It has the same triggers and main clauses as the congiuntivo presente, except the dependent occurs in the past.
How is the congiuntivo imperfetto used?
when the main clause triggering the subjunctive is in a past tense & if statements that result in the condizionale presente & politeness in the past
How is the congiuntivo trapassato used?
the main clause triggering subjunctive is in the past and the dependent clause (the congiuntivo trapassato) has already happened & in if clauses that result in condizionale passato
How is the gerundio used?
1. progressive tense (stare in present and imperfetto)
2. to express while + ing
to express cause and manner in formal/literary italian
Vedendo arrivare la nave, corsero al porto. (Seeing the ship arrive, they ran to the port.)
Essendo stanco, andò a dormire presto.
(Being tired, he went to bed early.)
Non avendo i soldi, non poté partire.
(Not having the money, he couldn’t leave.)
What is the use of the participio presente and what are the endings?
The adjectives that have “ing”
Are = ante
Ere/ire = ente
It extremely formal/literary contexts, it can be used in a clause as a verb. This is exclusive to writing, because it sounds just as weird in English and it does in spoken Italian.
Translate and transform the participio presente used as a verb into the vernacular:
Il docente, spiegante con chiarezza, ha catturato l’attenzione degli studenti.
The teacher, explaining with clarity, captured the students’ attention.
Il docente che spiegava con chiarezza, ha catturato l’attenzione degli studenti.
Translate and transform the participio presente used as a verb into the vernacular:
L’opera mostra l’animo tormentato dell’artista, riflettente la sua sofferenza interiore.
The work shows the artist’s tormented soul, reflecting his inner suffering.
L’opera mostra l’animo tormentato dell’artista, che riflette la sua sofferenza interiore.
Tomorrow I will go to the beach.
Domani andrò al mare.
Futuro semplice.
We will study for the exam.
Studieremo per l’esame.
Futuro semplice.
I’ll call you later.
Ti chiamerò più tardi.
Futuro semplice.
I’ll never do it again.
Non lo farò mai più.
Futuro semplice.
It will rain tomorrow.
Pioverà domani.
Futuro semplice.
