Italian tenses explained: in this lesson, we will show all Italian tenses and moods and explain how to use them together in sentences
According to the verb of the main sentences, the verb of the secondary sentences can be anterior(past), contemporary(present), or posterior(future).
1. The agreement of tenses in the indicative mood.
A). If the verb of the main sentences is in the present or in the present perfect the verb of the secondary sentences can be anterior (present perfect, imperfect, past historical), contemporary (present indicative), or posterior (future simple).
main sentences | secondary sentences |
–presente Dico –present perfect Ho detto | –anterior(past) che Luca ha cantato una canzone che Luca cantava una canzone che Luca cantò una canzone –contemporary(present) che Luca canta una canzone –posterior(future) che Luca canterà una canzone |
B). If the verb of the main sentences is in the past, the verb of the secondary sentences can be anterior (past perfect), contemporary (present perfect, imperfect, past historical), or posterior (past conditional).
main sentences | secondary sentences |
-present perfect Ho detto –past historical Dissi –imperfect Dicevo | -anterior(past perfect) che Luca aveva cantato una canzone -contemporary(past) che Luca ha cantato una canzone che Luca cantava una canzone che Luca cantò una canzone -posterior(past conditional) che Luca avrebbe cantato una canzone |
C). If the verb of the main sentences is in the future, the verb of the secondary sentences can be anterior (present perfect, past historical, imperfect), contemporary (future simple), or posterior (future simple).
main sentences | secondary sentences |
–future Dirò | –anterior(past) che Luca ha cantato una canzone che Luca cantava una canzone che Luca cantò una canzone –contemporary(future) che Luca canterà una canzone –posterior(future) che Luca canterà una canzone |
2. The agreement of tenses in the subjunctive mood.
A). If the verb of the main sentences is in the present the verb of the secondary sentences can be anterior (past subjunctive), contemporary (present subjunctive), or posterior (future simple, present subjunctive).
main sentences | secondary sentences |
–present indicative Penso | –anterior(past subjunctive) che Lisa sia partita. –contemporary(present subjunctive) che Lisa parta. –posterior(future simple, present subjunctive) che Lisa partirà. che Lisa parta. |
B). If the verb of the main sentences is in the past, the verb of the secondary sentences can be anterior (subjunctive past perfect), contemporary (imperfect subjunctive), or posterior (past conditional).
main sentences | secondary sentences |
-present indicative Penso | -anterior(subjunctive past perfect) che Lisa fosse partita. -contemporary(imperfect subjunctive) che Lisa partisse. -posterior(past conditional) che Lisa sarebbe partita. |
C). If the verb of the main sentences is in the present conditional, the verb of the secondary sentences can be anterior (subjunctive past perfect), contemporary (imperfect subjunctive), or posterior (imperfect subjunctive).
main sentences | secondary sentences |
-present conditional Vorrei | –anterior(subjunctive past perfect) che Giulio mi avesse telefonato. –contemporary(imperfect subjunctive) che Giulio mi telefonasse. –posterior(imperfect subjunctive) che Giulio mi telefonasse. |
1). Uses of the Italian tenses.
The verb has three fundamental tenses: present, past, and future.
A). Italian tenses explained: The present tense (Il presente).
The present is a single tense, which describes the action that is happening at the moment we speak (it is also possible to use the verb stare + the gerund).
- Ascolto la lezione oppure sto ascoltando la lezione.
- I listen to the lecture or I am listening to the lecture.
But the present also indicates an action that repeats itself, which lasts forever over time.
- Mi piace studiare l’italiano. (ora ma anche prima e dopo).
- I like studying Italian. (now but also before and after).
B). Italian tenses explained: The past tense (Il passato).
In Italian, it is expressed by a series of verbs that indicate precisely when the action takes place and the correlations that exist between different actions.
I). The imperfect (L’imperfetto)
The imperfect tense indicates:
- An action that lasts long in the past:
- L’Impero Romano dominava tutto il Mediterraneo.
- The Roman Empire dominated all of the Mediterranean.
- A past action that is repeated out of habit:
- Da giovane giocavo spesso a dama.
- As a young man, I often played checkers.
- An action that took place at the same time as another action in the past:
- Squillò il telefono mentre dormiva.
- The phone rang while he was sleeping.
II). The present perfect. (Il passato prossimo)
Indicates a past and finished action that happened a short time ago.
- Ho letto il libro di Alberto Moravia (poco tempo fa).
- I read the book by Alberto Moravia (recently ago).
III). The historical past. (Il passato remoto)
Indicates a past and finished action that happened a long time ago, and for this reason, it is mainly used as a historical tense.
- Lessi il diario di mio nonno (molti anni fa).
- I read my grandfather’s diary (many years ago).
- Leonardo nacque a Vinci nel 1452.
- Leonardo was born in Vinci in 1452.
IV). The past perfect. (Il trapassato prossimo)
Indicates an action already performed with respect to another past action and therefore expresses its precedence.
- Avevo letto il libro di Alberto Moravia prima che tu me ne parlassi.
- I had read Alberto Moravia’s book before you told me about it.
V). The historical past perrfect (Il trapasssato romoto)
It has the same use of the past perfect, but only if it depends on a historical past and therefore in very rare cases.
- Quando ebbe letto il libro di Alberto Moravia lo prestò al suo amico.
- When he had read Alberto Moravia’s book, he lent it to his friend.
C). Italian tenses explained: The future tense (Il futuro).
The future in the Italian language has two tenses.
I). The future simple (Il futuro semplice)
The future simple expresses an action that has yet to occur (when the tense is close enough to the present the present itself can also be used).
- Questo pomeriggio andrò al mare = Questo pomeriggio vado al mare.
- I’m going to the beach this afternoon
- Il mese prossimo partirò per le vacanze.
- I’m going on vacation next month.
The future simple also expresses uncertainty, a doubt, a question to which no one can give a certain answer, expressed for the present time.
- Che cosa penserà di me?
- What will he/she think of me?
II). The future perfect (Il futuro anteriore o composto)
The future perfect expresses an action that will take place in the future before another one that is already in the future.
- Dopo che sarò partito per le vacanze, sentirai la mia mancanza?
- After I leave for vacation, will you miss me?
The future perfect also expresses uncertainty, a doubt, a question to which no one can give a certain answer, expressed for the past time.
- Che cosa sarà successo?
- What will happen?
2). Uses of Italian verb modes.
There are 7 moods of the verb, of which 4 are definite (or explicit forms), i.e. complete with an indication of time and persons, and 3 are indefinite (or implicit forms), i.e. incomplete, which express the action of the verb in its meaning, without a definite reference to person or time.
A). The definite moods are:
1. The indicative (L’indicativo)
The indicative is the mood of reality, that is, it shows (indicates, in fact), a fact that happens, has happened, and will really happen.
This mood is the most complete it has all 8 tenses (present, present perfect, imperfect, future, future perfect, past perfect, past historical, and historical past perfect).
2. The subjunctive (Il congiuntivo)
The subjunctive is the mood of desire, feeling, or subjectivity, used in conjunction with an expression that introduces its meaning. It has 4 tenses (the present, the past, the imperfect, the past).
The indicative is used for the future.
- Sono felice che tu venga.
- I’m happy you come.
- Penso che lui sia già partito.
- I think he has already left.
- Volevo (vorrei) che tu venissi.
- I wanted (I wish) you to come.
- Ero felice che tu fossi venuto.
- I was happy you came.
3. The conditional (Il condizionale)
The conditional is the mood of the condition, of the possibility, and expresses a fact that occurred only in a given condition.
It has two tenses (simple and compound)
- Mi piacerebbe / Mi sarebbe piaciuto tanto venire in vacanza sul Monte Conero con voi.
- I would love / I would have loved to come on holiday to Monte Conero with you.
The conditional also expresses kindness and a polite form of request.
- Mi passeresti quella penna, per favore?
- Could you pass me that pen, please?
4. The imperative (L’imperativo)
The imperative mood of command, of direct request has only one tense and only 3 people (tu, noi, voi). For the third singular and plural, the present subjunctive form is used.
- Ascolta con attenzione!
- Listen carefully!
- Venite con noi!
- Come with us!
- Prego, si accomodi!
- Please have a seat!