Il passato prossimocontro

l’imperfetto

Il passato prossimoThe passato prossimo is used to talk about:

• Specific completed actions –

Ho viaggiato in aereo.

• An action in the past which happened at a specific time –

L’estate scorsa sono andato in Italia.

L’imperfettoThe imperfetto is used:

• To give a description of a past experience –

C’erano migliaia di turisti dappertutto.

• To talk about a repeated action in the past –

Lavoravo per cinque ore al giorno.

• To express an opinion in the past –

Era fantastico!

Which tense?Look at the following sentences in English and decide whether you would use the passato prossimo or the imperfetto to translate them.

1. I went to Italy with my friends in 2007.

2. Every day we walked for hours.

3. Last year my parents sold their car.

4. We received the postcard this morning.

Which tense?5. Fortunately, I had my camera with me.

6. My sister went out an hour ago.

7. When I was younger, I liked playing tennis.

8. The hotel was close to the city centre.

9. Last weekend I went to the cinema.

10. The people were very friendly.

Present to PastThe following sentences are all in the present tense. Put each one into both the passato prossimo and the imperfetto.

1. Ci sono tre alberghi nel centro della città.

2. Viaggio a scuola in autobus.

3. Mangio con amici nel ristorante.

Present to Past

Now translate each sentence into English. Does the meaning change with the tense? Which version would be better in a Directed Writing piece?Would adding a time phrase make any of them better?

4. Vado a vedere tanti musei interessanti.

5. È una città molto interessante.

6. Durante l’estate, gioco a calcio con amici.

Conjugation• Il passato prossimo

1. Stamattina, (io) _______ (alzarsi) presto.

2. Ieri pomeriggio, mia sorella _______ (giocare) a pallavolo con amici.

3. L’anno scorso (tu) _______ (lavorare) da un parrucchiere per un mese.

4. La settimana scorsa (noi) _______ (vedere) tre film al cinema.

Conjugation• L’imperfetto1. Il cibo in Italia _______ (essere) fantastico.2. I miei genitori _______ (guardare) la

televisione.3. (Io) _______ (dovere) lavare tutti i piatti ogni

sera.4. Ogni sera (noi) _______ (mangiare) nel

ristorante accanto all’albergo.

Which is best?

1. Durante le vacanze estive, sono andato / andavo al mare ogni giorno.

2. Nel 2006, ci sono stati / c’erano tanti turisti a Glasgow.

3. Sono andato / andavo in Italia l’estate scorsa. È stato / era meraviglioso!

4. Purtroppo, è piovuto / pioveva ogni giorno.

ScenarioLast year, you got a summer job in a hotel in Siena. You stayed in a flat in the centre of the city. You have to write an account of your experience in Italy.

Translate the following sentences into Italian:

1. I travelled to Pisa by plane and then to Siena by train.

Scenario2. The journey went well but I was very tired

when I arrived.

3. The apartment was small but comfortable. I shared it with three Italian students.

4. Every day, I ate lunch at the hotel. In the evening I cooked dinner with my flatmates.

5. I really enjoyed my time in Italy, although I missed my family and friends a lot.

Scenario6. A typical day involved cleaning hotel rooms,

making beds and serving lunch in the bar.

7. I earned around 150 euros a week. Unfortunately, I spent it all shopping in Siena and Florence!

8. My experience in Siena was very positive, I made lots of new friends and my Italian improved greatly.