Q: What differences between present & past participle?

The present participle (e.g., parlante – speaking) indicates an ongoing action or the one performing the action, whereas the past participle (e.g., parlato – spoken) indicates a completed action and is used in compound tenses or as an adjective.

Q: How to form the past participle in Italian?

The past participle is formed by adding -ato to -are verbs, -uto to -ere verbs, and -ito to -ire verbs. For example: mangiato (eaten), creduto (believed), finito (finished).

Q: Can I study Italian with LTL?

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Question 1

What differences between present & past participle?

Accepted Answer

The present participle (e.g., parlante – speaking) indicates an ongoing action or the one performing the action, whereas the past participle (e.g., parlato – spoken) indicates a completed action and is used in compound tenses or as an adjective.

Question 2

When to use the present participle in Italian?

Accepted Answer

The present participle is mainly used in literary or formal contexts, and it describes ongoing actions.

It is less common in everyday speech, which tends to favor other forms like the gerund or present tense.

Question 3

How to form the past participle in Italian?

Accepted Answer

The past participle is formed by adding -ato to -are verbs, -uto to -ere verbs, and -ito to -ire verbs. For example: mangiato (eaten), creduto (believed), finito (finished).

Question 4

Can past participle be used as adjective?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the past participle can be used as an adjective, agreeing in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

For example: una lettera scritta (a written letter), i compiti finiti (the finished homework).

Question 5

How is the past participle used in compound tenses?

Accepted Answer

The past participle is essential for forming compound tenses like the passato prossimo (present perfect), where it follows the auxiliary verb avere or essere. For example: Ho mangiato (I have eaten) or Sono andato (I went).

Question 6

Can I study Italian with LTL?

Accepted Answer

Yes!

We offer individual and group classes on our online platform, Flexi Classes.

Check out our 7 Day Free Trial and get started today!

Italian Grammar Bank

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