Italian Grammar Bank
SIMPLE PAST IN ITALIAN
The passato remoto is a past tense in Italian used to describe events that happened in the distant past and are considered completely concluded.
It is most commonly found in literature, historical texts, and formal writing, though it is still used in spoken language in certain regions of Italy, particularly in the south.
WHAT IS PASSATO REMOTO?
While in daily conversation the passato prossimo (present perfect) is more commonly used, the passato remoto remains an essential part of the Italian language, particularly for those who wish to read and understand classical literature, historical accounts, or formal speech.
The passato remoto is typically used in the following contexts:
➡️ Historical events: It is frequently used when narrating historical facts or past events that have no connection to the present.
➡️ Literature: Many Italian novels and historical writings use passato remoto to recount past events.
➡️ Storytelling: It appears in fairy tales, myths, and formal storytelling to describe sequences of past actions.
➡️ Southern Italian speech: In some dialects and regions of Italy, especially in the south, it is commonly used in spoken language.
BASIC STRUCTURE
Like other past tenses, the passato remoto varies based on verb endings (-are, -ere, -ire).
Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, while some irregular verbs have unique conjugations.
PATTERN
Subject + verb (in passato remoto) + object
Regular Verbs
-ARE Verbs (ex: Parlare – to speak)
| Io | parlai |
| Tu | parlasti |
| Lui/Lei | parlò |
| Noi | parlammo |
| Voi | parlaste |
| Loro | parlarono |
View Examples:
| Nel 1800, molte persone emigrarono in America. | In 1800, many people emigrated to America. |
| Il re proclamò una nuova legge. | The king proclaimed a new law. |
| L’artista dipinse un capolavoro. | The artist painted a masterpiece. |
-ERE Verbs (ex: Vendere – to sell)
| Io | vendetti / vendei |
| Tu | vendesti |
| Lui/Lei | vendette / vendé |
| Noi | vendemmo |
| Voi | vendeste |
| Loro | vendettero / venderono |
View Examples:
| L’azienda produsse molte auto nel 1950. | The company produced many cars in 1950.) |
| Gli antichi Romani costruirono strade solide. | The ancient Romans built strong roads.) |
| Dopo la guerra, la città cambiò completamente. | After the war, the city changed completely. |
-IRE Verbs (ex: Dormire – to sleep)
| Io | dormii |
| Tu | dormisti |
| Lui/Lei | dormì |
| Noi | dormimmo |
| Voi | dormiste |
| Loro | dormirono |
View Examples:
| Nel castello, la principessa dormì per cento anni. | In the castle, the princess slept for a hundred years. |
| Dopo la lunga giornata, tutti si riposarono. | After the long day, everyone rested. |
| L’inventore scoprì una nuova tecnologia. | The inventor discovered a new technology. |
ESSERE & AVERE IN PASSATO REMOTO
Essere (to be)
| Io | fui |
| Tu | fosti |
| Lui/Lei | fu |
| Noi | fummo |
| Voi | foste |
| Loro | furono |
Avere (to have)
| Io | ebbi |
| Tu | avesti |
| Lui/Lei | ebbe |
| Noi | avemmo |
| Voi | aveste |
| Loro | ebbero |
IRREGULAR VERBS
Some of the most frequently used verbs in Italian have irregular passato remoto forms.
These are important to recognise as they appear frequently in texts and historical accounts.
| FARE | DIRE | VEDERE | VENIRE | PRENDERE | METTERE | SAPERE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Io | feci | dissi | vidi | venni | presi | misi | seppi |
| Tu | facesti | dicesti | vedesti | venisti | prendesti | mettesti | sapesti |
| Lui/Lei | fece | disse | vide | venne | prese | mise | seppe |
| Noi | facemmo | dicemmo | vedemmo | venimmo | prendemmo | mettemmo | sapemmo |
| Voi | faceste | diceste | vedeste | veniste | prendeste | metteste | sapeste |
| Loro | fecero | dissero | videro | vennero | presero | misero | seppero |
View Examples:
| Dante scrisse la Divina Commedia. | Dante wrote the Divine Comedy. |
| Cristoforo Colombo scoprì l’America nel 1492. | Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. |
| Gli scienziati studiarono le stelle per secoli. | Scientists studied the stars for centuries. |
Learn Italian with FlexiClasses
Book online classes with the best teachers in the industry.
FAQs
When is the passato remoto used?
The passato remoto is mainly used in written Italian—especially in literature, history, and formal writing—to describe actions that are completely finished in the distant past.
The passato prossimo, on the other hand, is used more commonly in everyday spoken language, even for recent past events.
Is the passato remoto used in spoken Italian?
In most regions of Italy, especially in the North and Center, the passato remoto is rarely used in conversation.
However, in Southern Italy, it is still commonly used in speech to describe past actions.
How to form the passato remoto?
Regular verbs follow these endings:
-are → parlare → parlai, parlasti, parlò…
-ere → credere → credei/credetti, credesti, credé/credette…
-ire → dormire → dormii, dormisti, dormì…
Are there irregular verbs in the passato remoto?
Yes, many common Italian verbs—including essere, avere, fare, dire, and venire—have irregular passato remoto forms.
These need to be memorized as they do not follow the regular patterns.
How to recognise the passato remoto?
You can identify the passato remoto by its unique endings and context: it appears mostly in written narratives.
For example: “Il re morì nel 1452” (The king died in 1452) is in the passato remoto.
Can I learn Italian with LTL?
Yes!
We offer individual and group classes on our online platform, Flexi Classes.
Check out our 7 Day Free Trial and get started today!
MORE FREE LESSONS
-
Italian past anterior tense
Avere (in passato remoto) + past participle of the main verb -
Present & past subjonctive in Italian
Main Clause (Indicative) + "che" + Dependent Clause (Present Subjunctive) -
The Italian past perfect indicative
Subject + conjugated auxiliary verb (imperfect) + past participle of the main verb -
Future perfect tense in Italian
Subject + Future of avere or essere + Past Participle of the Main Verb