Italian Grammar Bank

TWO AUXILIARIES VERBS IN ITALIAN

 Some verbs in Italian are special because they can take both auxiliaries, depending on the context and meaning.

Understanding these double auxiliary verbs is essential to mastering Italian grammar, as the choice between “essere” and “avere” can change the meaning of a sentence.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Some Italian verbs can use both essere and “avere”, depending on whether they are used transitively (with a direct object) or intransitively (without a direct object). Here’s how it works:

  • “Avere” is used when the verb has a direct object (transitive use).
  • “Essere” is used when the verb does not have a direct object (intransitive use).

The past participle agrees with the subject when “essere” is used but remains unchanged with “avere.”

COMMON VERBS

Let’s look at some verbs that change meaning depending on the auxiliary used.

Cambiare (to change)
Ho cambiato lavoro.I changed jobs.
La situazione è cambiata.The situation has changed.
Ho cambiato idea.I changed my mind.
Il tempo è cambiato.The weather has changed.
Ho cambiato le lenzuola.I changed the bedsheets.

Finire (to finish, to end)

Ho finito il libro.I finished the book.
La festa è finita.The party has ended.
Ho finito i compiti.I finished my homework.
Il film è finito.The movie has ended.
Ho finito la mia tazza di caffè.I finished my cup of coffee.

Iniziare (to begin, to start)

Ho iniziato un nuovo lavoro.I started a new job.
La lezione è iniziata.The lesson has started.
Ho iniziato un corso di italiano.I started an Italian course.
La guerra è iniziata nel 1914.The war started in 1914.
Ho iniziato il progetto ieri.I started the project yesterday.

Salire (to go up, to climb, to board)

Ho salito le scale.I climbed the stairs.
Sono salito per le scale.I climbed the stairs.
Sono salito in macchina.I got into the car.
Ho salito la montagna.I climbed the mountain.
Siamo saliti sull’autobus.We got on the bus.
Ho salito i gradini velocemente.I climbed the steps quickly.

Passare (to pass, to spend time)

Ho passato il fine settimana al mare.I spent the weekend at the beach.
Il tempo è passato in fretta.Time has passed quickly.
Ho passato tre ore a studiare.I spent three hours studying.
La festa è passata velocemente.The party passed quickly.
Ho passato il test di italiano.I passed the Italian test.

ESSERE vs AVERE

  1. “Avere” requires a direct object → The action is performed on something.
  2. “Essere” is used when the verb is intransitive → The action happens to the subject.
  3. “Essere” changes the past participle to agree with the subject.
VerbWith Avere (Transitive)With Essere (Intransitive)
Cambiare Ho cambiato il mio stile.
I changed my style.
Il tempo è cambiato.
The weather has changed.
Finire Ho finito il compito.
I finished the task.
La riunione è finita.
The meeting has ended.
Iniziare Ho iniziato un nuovo libro.
I started a new book.
La partita è iniziata.
The match has started.
Salire Ho salito la scala.
I climbed the staircase.
Sono salito sull’autobus.
I got on the bus.
Passare Ho passato tre giorni a Roma.
I spent three days in Rome.
Il tempo è passato velocemente.
Time has passed quickly.

EXCEPTIONS

Some verbs primarily use one auxiliary but can occasionally take the other based on context:

  • Correre (to run):
    • Ho corso la maratona. → I ran the marathon.
    • Sono corso a casa. → I ran home.
  • Saltare (to jump):
    • Ho saltato il pranzo. → I skipped lunch.
    • Sono saltato giù dal muro. → I jumped down from the wall.
  • Volare (to fly):
    • Ho volato un aereo. → I flew a plane.
    • Sono volato a Parigi. → I flew to Paris.

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FAQs

Why some verbs in Italian have two auxiliaries?

Some verbs can be used with either “essere” or “avere” as their auxiliary in compound tenses, depending on the context or how they are used (transitively or intransitively).

An example of two auxiliaries verbs in Italian?

The verb “cambiare” (to change) can take “avere” when it has a direct object (Ho cambiato idea – I changed my mind) and “essere” when used intransitively (La situazione è cambiata – The situation changed).

How to choose the correct auxiliary?

The choice depends on whether the verb is used transitively (takes a direct object) or intransitively.

Use “avere” for transitive uses and “essere” for intransitive ones.

How about in the past tense?

Only when “essere” is used: the past participle agrees with the subject. With “avere”, it usually doesn’t agree, unless there’s a preceding direct object.

Are there many verbs like this in Italian?

There are several commonly used verbs with two auxiliaries, such as cambiare, cominciare, finire, passare, salire, scendere, aumentare, diminuire, and others.

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