Italian irregular verbs scare many students, but in reality they are the most used verbs in everyday conversation. For this reason, knowing them well is the secret to speaking natural and fluent Italian. In this article we’ll see together the complete conjugation of 23 fundamental irregular verbs in the present indicative and in the passato prossimo, with lots of curiosities, practical examples and little tricks to remember them.
23 Irregular Verbs = 50% of Italian
Irregular verbs are those verbs that do not follow the standard model of conjugation of the three Italian conjugations (-are, -ere, -ire). Their root changes, and sometimes even the ending becomes unpredictable. The good news? Most of these verbs belong to the basic vocabulary: once learned, you’ll use them constantly.
Let’s now see them one by one, with the conjugation in the present, the correct auxiliary in the passato prossimo (essere or avere) and the correct past participle.
The Auxiliary Verbs: Essere and Avere [To Be and To Have]
1. Essere [To Be]
Let’s start with the verb Essere, the first of all by importance and which we use to talk about identity (“Io sono Graziana” [I am Graziana]), profession (“Lei è insegnante” [She is a teacher]), origin (“Tu sei spagnolo?” [Are you Spanish?]), state of mind (“Siamo felici!” [We are happy!]) and so much more. It’s also the auxiliary verb par excellence in compound tenses.
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | sono [am] | sono stato/a [have been] |
| tu [you] | sei [are] | sei stato/a [have been] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | è [is] | è stato/a [has been] |
| noi [we] | siamo [are] | siamo stati/e [have been] |
| voi [you all] | siete [are] | siete stati/e [have been] |
| loro [they] | sono [are] | sono stati/e [have been] |
Watch out for the accent: è vs e
Be careful: è (verb) has a grave accent and is written differently from e (conjunction). Example: “Marco è italiano e parla italiano” [Marco is Italian and speaks Italian]. It’s a small but very common mistake even among Italians, especially when they write quickly on social media.
Curiosity: the past participle of essere is “stato”, the same as the verb stare. Want to know when to use one or the other? Take a look at the dedicated guide on essere vs stare.
2. Avere [To Have]
The other great auxiliary verb of Italian. The H at the beginning is not pronounced, but it’s always written! It’s fundamental to not confuse ho (verb) with o (conjunction), hai with ai (articulated preposition), or hanno with anno (the time unit). They seem like details, but they make the difference.
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | ho [have] | ho avuto [have had] |
| tu [you] | hai [have] | hai avuto [have had] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | ha [has] | ha avuto [has had] |
| noi [we] | abbiamo [have] | abbiamo avuto [have had] |
| voi [you all] | avete [have] | avete avuto [have had] |
| loro [they] | hanno [have] | hanno avuto [have had] |
Expressions with “Avere” [To Have]
In Italian, avere is also used in many expressions where other languages would use essere.
For example: “ho fame” [I’m hungry], “ho sete” [I’m thirsty], “ho freddo” [I’m cold], “ho caldo” [I’m hot], “ho 30 anni” [I’m 30 years old], “ho ragione” [I’m right], “ho paura” [I’m afraid], “ho un mal di testa terribile” [I have a terrible headache].
So never say “sono fame” or “sono 30 anni”!
Movement Verbs: Andare, Stare, Venire, Uscire, Nascere [To Go, To Stay, To Come, To Go Out, To Be Born]
3. Andare [To Go]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | vado [go] | sono andato/a [have gone] |
| tu [you] | vai [go] | sei andato/a [have gone] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | va [goes] | è andato/a [has gone] |
| noi [we] | andiamo [go] | siamo andati/e [have gone] |
| voi [you all] | andate [go] | siete andati/e [have gone] |
| loro [they] | vanno [go] | sono andati/e [have gone] |
Curiosity: the present indicative in Italian is a “multipurpose” verb tense. We use it to talk about the present, but also about the future. Just add a temporal indication: “Domani vado al cinema” [Tomorrow I’m going to the cinema].
Andare is used in many everyday expressions: “andare a piedi” [to go on foot], “andare in macchina” [to go by car], “andare al lavoro” [to go to work], “andare a scuola” [to go to school]. And then there’s the classic Italian question: “Come va?” [How’s it going?]. A typical conversation at the bar in Italy practically always starts like this!
4. Stare [To Stay]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | sto [stay] | sono stato/a [have stayed] |
| tu [you] | stai [stay] | sei stato/a [have stayed] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | sta [stays] | è stato/a [has stayed] |
| noi [we] | stiamo [stay] | siamo stati/e [have stayed] |
| voi [you all] | state [stay] | siete stati/e [have stayed] |
| loro [they] | stanno [stay] | sono stati/e [have stayed] |
Stare is a verb that foreigners often confuse with essere, but in Italian they have different uses! Stare we use to indicate a state of health (“Come stai? Sto bene” [How are you? I’m fine]), a position or stay in a place (“Sto a casa di mia sorella per il weekend” [I’m staying at my sister’s house for the weekend]), or in expressions like “stare zitto” [to be quiet], “stare attento” [to be careful], “stare calmo” [to stay calm].
There’s also the form “stare + gerundio” which is super important to talk about actions in progress: “Sto mangiando” [I’m eating], “Stiamo studiando italiano” [We’re studying Italian].
5. Venire [To Come]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | vengo [come] | sono venuto/a [have come] |
| tu [you] | vieni [come] | sei venuto/a [have come] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | viene [comes] | è venuto/a [has come] |
| noi [we] | veniamo [come] | siamo venuti/e [have come] |
| voi [you all] | venite [come] | siete venuti/e [have come] |
| loro [they] | vengono [come] | sono venuti/e [have come] |
Watch out not to confuse venire with andare! Venire indicates movement towards the speaker, while andare indicates movement towards another place. To go deeper, read the guide on andare vs venire.
We also use venire in expressions like “venire in mente” [to come to mind] (“Mi è venuta in mente una cosa” [Something came to my mind]), “venire voglia” [to feel like] (“Mi viene voglia di gelato” [I feel like ice cream]), “venire bene/male” [to turn out well/badly] (talking about a photo or a recipe).
6. Uscire [To Go Out]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | esco [go out] | sono uscito/a [have gone out] |
| tu [you] | esci [go out] | sei uscito/a [have gone out] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | esce [goes out] | è uscito/a [has gone out] |
| noi [we] | usciamo [go out] | siamo usciti/e [have gone out] |
| voi [you all] | uscite [go out] | siete usciti/e [have gone out] |
| loro [they] | escono [go out] | sono usciti/e [have gone out] |
Curiosity: the “u” that becomes “e”
Notice that in the first, second, third person singular and in the third plural, the “u” becomes “e”. Strange, isn’t it? But it’s a characteristic of some Italian irregular verbs.
Uscire has many meanings: it can mean “to go out of the house” (“Esco di casa alle 8” [I leave the house at 8]), but also “to date someone romantically” (“Sto uscendo con Marco da tre mesi” [I’ve been dating Marco for three months]), or “to be published” (“È uscito un nuovo libro di Ferrante” [A new book by Ferrante has come out]).
7. Nascere [To Be Born]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | nasco [am born] | sono nato/a [was born] |
| tu [you] | nasci [are born] | sei nato/a [were born] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | nasce [is born] | è nato/a [was born] |
| noi [we] | nasciamo [are born] | siamo nati/e [were born] |
| voi [you all] | nascete [are born] | siete nati/e [were born] |
| loro [they] | nascono [are born] | sono nati/e [were born] |
The prepositions with “nascere” [To Be Born]
In Italian we say “sono nato A” + city (a Roma, a Milano, a Napoli [in Rome, in Milan, in Naples]) and “sono nato IN” + region or country (in Toscana, in Italia, in Spagna [in Tuscany, in Italy, in Spain]). A small exception: with large islands we use “in” (in Sicilia, in Sardegna [in Sicily, in Sardinia]), but with small islands we use “a” (a Capri, a Ischia [in Capri, in Ischia]).
For example: “Sono nata a Bari, in Puglia, in Italia” [I was born in Bari, in Apulia, in Italy].
The Modal Verbs: Dovere, Potere, Volere [Must, Can, Want]
Modal verbs (dovere, potere, volere) are special because they are always followed by another verb in the infinitive. They express obligation, possibility or will. They are fundamental for communicating in Italian, but they hide several pitfalls!
8. Dovere [Must/Have To]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | devo [must] | ho dovuto [had to] |
| tu [you] | devi [must] | hai dovuto [had to] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | deve [must] | ha dovuto [had to] |
| noi [we] | dobbiamo [must] | abbiamo dovuto [had to] |
| voi [you all] | dovete [must] | avete dovuto [had to] |
| loro [they] | devono [must] | hanno dovuto [had to] |
Dovere expresses an obligation or a necessity: “Devo studiare per l’esame” [I have to study for the exam], “Dobbiamo andare al lavoro” [We have to go to work]. It can also be a noun meaning “obligation, responsibility”, but above all it’s the verb we use to talk about debts: “Ti devo 20 euro” [I owe you 20 euros] means “I have a debt of 20 euros with you”.
Which auxiliary in passato prossimo?
When dovere is followed by a verb that requires essere as auxiliary, the traditional rule says you should use essere. So: “Sono dovuto andare al lavoro” [I had to go to work] is the most correct form according to grammar. In spoken language you also often hear “Ho dovuto andare al lavoro”: both are accepted, but the first is the recommended one.
9. Potere [Can]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | posso [can] | ho potuto [could] |
| tu [you] | puoi [can] | hai potuto [could] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | può [can] | ha potuto [could] |
| noi [we] | possiamo [can] | abbiamo potuto [could] |
| voi [you all] | potete [can] | avete potuto [could] |
| loro [they] | possono [can] | hanno potuto [could] |
Watch out for the accent: “può” is written with an accent! It’s one of those small rules that make the difference between beginner-level writing and expert-level writing.
Potere expresses possibility or permission: “Posso entrare?” [Can I come in?] (asking permission), “Possiamo andare al cinema?” [Can we go to the cinema?] (suggesting a possibility). It’s super useful for polite requests: instead of saying “Mi dai un caffè?” [Will you give me a coffee?] it’s more polite to say “Mi puoi dare un caffè?” [Can you give me a coffee?].
10. Volere [To Want]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | voglio [want] | ho voluto [wanted] |
| tu [you] | vuoi [want] | hai voluto [wanted] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | vuole [wants] | ha voluto [wanted] |
| noi [we] | vogliamo [want] | abbiamo voluto [wanted] |
| voi [you all] | volete [want] | avete voluto [wanted] |
| loro [they] | vogliono [want] | hanno voluto [wanted] |
Watch out: in Italian saying simply “voglio” [I want] without other formulas can sound a bit blunt! To be polite, especially at the restaurant or bar, it’s better to use the conditional “vorrei” [I would like] (“Vorrei un caffè, per favore” [I would like a coffee, please]) or to add “per favore” [please].
Volere is also used in expressions like “voler bene” [to love/care for] (“Ti voglio bene” [I love you] indicates a non-romantic affection, and is used with family and friends). And then there’s “volerci”, a derived form used to express the time or quantity needed: to discover the difference with metterci, read the guide on volerci and metterci.
Sapere: the Verb of Knowledge [To Know]
11. Sapere [To Know]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | so [know] | ho saputo [knew/found out] |
| tu [you] | sai [know] | hai saputo [knew/found out] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | sa [knows] | ha saputo [knew/found out] |
| noi [we] | sappiamo [know] | abbiamo saputo [knew/found out] |
| voi [you all] | sapete [know] | avete saputo [knew/found out] |
| loro [they] | sanno [know] | hanno saputo [knew/found out] |
Here there’s a classic dilemma for students: sapere or conoscere? Both are often translated as “to know”, but in Italian they are used differently! Sapere is used for facts, information and skills (“So parlare italiano” [I know how to speak Italian], “So che Roma è la capitale” [I know that Rome is the capital]). Conoscere is used for people, places and things we are familiar with (“Conosco Roma” [I know Rome], “Conosco Marco” [I know Marco]). To go deeper, read the guide on potere, riuscire, sapere, conoscere.
Curiosity: “sapere di” also means “to taste or smell of something”. For example: “Questa pizza sa di formaggio” [This pizza tastes of cheese], “Il vestito sa di fumo” [The dress smells of smoke].
Small interesting nuance: “ho saputo” in passato prossimo often means “I came to know”, that is, “I found out”. Example: “Ieri ho saputo che Marco si è sposato!” [Yesterday I found out that Marco got married!].
One place to learn Italian
Join the LearnAmo AcademyVerbs of Daily Action: Dare, Dire, Bere [To Give, To Say, To Drink]
12. Dare [To Give]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | do [give] | ho dato [have given] |
| tu [you] | dai [give] | hai dato [have given] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | dà [gives] | ha dato [has given] |
| noi [we] | diamo [give] | abbiamo dato [have given] |
| voi [you all] | date [give] | avete dato [have given] |
| loro [they] | danno [give] | hanno dato [have given] |
Watch out: dà vs da
The third person singular “dà” is written with a grave accent! Why? To not confuse it with the simple preposition “da” [from]. So: “Maria dà un libro a Luigi” [Maria gives a book to Luigi] (verb) vs “Vengo da Roma” [I come from Rome] (preposition).
Dare is a super versatile verb in Italian. We use it in expressions like “dare del tu/del lei” [to address informally/formally] (to speak in an informal or formal way), “dare una mano” [to give a hand] (= to help), “dare fastidio” [to bother] (= to disturb), “dare un esame” [to take an exam] (= to take a university exam).
13. Dire [To Say]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | dico [say] | ho detto [have said] |
| tu [you] | dici [say] | hai detto [have said] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | dice [says] | ha detto [has said] |
| noi [we] | diciamo [say] | abbiamo detto [have said] |
| voi [you all] | dite [say] | avete detto [have said] |
| loro [they] | dicono [say] | hanno detto [have said] |
Dire is one of those verbs that students often confuse with parlare. But careful: parlare [to speak] is used when we do a general action (“Parlo italiano” [I speak Italian]), while dire [to say] is used when we communicate something specific (“Dico la verità” [I tell the truth], “Mi ha detto il suo nome” [He told me his name]).
Super useful expressions with dire: “voler dire” [to mean] (= to signify, “Cosa vuol dire questa parola?” [What does this word mean?]), “dire di sì/no” [to say yes/no] (= to accept/refuse), “a dire il vero” [to tell the truth] (= to be honest).
Watch out for the participle: it’s NOT “diciuto” or “ditto”, it’s “detto”! Example: “Ti ho detto mille volte di chiudere la porta!” [I’ve told you a thousand times to close the door!].
14. Bere [To Drink]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | bevo [drink] | ho bevuto [have drunk] |
| tu [you] | bevi [drink] | hai bevuto [have drunk] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | beve [drinks] | ha bevuto [has drunk] |
| noi [we] | beviamo [drink] | abbiamo bevuto [have drunk] |
| voi [you all] | bevete [drink] | avete bevuto [have drunk] |
| loro [they] | bevono [drink] | hanno bevuto [have drunk] |
Etymological curiosity
Bere derives from the Latin “bevere”, and that’s exactly why this slightly mysterious “v” pops up in the conjugation! In Italy, drinking is a very social activity: we go to the bar to “bere un caffè” [drink a coffee], “bere un aperitivo” [have an aperitif], or on the weekend “bere qualcosa con gli amici” [have a drink with friends].
Watch out: in Italian bere without specifying what, usually refers to alcohol! So if someone says “Marco beve troppo” [Marco drinks too much], it means that Marco drinks too much alcohol, not too much water.
Verbs with Irregular Participle: Aprire, Chiudere, Leggere, Mettere [To Open, To Close, To Read, To Put]
15. Aprire [To Open]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | apro [open] | ho aperto [have opened] |
| tu [you] | apri [open] | hai aperto [have opened] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | apre [opens] | ha aperto [has opened] |
| noi [we] | apriamo [open] | abbiamo aperto [have opened] |
| voi [you all] | aprite [open] | avete aperto [have opened] |
| loro [they] | aprono [open] | hanno aperto [have opened] |
Aprire also has figurative uses: “aprire gli occhi” [to open one’s eyes] (= to realize something), “aprire il cuore” [to open one’s heart] (= to confide). The past participle is “aperto”, not “apruto”!
16. Chiudere [To Close]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | chiudo [close] | ho chiuso [have closed] |
| tu [you] | chiudi [close] | hai chiuso [have closed] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | chiude [closes] | ha chiuso [has closed] |
| noi [we] | chiudiamo [close] | abbiamo chiuso [have closed] |
| voi [you all] | chiudete [close] | avete chiuso [have closed] |
| loro [they] | chiudono [close] | hanno chiuso [have closed] |
Chiudere is the opposite of aprire and is used in practically the same contexts. A beautiful and poetic expression: “chiudere un occhio” [to turn a blind eye] means “to pretend not to see”, to be lenient about something.
The past participle is “chiuso”, not “chiuduto”! Example: “Hai chiuso la porta a chiave?” [Did you lock the door?].
17. Leggere [To Read]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | leggo [read] | ho letto [have read] |
| tu [you] | leggi [read] | hai letto [have read] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | legge [reads] | ha letto [has read] |
| noi [we] | leggiamo [read] | abbiamo letto [have read] |
| voi [you all] | leggete [read] | avete letto [have read] |
| loro [they] | leggono [read] | hanno letto [have read] |
Expressions with leggere: “leggere tra le righe” [to read between the lines] (= to understand something not explicitly said), “leggere il pensiero” [to read someone’s mind] (= to guess what someone is thinking), “leggere ad alta voce” [to read aloud] (super useful for improving pronunciation).
The past participle is “letto” (and yes, it’s the same as the noun “letto” [bed], the one we sleep in!). So “ho letto a letto” [I read in bed] is a perfect sentence in Italian, even if it sounds a bit funny.
18. Mettere [To Put]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | metto [put] | ho messo [have put] |
| tu [you] | metti [put] | hai messo [have put] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | mette [puts] | ha messo [has put] |
| noi [we] | mettiamo [put] | abbiamo messo [have put] |
| voi [you all] | mettete [put] | avete messo [have put] |
| loro [they] | mettono [put] | hanno messo [have put] |
Mettere is a super useful and very used verb. It mainly means “to place something somewhere”, but it has a thousand other uses: “mettere i vestiti” [to put on clothes] (= to wear), “metterci tempo” [to take time] (“Ci metto un’ora per arrivare” [It takes me an hour to arrive]), “mettersi a fare qualcosa” [to start doing something] (= to begin doing), “mettere in dubbio” [to put in doubt] (= to doubt).
Curiosity: “mettersi insieme” means “to start a romantic relationship”! So if you hear “Marco e Lucia si sono messi insieme” [Marco and Lucia got together], don’t think they just got close: they’re dating!
Communication Verbs: Prendere, Chiedere, Rispondere [To Take, To Ask, To Answer]
19. Prendere [To Take]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | prendo [take] | ho preso [have taken] |
| tu [you] | prendi [take] | hai preso [have taken] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | prende [takes] | ha preso [has taken] |
| noi [we] | prendiamo [take] | abbiamo preso [have taken] |
| voi [you all] | prendete [take] | avete preso [have taken] |
| loro [they] | prendono [take] | hanno preso [have taken] |
Prendere is one of the most versatile verbs ever! It means “to grab something” (“Prendo il libro” [I take the book]), but also “to consume” (“Prendo un caffè” [I have a coffee]), “to use a means of transport” (“Prendo il treno” [I take the train]), “to receive” (“Prendo lo stipendio il 27” [I get my salary on the 27th]), “prendere un voto” [to get a grade] (“Ho preso 30 all’esame!” [I got 30 on the exam!]).
Fun expressions: “prendere in giro qualcuno” [to make fun of someone] (= to tease someone), “prendere il sole” [to sunbathe] (= to tan), “prendere freddo” [to catch a cold] (= to get sick from the cold), “prendersela” [to take it personally] (= to get offended).
20. Chiedere [To Ask]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | chiedo [ask] | ho chiesto [have asked] |
| tu [you] | chiedi [ask] | hai chiesto [have asked] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | chiede [asks] | ha chiesto [has asked] |
| noi [we] | chiediamo [ask] | abbiamo chiesto [have asked] |
| voi [you all] | chiedete [ask] | avete chiesto [have asked] |
| loro [they] | chiedono [ask] | hanno chiesto [have asked] |
Watch out: in Italian questions are “made” (“fare le domande”), not “asked”! Chiedere is also used to ask for permission (“Posso chiederti un favore?” [Can I ask you a favor?]) and to request something (“Chiedo silenzio, per favore!” [I ask for silence, please!]).
Watch out for the past participle: it’s NOT “chieduto”, it’s “chiesto”. Example: “Le ho chiesto se voleva venire al cinema” [I asked her if she wanted to come to the cinema].
21. Rispondere [To Answer]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | rispondo [answer] | ho risposto [have answered] |
| tu [you] | rispondi [answer] | hai risposto [have answered] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | risponde [answers] | ha risposto [has answered] |
| noi [we] | rispondiamo [answer] | abbiamo risposto [have answered] |
| voi [you all] | rispondete [answer] | avete risposto [have answered] |
| loro [they] | rispondono [answer] | hanno risposto [have answered] |
Watch out for the preposition!
In Italian we say “rispondere A qualcuno” [to answer TO someone] or “rispondere A una domanda” [to answer TO a question], never “rispondere qualcuno”. Example: “Rispondo a Marco” [I answer Marco] and not “Rispondo Marco”.
Interesting expressions: “rispondere al telefono” [to answer the phone] (= to receive a call), “rispondere male” [to talk back] (= to respond arrogantly or rudely — if the Italian mother says “non rispondermi così!” [don’t talk back to me like that!], you’re in trouble!).
The Last Verbs: Scegliere and Correre [To Choose and To Run]
22. Scegliere [To Choose]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | scelgo [choose] | ho scelto [have chosen] |
| tu [you] | scegli [choose] | hai scelto [have chosen] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | sceglie [chooses] | ha scelto [has chosen] |
| noi [we] | scegliamo [choose] | abbiamo scelto [have chosen] |
| voi [you all] | scegliete [choose] | avete scelto [have chosen] |
| loro [they] | scelgono [choose] | hanno scelto [have chosen] |
The dance of the “g”
This verb is one of the most tricky! That “g” that’s there sometimes and sometimes not drives everyone crazy. The trick is to remember that the “g” “disappears” before “i” and “e” (“scegli”, “sceglie”, “scegliete”, “scegliamo”), but “reappears” before “o” (“scelgo”, “scelgono”).
A typical sentence at the restaurant: “Hai scelto?” [Have you chosen?] or “Avete scelto?” [Have you all chosen?] — means “are you ready to order?”. Notice the participle: it’s not “scegliuto”, it’s “scelto”!
23. Correre [To Run]
| Person | Present | Passato Prossimo |
|---|---|---|
| io [I] | corro [run] | ho corso / sono corso/a [have run] |
| tu [you] | corri [run] | hai corso / sei corso/a [have run] |
| lui/lei [he/she] | corre [runs] | ha corso / è corso/a [has run] |
| noi [we] | corriamo [run] | abbiamo corso / siamo corsi/e [have run] |
| voi [you all] | correte [run] | avete corso / siete corsi/e [have run] |
| loro [they] | corrono [run] | hanno corso / sono corsi/e [have run] |
Double auxiliary: essere or avere?
Here there’s a small trick: correre can have both ESSERE and AVERE as auxiliaries. When do we use one and when the other? We use avere when we describe the action of running as an activity in itself, indicating duration or repetition (“Ho corso per un’ora al parco” [I ran for an hour in the park]), while we use essere when we indicate movement towards a specific place, a destination (“Sono corso a casa appena ho saputo la notizia” [I rushed home as soon as I found out the news]). To go deeper into this category of verbs, read the guide on verbs with double auxiliary.
Correre doesn’t only mean physical activity: figuratively, it also means “to hurry” (“Devo correre, sono in ritardo!” [I have to run, I’m late!]), “to pass quickly” (“Il tempo corre” [Time flies]).
Summary Table: The 23 Irregular Verbs
| Verb | Auxiliary | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| essere [to be] | essere | stato/a [been] |
| avere [to have] | avere | avuto [had] |
| andare [to go] | essere | andato/a [gone] |
| stare [to stay] | essere | stato/a [stayed] |
| venire [to come] | essere | venuto/a [come] |
| uscire [to go out] | essere | uscito/a [gone out] |
| nascere [to be born] | essere | nato/a [born] |
| dovere [must] | avere/essere* | dovuto [had to] |
| potere [can] | avere/essere* | potuto [been able] |
| volere [to want] | avere/essere* | voluto [wanted] |
| sapere [to know] | avere | saputo [known] |
| dare [to give] | avere | dato [given] |
| dire [to say] | avere | detto [said] |
| bere [to drink] | avere | bevuto [drunk] |
| aprire [to open] | avere | aperto [opened] |
| chiudere [to close] | avere | chiuso [closed] |
| leggere [to read] | avere | letto [read] |
| mettere [to put] | avere | messo [put] |
| prendere [to take] | avere | preso [taken] |
| chiedere [to ask] | avere | chiesto [asked] |
| rispondere [to answer] | avere | risposto [answered] |
| scegliere [to choose] | avere | scelto [chosen] |
| correre [to run] | avere/essere | corso/a [run] |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some Italian verbs irregular?
Italian irregular verbs derive mostly from Latin and have kept ancient forms that don’t follow the regular model of the three conjugations (-are, -ere, -ire). They are often the most frequent verbs of the language, and precisely for this reason they have preserved their particular forms over time.
How can I recognize an irregular verb?
A verb is irregular when its root changes during conjugation (for example: andare → vado) or when the past participle doesn’t follow the standard model (for example: chiedere → chiesto, not “chieduto”). There’s no rule that allows you to guess them: they must be memorized through practice.
How do I choose between essere or avere as auxiliary?
Generally speaking, transitive verbs (which take a direct object) use avere, while intransitive verbs of movement or state (like andare, venire, nascere, essere, stare) use essere. With essere, remember to make the past participle agree with the subject in gender and number (andato, andata, andati, andate).
Which auxiliary should I use with modal verbs?
With modal verbs (dovere, potere, volere), the traditional rule says to use the auxiliary of the infinitive verb that follows. So: “sono dovuto andare” (because andare requires essere), “ho dovuto mangiare” (because mangiare requires avere). In spoken language you often hear avere in both cases, but for exams always choose the traditional rule!
Why do some past participles look completely different from the infinitive?
Verbs like dire → detto, scegliere → scelto, chiedere → chiesto have participles that derive from ancient Latin forms, where the verb root has contracted over time. That’s why they seem “strange”: they come directly from the classical forms of Latin and have survived thanks to constant daily use.
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