An Italian friend writes you “Ciao, come stai?” [Hi, how are you?] and you reply, very confident: “Sono bene!”. He understands, of course… but that sentence, to an Italian ear, sounds a bit off. Has it ever happened to you? If the answer is yes, you’ve stumbled into one of the most common doubts among those learning Italian: when do you use STARE and when do you use ESSERE? They’re two verbs that look very similar, yet they have very distinct jobs. In this article we’re setting theory aside: today I’m putting you to the test with 39 exercises and the explained solution for each one.
ESSERE vs STARE: If You Pass This Test, Your Level Is Intermediate
Thirty seconds of quick review, so we all start from the same base. Before diving into the test, let’s go through the two verbs one by one and — most importantly — the three classic traps that catch almost every student.
When to Use ESSERE
We use ESSERE to say who and what someone or something is: identity (Sono Marco [I’m Marco]), origin (Sono italiano, sono di Napoli [I’m Italian, I’m from Naples]), profession (È medico [He’s a doctor]), physical and personality descriptions (Sei alto, è simpatica [You’re tall, she’s nice]), emotions and states with an aggettivo (Sono felice, sono stanco [I’m happy, I’m tired]), time and date (Sono le tre, è lunedì [It’s three o’clock, it’s Monday]) and — watch out! — also where someone or something is located (Sono a casa, il bar è in centro [I’m at home, the bar is downtown]).
When to Use STARE
We use STARE especially in these cases: for health and how one feels, with bene/male/meglio/peggio (Come stai? Sto bene [How are you? I’m well]); for ongoing actions right now, with stare + gerundio (Sto mangiando [I’m eating]); for actions that are about to happen, with stare per + infinito (Sto per uscire [I’m about to leave]); for how clothes “fit” someone (Ti sta benissimo [It looks great on you]); and in a nice group of fixed expressions: stare attento, stare zitto, stare fermo, stare tranquillo, stare a dieta, stare in piedi [be careful, be quiet, stay still, stay calm, be on a diet, stand up].
To dive deeper, you can check out the complete guide on essere vs stare.
The Three Classic Traps to Remember
If you have to remember only one thing, remember these three traps, the most classic of all:
- You say STO bene [I’m well], not “sono bene”. Health always goes with stare.
- For position you use ESSERE: “sono a casa” [I’m at home], not “sto a casa” (if you mean where you are).
- The ongoing action wants STARE + gerundio: “sto studiando” [I’m studying]. In Italian “essere + gerundio” does not exist: never “sono studiando”.
A Little Gem Before We Start
Do you know what the passato prossimo of essere is? “Sono stato” [I have been]. And of stare? Still “sono stato” [I have been/stayed]. Yes, the two verbs share the same participle: it’s the context that tells us which one it is. Curiosity within a curiosity: in Southern Italy stare is used much more often, even for position (“sto a casa” = “sono a casa”). But here we follow standard Italian.
| Situation | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Health | Stare | “Sto bene, grazie” [I’m well, thanks] |
| Position | Essere | “Sono a casa” [I’m at home] |
| Ongoing action | Stare + gerundio | “Sto mangiando” [I’m eating] |
| Emotion + adjective | Essere | “Sono felice” [I’m happy] |
| Fixed expressions | Stare | “Stai attento”, “Stai zitto” [Be careful, be quiet] |
| Time, date, profession | Essere | “Sono le nove”, “È medico” [It’s nine, he’s a doctor] |
Part 1 — Multiple Choice
The test is divided into three parts, with increasing difficulty, plus a final challenge. Let’s start with some multiple choice questions, just to warm up the engines. For each sentence choose the option that convinces you the most among the three. Golden rule: first you answer off the top of your head, then you check. Reading the solutions in advance doesn’t count!
The 10 Questions of Part 1
- «Come stai?» «______ molto bene, grazie!»
a) Sono b) Sto c) Sarò - «Dov’è Giulia?» «______ in ufficio, sta lavorando a un progetto.»
a) Sta b) È c) Sono - Non posso parlare adesso, ______ cucinando.
a) sono b) sto c) sarò - Per favore, ______ zitto un momento, non riesco a sentire!
a) sii b) sei c) stai - Oggi ______ molto felice perché ho superato l’esame!
a) sto b) sono c) sta - Sbrigati, il film ______ per cominciare!
a) è b) sta c) sto - Quel vestito rosso ti ______ davvero bene!
a) è b) sta c) sei - Mio fratello maggiore ______ dentista in una clinica famosa.
a) sta b) è c) sto - «Che ore sono?» «______ le nove passate, sbrigati!»
a) Stanno b) Sono c) È - Ragazzi, ______ attenti: questa strada è pericolosa!
a) siate b) state c) siete
Solutions of Part 1
1. → B. “Sto molto bene.” [I’m very well]. With “come stai?” and “come va?” the answer always goes with STARE + bene/male/meglio. “Sono bene” is one of the most common mistakes ever: remember, in Italian you stare bene, you don’t “essere bene”. In English it’s “I am fine”, but in Italian, no.
2. → B. “È in ufficio.” [She’s in the office]. To say where a person or thing is located, standard Italian uses ESSERE. Watch the nice contrast in the same sentence: dov’è (position → essere), but sta lavorando (ongoing action → stare + gerundio). Two verbs, two different jobs. The option “Sta” is exactly the trap: position, in standard Italian, doesn’t want stare.
3. → B. “Sto cucinando.” [I’m cooking]. The action that is unfolding right now is expressed with STARE + gerundio (sto cucinando, stai leggendo, stiamo mangiando). Watch out: in Italian “essere + gerundio” does NOT exist as in English (“I am cooking”): never “sono cucinando”. To dive deeper, you can check out the guide on how to use the gerund.
4. → C. “Stai zitto un momento.” [Be quiet for a moment]. “Stare zitto” is a fixed expression, exactly like “stare attento”, “stare fermo”, “stare tranquillo”: in all these cases you use STARE. “Sii zitto” simply isn’t said.
5. → B. “Sono molto felice.” [I’m very happy]. And here is the twin trap of question 1! Watch out for this golden little rule: with bene/male you use stare (sto bene), while with an aggettivo that describes an emotion or state — felice, triste, stanco, arrabbiato, innamorato [happy, sad, tired, angry, in love] — you use essere (sono felice, sono stanco). Some fixed expressions are the exception — stare attento, stare zitto, stare tranquillo, stare fermo — which stay with stare even though they have an adjective: it’s better to learn them by heart as unique blocks. Summing up: bene/male → stare; “free” adjective → essere; fixed expressions → stare (to memorize).
6. → B. “Sta per cominciare.” [It’s about to start]. “Stare per + infinito” indicates an action that will happen very soon, is about to occur: sto per uscire, stiamo per partire, il film sta per cominciare. Essere here cannot replace it.
7. → B. “Ti sta davvero bene.” [It really suits you]. When we talk about how a dress, a color or a pair of shoes “falls” on someone, we use STARE: questa giacca ti sta benissimo, quelle scarpe mi stanno strette. “Ti è bene” doesn’t exist. To dive deeper into clothing vocabulary, you can check out the guide on clothes and colors.
8. → B. “Mio fratello è dentista.” [My brother is a dentist]. The profession is expressed with essere: sono medico, è dentista, siamo studenti. “Sta dentista” doesn’t exist.
9. → B. “Sono le nove passate.” [It’s past nine]. Time and date want essere: sono le nove, è l’una, è lunedì, è il 5 marzo. Small curiosity: you say “È l’una” in the singular, but “Sono le due, sono le tre…” in the plural. To dive deeper, you can check out the guide on how to tell the time in Italian.
10. → B. “State attenti.” [Be careful]. “Stare attento” is a fixed expression, just like stare zitto, stare fermo, stare tranquillo → always stare. The natural form in Italian is “state attenti”, not “siate attenti”.
Part 2 — Complete with Stare or Essere
Now it’s your turn: choose between STARE and ESSERE and conjugate the verb in the present. Watch out for the usual traps — health, position and ongoing actions!
The 10 Exercises of Part 2
- «Nonna, come ______?» «______ benissimo, tesoro!»
- Le tue chiavi ______ sul tavolo della cucina.
- Puoi richiamarmi più tardi? In questo momento ______ guidando.
- Mia sorella ______ molto alta e ______ bionda.
- Non prendo il dolce, grazie: ______ a dieta.
- Il signor Rossi ______ il nostro nuovo professore di storia.
- Corri, il treno ______ per partire!
- Silenzio, i bambini ______ dormendo!
- Oggi ______ il tuo compleanno? Allora tanti auguri!
- «Che c’è, ______ arrabbiato con me?» «Ma no, tranquillo!»
Solutions of Part 2
1. → stai / Sto. “Come stai?” → “Sto benissimo.” [How are you? I’m great]. Health and “how are you doing” always want stare + bene/male. And to repeat: never “sono bene”.
2. → sono. “Le chiavi sono sul tavolo.” [The keys are on the table]. Where a thing is located → essere. “Stanno sul tavolo” is heard in the South, but standard Italian here uses essere.
3. → sto. “Sto guidando.” [I’m driving]. Ongoing action right now → stare + gerundio.
4. → è / è. “Mia sorella è alta e (è) bionda.” [My sister is tall and (is) blonde]. Physical description, stable characteristic → essere.
5. → sto. “Sto a dieta.” [I’m on a diet]. Fixed expression “stare a dieta” → stare. Like stare attento, stare zitto, stare tranquillo…
6. → è. “Il signor Rossi è il nostro nuovo professore.” [Mr. Rossi is our new teacher]. Identity and profession → essere (Sono Marco, è medico, è il professore).
7. → sta. “Il treno sta per partire.” [The train is about to leave]. “Stare per + infinito” = something that will happen in a moment → stare.
8. → stanno. “I bambini stanno dormendo.” [The children are sleeping]. Ongoing action right now → stare + gerundio (stanno dormendo, sta piovendo…).
9. → è. “Oggi è il tuo compleanno.” [Today is your birthday]. Dates want essere: è lunedì, è il 15 maggio, è Natale.
10. → sei. “Sei arrabbiato?” [Are you angry?]. “Arrabbiato” is an aggettivo that describes a state of mind → essere (like sono felice, è triste). The usual trap: with the adjective you use essere, not stare.
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Part 3 — Find the Mistake, if There Is One!
Now the detective game. For each sentence decide if it’s correct or if it contains a mistake between stare and essere — and in that case fix it. Watch out: not all sentences are wrong, some are traps to see if you trust yourself too much!
The 9 Exercises of Part 3
- Scusa, non ti posso aiutare adesso: sono lavorando.
- «Ciao Marco! Come sei? Tutto bene?»
- Il museo è in centro, proprio vicino alla stazione.
- Oggi sono molto stanca, ho lavorato tutto il giorno.
- Sto felice di rivederti dopo tanto tempo!
- Bambini, state zitti un attimo, per favore!
- Mia zia ha stato male tutta la settimana.
- Sono le sette e mezza, dobbiamo proprio andare.
- Guarda, il gatto sta dormendo sul divano.
Solutions of Part 3
1. → MISTAKE: “Sto lavorando.” [I’m working]. The ongoing action now wants stare + gerundio, never “sono + gerundio”. Classic mistake from those who think in English (“I am working”).
2. → MISTAKE: “Come stai?“ [How are you?]. To ask someone how they feel you always use stare. Watch out, however: “Come sei?” in Italian exists, but it means something else — it asks what a person is like (Sei alto? Sei simpatico? [Are you tall? Are you nice?]), not how they are. With that “Tutto bene?” it’s clear that we wanted the greeting → Come stai?
3. → CORRECT. “Il museo è in centro.” [The museum is downtown]. The position of a thing is expressed with essere. All correct: it was a trap!
4. → CORRECT. “Sono molto stanca.” [I’m very tired]. “Stanca” is an aggettivo that describes a state → essere. With bene/male it would have been stare, but with the adjective it goes with essere. Perfect as it is.
5. → MISTAKE: “Sono felice.” [I’m happy]. Same story as the previous sentence: emotion + aggettivo → essere. You say sono felice, not “sto felice”.
6. → CORRECT. “State zitti.” [Be quiet]. “Stare zitto” is a fixed expression with stare. No mistake: another trap overcome!
7. → MISTAKE: “È stata male.” [She was sick]. The verb “stare male” forms the passato prossimo with the auxiliary essere: è stata male, sono stato male. Never “ha stato”! Remember: both stare and essere build the passato prossimo with essere, and with the same participle (stato/a). To dive deeper, you can check out the guide on the passato prossimo and the past participle.
8. → CORRECT. “Sono le sette e mezza.” [It’s seven thirty]. Time is expressed with essere. No mistake: it was a trap.
9. → CORRECT. “Il gatto sta dormendo.” [The cat is sleeping]. Ongoing action → stare + gerundio. All correct: another trap overcome!
The Final Challenge: a Phone Call to Complete
We’ve reached the toughest and most fun exercise: a phone call between two friends all to complete! Here stare and essere alternate continuously, sentence after sentence, and it’s your ear that has to recognize which one is needed. There are all the classic cases — health, ongoing action, position — and also a small gem that will make someone slip. Eyes (and ears) wide open!
The Dialogue Between Anna and Luca
Complete the dialogue by conjugating stare or essere:
Anna: Pronto, Luca? Ciao! Come ___(1)___?
Luca: Ciao Anna! ___(2)___ un po’ stanco, ma tutto bene. E tu?
Anna: Bene! Senti, cosa ___(3)___ facendo di bello?
Luca: In questo momento ___(4)___ in cucina: ___(5)___ preparando una torta!
Anna: Che bravo! Io invece ___(6)___ per uscire, vado al cinema con Giulia.
Luca: Ah, salutamela! Sai che la settimana scorsa ___(7)___ male? Aveva l’influenza.
Anna: Lo so, poverina. Ma ora ___(8)___ molto meglio, tranquillo.
Luca: Meno male. E ___(9)___ tranquilla anche tu: il film comincia alle nove, avete un sacco di tempo.
Anna: Hai ragione! Ah, ma dove ___(10)___ il tuo cinema preferito, quello nuovo?
Luca: In centro, vicino alla piazza. Divertiti!
Solutions of the Final Challenge
(1) → stai. “Come stai?” [How are you?]. The greeting to ask how someone is → always stare.
(2) → Sono. “Sono un po’ stanco.” [I’m a bit tired]. “Stanco” is an aggettivo → essere (never “sto stanco”). Remember the pair: sto bene (adverb) but sono stanco (adjective).
(3) → stai. “Cosa stai facendo?” [What are you doing?]. Ongoing action now → stare + gerundio.
(4) → sono. “Sono in cucina.” [I’m in the kitchen]. Where you are located → essere.
(5) → sto. “Sto preparando una torta.” [I’m making a cake]. Again an ongoing action → stare + gerundio.
(6) → sto. “Sto per uscire.” [I’m about to go out]. “Stare per + infinito” = doing something in a moment → stare.
(7) → è stata. “È stata male.” [She was sick]. A gem for true champions: here the verb is STARE (“stare male” = to feel unwell), but its passato prossimo is “è stata”… identical to the one of essere! Yes: “sono stato/a” is the passato prossimo both of essere and of stare, and it’s the context that tells us which. And watch out for one last pitfall: stare wants the auxiliary essere, so you say “è stata male”, never “ha stato male” (I already pointed it out in Part 3!). Here, with “male” and “l’influenza”, it’s clearly stare.
(8) → sta. “Sta molto meglio.” [She’s much better]. Health, with meglio/peggio → stare.
(9) → stai. “Stai tranquilla.” [Take it easy]. Fixed expression “stare tranquillo” (= don’t worry) → stare. Like stare attento, stare zitto…
(10) → è. “Dov’è il cinema?” [Where is the cinema?]. The position of a thing → essere.
Your Result
At this point count your correct answers and find out where you stand. In total there are 39 questions (Part 1 + Part 2 + Part 3 + Final Challenge): when a sentence contains two verbs to conjugate, it counts as one point only if you get both right.
| Score | Level | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| From 33 to 39 correct | Top class | Stare and essere no longer hold any mystery for you |
| From 22 to 32 correct | Excellent level | Polish the trickiest cases (especially health and position) |
| Less than 22 correct | To strengthen | Review the theory and grind exercises, then retake this test |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do You Say “Sto Bene” but “Sono Felice”?
It’s one of the most classic traps in Italian, and the rule is simpler than it seems: it depends on what comes after the verb. With the adverbs bene, male, meglio, peggio you always use stare (sto bene, stai male, sta meglio [I’m well, you’re unwell, he’s better]). With aggettivi that describe emotions or states — felice, triste, stanco, arrabbiato, innamorato [happy, sad, tired, angry, in love] — you use essere (sono felice, è triste, siamo stanchi). Some fixed expressions are the exception, like stare attento, stare zitto, stare tranquillo, stare fermo, which stay with stare even when they have an adjective: it’s better to learn them by heart as unique blocks.
Do You Say “Sono a Casa” or “Sto a Casa”?
In standard Italian, to indicate where someone or something is located, you use essere: “Sono a casa”, “Il bar è in centro”, “Le chiavi sono sul tavolo” [I’m at home, The bar is downtown, The keys are on the table]. That said, in Southern Italy it’s very common to hear “sto a casa” with the same meaning as “sono a casa”: it’s a regional use, perfectly understandable but not standard. If you’re learning Italian, it’s better to get used to using essere for position, so you’ll be sure to speak correctly in any context, from the North to the South.
Why in Italian Don’t You Say “Sono Studiando”?
Because in Italian “essere + gerundio” doesn’t exist. It’s a very common mistake among those who think in English: the literal translation of “I am studying” would be “sono studiando”, but in Italian you always and only say “sto studiando”. The formula to express an action ongoing at this moment is STARE + gerundio: sto mangiando, stai leggendo, sta piovendo, stiamo lavorando, state guardando, stanno dormendo. If you get used to this structure, you’ll avoid one of the most widespread mistakes ever.
What Is the Passato Prossimo of Stare and Essere?
Surprise: stare and essere share the same past participle, stato/a. So “sono stato/a” is the passato prossimo both of essere and of stare, and it’s the context that tells us which verb it is. For example: “Ieri sono stato a Roma” [Yesterday I was in Rome] (essere = I was in Rome), or “La settimana scorsa sono stato male” [Last week I was unwell] (stare = I felt unwell). Watch out: both want the auxiliary essere, never “ho stato”. And the participle agrees with the subject: sono stato (masculine), sono stata (feminine), siamo stati/state (plural).
How Do You Say “It Suits You” in Italian?
When in English you say that a dress, a color or an accessory “suits someone”, in Italian you use the verb STARE. The most common formulas are “ti sta bene”, “ti sta benissimo”, “ti sta male”, “ti stanno strette/larghe” (for shoes, pants or clothes in the plural). For example: “Quel vestito rosso ti sta davvero bene” [That red dress really suits you], “Queste scarpe mi stanno strette” [These shoes are tight on me], “Il blu ti sta benissimo” [Blue looks great on you]. Never “ti è bene”: it’s not correct Italian. Remember that the verb agrees with the object (the dress, the shoes, the color), not with the person.
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