Mastering Italian Past Tenses with the Passato Progressivo

Formation:

To form the passato progressivo, use stare in the imperfetto tense, followed by the gerundio (the -ing form of the verb).

The confusion between the passato progressivo and the imperfetto in Italian stems from the fact that the passato progressivo is not officially recognized as a distinct tense in most grammar books, yet it is commonly used in conversation. Let’s clarify why.

Imperfect (Imperfetto)

io

stavo

Stavo studiando (I was studying)

tu

stavi

Stavi leggendo (You were reading)

lui/lei

stava

Stava lavorando (He/She was working)

noi

stavamo

Stavamo dormendo (We were sleeping)

voi

stavate

Stavate camminando (You all were walking)

loro

stavano

Stavano cucinando (They were cooking)

Explanation: Stare + Gerundio in Imperfetto

The imperfetto tense with “stare” describes actions that were ongoing or happening in the past. It’s similar to the English “was/were + -ing” structure.

Imperfetto of “Stare”:

  • io → stavo
  • tu → stavi
  • lui/lei → stava
  • noi → stavamo
  • voi → stavate
  • loro → stavano

Examples

  1. Io stavo leggendo un libro quando hai chiamato.
    (I was reading a book when you called.)
  2. Loro stavano giocando a calcio tutto il pomeriggio.
    (They were playing soccer all afternoon.)
  3. Stavamo cenando quando è arrivato il messaggio.
    (We were having dinner when the message arrived.)
  4. Lei stava cucinando mentre ascoltava la musica.
    (She was cooking while listening to music.)
  5. Tu stavi studiando tutta la notte.
    (You were studying all night.)

The confusion between the passato progressivo and the imperfetto in Italian stems from the fact that the passato progressivo is not officially recognized as a distinct tense in most grammar books, yet it is commonly used in conversation. Let’s clarify why.

Passato Progressivo vs. Imperfetto: Similarities and Differences

  1. What is the “Passato Progressivo”? The passato progressivo (past progressive) in Italian is formed using stare in the imperfetto tense plus a verb in the gerundio.

    • Example: Stavo leggendo (I was reading).

    It mirrors the English past continuous (“was/were + -ing”).

    • English: I was reading when you called.
    • Italian: Stavo leggendo quando hai chiamato.

  2. Why Isn’t It Officially Listed in Grammar Books? Italian grammar books typically classify the imperfetto as the main way to express ongoing or habitual actions in the past. While the passato progressivo (stare + gerundio) describes an action in progress at a specific moment in the past, this concept is often covered under the broader usage of the imperfetto.The imperfetto already handles many functions that passato progressivo covers:

    • Describing ongoing past actions: Leggevo un libro (I was reading a book).
    • Describing habitual actions in the past: Andavo spesso al cinema (I used to go to the cinema often).

    Since the imperfetto is so versatile, many grammar guides prefer to keep things simpler by focusing on it, without adding a specific tense for actions in progress like the passato progressivo.

  3. Why Use Passato Progressivo? While the imperfetto can express both habitual and ongoing past actions, the passato progressivo adds emphasis on the exact moment of the action in progress. It’s more specific than the imperfetto for showing what was happening at a precise point in time.

    • Imperfetto: Leggevo un libro → “I was reading a book” (general past action).
    • Passato Progressivo: Stavo leggendo un libro → “I was in the middle of reading a book” (action in progress).

  4. Difference in Use

    • The imperfetto is more commonly used in Italian for past descriptions, ongoing actions, or repeated events, and it doesn’t always require specifying the exact moment of an action.
      • Example: Giovanna parlava molto al telefono (Giovanna used to talk a lot on the phone).
    • The passato progressivo, on the other hand, emphasizes that the action was happening at a specific point in time.
      • Example: Giovanna stava parlando al telefono quando è arrivato il pacco (Giovanna was talking on the phone when the package arrived).

    Thus, both forms can sometimes be interchangeable, but the passato progressivo adds precision and focuses on the action in progress at a given moment.

Summary of Differences

Aspect

Imperfetto

Passato Progressivo

Main Function

Describes ongoing, habitual, or background actions in the past.

Describes actions specifically in progress at a precise past moment.

Formation

Simple verb conjugation in imperfetto: io leggevo (I was reading)

Stare in imperfetto + gerundio: stavo leggendo (I was reading)

Use Case

General past action or habitual action.

Specific action in progress at a precise moment in the past.

Example

Mangiavo spesso lì (I used to eat there often).

Stavo mangiando quando hai chiamato (I was eating when you called).

Why Are They Similar?

The imperfetto is already capable of describing actions that were happening in the past, so many Italians will often default to it. However, in spoken language, people sometimes use the passato progressivo when they want to emphasize that something was specifically in progress when something else happened.

Conclusion:

The passato progressivo is not considered an “official” tense in grammar books because its function overlaps with the imperfetto, which already handles many of the same concepts. Still, it’s a useful form to make a past action more vivid and specific. It is especially helpful when you want to highlight what was happening at a particular moment in time.

Passato Progressivo vs. Imperfetto: Similarities and Differences

  1. What is the “Passato Progressivo”? The passato progressivo (past progressive) in Italian is formed using stare in the imperfetto tense plus a verb in the gerundio.

    • Example: Stavo leggendo (I was reading).

    It mirrors the English past continuous (“was/were + -ing”).

    • English: I was reading when you called.
    • Italian: Stavo leggendo quando hai chiamato.

  2. Why Isn’t It Officially Listed in Grammar Books? Italian grammar books typically classify the imperfetto as the main way to express ongoing or habitual actions in the past. While the passato progressivo (stare + gerundio) describes an action in progress at a specific moment in the past, this concept is often covered under the broader usage of the imperfetto.The imperfetto already handles many functions that passato progressivo covers:

    • Describing ongoing past actions: Leggevo un libro (I was reading a book).
    • Describing habitual actions in the past: Andavo spesso al cinema (I used to go to the cinema often).

    Since the imperfetto is so versatile, many grammar guides prefer to keep things simpler by focusing on it, without adding a specific tense for actions in progress like the passato progressivo.

  3. Why Use Passato Progressivo? While the imperfetto can express both habitual and ongoing past actions, the passato progressivo adds emphasis on the exact moment of the action in progress. It’s more specific than the imperfetto for showing what was happening at a precise point in time.

    • Imperfetto: Leggevo un libro → “I was reading a book” (general past action).
    • Passato Progressivo: Stavo leggendo un libro → “I was in the middle of reading a book” (action in progress).

  4. Difference in Use

    • The imperfetto is more commonly used in Italian for past descriptions, ongoing actions, or repeated events, and it doesn’t always require specifying the exact moment of an action.
      • Example: Giovanna parlava molto al telefono (Giovanna used to talk a lot on the phone).
    • The passato progressivo, on the other hand, emphasizes that the action was happening at a specific point in time.
      • Example: Giovanna stava parlando al telefono quando è arrivato il pacco (Giovanna was talking on the phone when the package arrived).

    Thus, both forms can sometimes be interchangeable, but the passato progressivo adds precision and focuses on the action in progress at a given moment.

Summary of Differences

Aspect

Imperfetto

Passato Progressivo

Main Function

Describes ongoing, habitual, or background actions in the past.

Describes actions specifically in progress at a precise past moment.

Formation

Simple verb conjugation in imperfetto: io leggevo (I was reading)

Stare in imperfetto + gerundio: stavo leggendo (I was reading)

Use Case

General past action or habitual action.

Specific action in progress at a precise moment in the past.

Example

Mangiavo spesso lì (I used to eat there often).

Stavo mangiando quando hai chiamato (I was eating when you called).

Why Are They Similar?

The imperfetto is already capable of describing actions that were happening in the past, so many Italians will often default to it. However, in spoken language, people sometimes use the passato progressivo when they want to emphasize that something was specifically in progress when something else happened.

Conclusion:

The passato progressivo is not considered an “official” tense in grammar books because its function overlaps with the imperfetto, which already handles many of the same concepts. Still, it’s a useful form to make a past action more vivid and specific. It is especially helpful when you want to highlight what was happening at a particular moment in time.

BYB Practice

Here’s a BUILD YOUR BEST branded set of exercises on the passato progressivo for Italian learners, with a focus on making it engaging and practical for foreigners.

BUILD YOUR BEST: Mastering the Passato Progressivo in Italian!

Passato Progressivo Overview

The passato progressivo is used to talk about actions that were in progress at a specific moment in the past. It’s similar to saying “was/were doing” in English and is formed by using the verb “stare” in the imperfetto tense, followed by the gerundio (-ing form in Italian).

Formation Recap:

Stare (Imperfetto) + Gerundio

Pronoun

Stare (Imperfetto)

Gerundio Example (Leggere)

Io

stavo

leggendo

Tu

stavi

leggendo

Lui/Lei

stava

leggendo

Noi

stavamo

leggendo

Voi

stavate

leggendo

Loro

stavano

leggendo

Exercise 1: Complete the Sentence (Aiming for Progress!)

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of stare in the imperfetto and the appropriate gerundio of the verb in brackets.

  1. Mentre io __________ (guardare) la TV, mia madre preparava la cena.
  2. Loro __________ (studiare) per l’esame quando è andata via la luce.
  3. Noi __________ (parlare) del progetto quando sei entrato nella stanza.
  4. Tu __________ (leggere) un libro interessante ieri sera?
  5. Maria __________ (fare) la spesa quando ha incontrato un’amica.

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Translation (Spot the Difference!)

Choose the correct translation for each sentence to emphasize the action that was in progress.

  1. I was listening to the radio when you called.
    • A) Stavo ascoltando la radio quando hai chiamato.
    • B) Ascoltavo la radio quando hai chiamato.
  2. They were playing football while it started to rain.
    • A) Giocavano a calcio quando ha cominciato a piovere.
    • B) Stavano giocando a calcio quando ha cominciato a piovere.
  3. We were having dinner when the guests arrived.
    • A) Stavamo cenando quando gli ospiti sono arrivati.
    • B) Cenavamo quando gli ospiti sono arrivati.

Exercise 3: What Were They Doing? (Describe the Scene)

Imagine these scenarios and describe what the people were doing using passato progressivo.

  1. Your friend Marco was on the phone when you arrived.
    → Marco __________ al telefono quando sono arrivata/o.
  2. The children were watching cartoons while their parents were cooking dinner.
    → I bambini __________ i cartoni animati mentre i loro genitori __________ la cena.
  3. You were driving when it started snowing.
    → Io __________ quando ha cominciato a nevicare.
  4. Your colleagues were working on a presentation when the power went out.
    → I miei colleghi __________ su una presentazione quando è mancata la corrente.

Exercise 4: Translate into Italian (Put It into Practice!)

Translate the following sentences into Italian using the passato progressivo.

  1. I was reading the news when you sent the message.
  2. They were having a meeting when I entered the room.
  3. We were dancing when the music stopped.
  4. You were walking the dog when it started to rain.
  5. She was cooking when the phone rang.

Exercise 5: Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Tense (Spotlight on Time!)

In the sentences below, fill in the blanks with the imperfetto or passato progressivo to show how Italians sometimes use these tenses interchangeably.

  1. Mentre io __________ (mangiare) la pizza, il telefono ha squillato.
  2. Noi __________ (camminare) nel parco quando abbiamo visto un cane.
  3. Loro __________ (guardare) un film quando la TV si è rotta.
  4. Lui __________ (scrivere) una mail mentre __________ (bere) il caffè.
  5. Tu __________ (studiare) ieri pomeriggio?

Answers

Exercise 1:

  1. stavo guardando
  2. stavano studiando
  3. stavamo parlando
  4. stavi leggendo
  5. stava facendo

Exercise 2:

  1. A) Stavo ascoltando la radio quando hai chiamato.
  2. B) Stavano giocando a calcio quando ha cominciato a piovere.
  3. A) Stavamo cenando quando gli ospiti sono arrivati.

Exercise 3:

  1. Marco stava parlando al telefono quando sono arrivata/o.
  2. I bambini stavano guardando i cartoni animati mentre i loro genitori stavano cucinando la cena.
  3. Io stavo guidando quando ha cominciato a nevicare.
  4. I miei colleghi stavano lavorando su una presentazione quando è mancata la corrente.

Exercise 4:

  1. Stavo leggendo le notizie quando hai inviato il messaggio.
  2. Stavano facendo una riunione quando sono entrato/a nella stanza.
  3. Stavamo ballando quando la musica si è fermata.
  4. Stavi portando a spasso il cane quando ha iniziato a piovere.
  5. Stava cucinando quando il telefono ha squillato.

Exercise 5:

  1. mangiavo
  2. stavamo camminando
  3. stavano guardando
  4. stava scrivendo, beveva
  5. stavi studiando

Tips from BUILD YOUR BEST:

  • Use the passato progressivo to show that something was happening at a specific moment in the past.
  • When in doubt, if you’re talking about a general past action, the imperfetto is often enough. But when you want to emphasize what was going on at that moment, go for stare + gerundio!

BYB Practice recap

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Use the presente progressivo to emphasize that something is happening right now.

Complete the sentences with the correct form of stare in the imperfetto.

  1. Io _________ (stare) guardando un film quando è andata via la luce.
    (I was watching a movie when the power went out.)
  2. Tu _________ (stare) facendo i compiti quando ti ho chiamato.
    (You were doing homework when I called you.)
  3. Noi _________ (stare) aspettando il treno per un’ora.
    (We were waiting for the train for an hour.)
  4. Voi _________ (stare) dormendo quando è suonata la sveglia.
    (You all were sleeping when the alarm rang.)
  5. Loro _________ (stare) parlando di te ieri sera.
    (They were talking about you last night.)

Exercise 2: Complete the Sentence

Finish the sentences using the imperfetto form of “stare” and a verb in gerundio.

  1. Io _________ (leggere) un articolo interessante.
    (I was reading an interesting article.)
  2. Lei _________ (scrivere) una lettera importante.
    (She was writing an important letter.)
  3. Noi _________ (guardare) le stelle ieri sera.
    (We were watching the stars last night.)
  4. Voi _________ (correre) al parco ieri mattina.
    (You all were running in the park yesterday morning.)
  5. Loro _________ (preparare) la cena quando è arrivato l’ospite.
    (They were preparing dinner when the guest arrived.)

Exercise 3: Translate into Italian

Translate the following sentences into Italian using stare + gerundio in the imperfetto.

  1. I was listening to music when my phone rang.
  2. They were working on a project all day.
  3. We were watching a movie when you knocked on the door.
  4. She was talking on the phone while driving.
  5. You were studying when I came in.