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Introduction to the Passato Prossimo

Irregular Past Participles

Special Rules and Uses

Agreement of the Past Participle

Introduction to the Passato Remoto

Irregular Verbs

Conceptual Difference Between passato remoto and passato prossimo

Introduction to the Trapassato Prossimo

Trapassato Prossimo and Subordinate Clauses

Trapassato Prossimo and Indirect Speech

Introduction to the Trapassato Remoto

Conjunctions of Time

The Imperfect (L’imperfetto)

Using L’imperfetto and Passato Prossimo together

Trapassato prossimo and Subordinate Clauses

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  1. The trapassato prossimo is often used in conjunction with other tenses to describe events that happened sequentially in the past. As a result, we often find the trapassato prossimo used with subordinate clauses, which convey the precise timing of these past events.

    In the following examples, both the subordinate clause and the verb phrase in the trapassato prossimo are presented in bold lettering. Observe how the trapassato prossimo is used with other past tenses to relate a series of events.

    Ogni settimana, dopo che aveva scritto la sua rubrica di consigli, Alice andava sempre bere un caffè con le amiche.
    Every week, after she had written her advice column, Alice always went for coffee with her girlfriends.

    Siccome ero arrivata presto la mattina, non ho dovuto affrettarmi.
    Since I had arrived early in the morning, I didn’t have to rush myself.
    Laila ha comprato il vestito che aveva provato.
    Laila bought the dress that she had tried on.

    Le mie sorelle non mi hanno creduto, ma avevo detto loro la verità.
    My sisters didn’t believe me, but I had told them the truth.

    Enrico era stanco perché la settimana prima aveva lavorato molto.
    Enrico was tired because the previous week he had worked a lot.

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