Italian Grammar: AUXILIARIES

In Italian, the verbs:

essere and avere / to be and to have

are auxiliary verbs with the function of "helping" other verbs in compound tenses

• The verb "avere" means to possess

  Eg.

Maria ha una giacca nuova.
Maria has a new jacket.

The verb " essere" means to be or to exist.

Eg.

Maria è a scuola.
Maria is at school.

Qui c'è una scuola molto bella.
There is a very nice school here.

The verb "essere" is also used as a copula to connect an adjective or a noun to the subject.

Eg.

Marco è bello.
Marco is good-looking.

The verbs "essere" and "avere" help the other verbs form compound tenses and also help to form the passive form.

Eg.

Io ho mangiato.
(compound test) I've eaten/ I ate.

Io sono andato.
(compound test) I've gone./ I went.

Io amo.
(active form) I love.

Io sono amato.
(passive form) I am loved.

The verbs "essere" e "avere" are also used with verbs that indicate movement, although there is a slight difference:

- An action verb accompanied by the verb "essere" expresses an action or a place that is directed towards something or someone.

Eg.

Io sono andato a Roma.
I went to Rome.
(Rome is the place where the person is going to)

A verb of movement accompanied by the verb "avere" doesn't express movement to a place. Sometimes it doesn't express an action of moving towards something or someone but it expresses the action of "moving quickly"..

Eg.

Ieri ho corso tantissimo.
I ran a lot yesterday.

Io ho viaggiato in treno.
I travelled by train.

Io ho superato l'esame.
I passed the exam.