Italian grammar
Avrei/sarei + participio, da soli: giudicare il passato
Say what would have been better or different, using avrei/sarei + participio.
From the scene Sarebbe stato meglio (It would have been better)
In short
Avrei / sarei + participle judges a different past: sarebbe stato meglio, avrei fatto un cartello.
Your turn
Which one goes with I would have made?
Options: avrei fatto · sarebbe stato meglio · cosa avrebbe detto il cartello?
Show answer
I would have made → avrei fatto
How it works
You've already met avrei/sarei + participle for reporting someone else's future-in-past (ha detto che sarebbe venuto).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Un posto sicuro? Io l'(blank) mangiata comunque.
Clue: io (Javi parla di sé)
Options: avrebbe · avrei · avresti
Show answer
Un posto sicuro? Io l'avrei mangiata comunque.
A safe spot? I would have eaten it anyway.
Good to know
Here it's used on its own to judge a different past: sarebbe stato meglio (it would have been better), avrei fatto un cartello (I would have made a sign).
Good to know
Watch the irregular participles: fatto, detto, scelto.
it would have been better sarebbe stato meglio
Tomás
No. Sarebbe stato meglio nasconderla prima.
No. It would have been better to hide it earlier.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
No. (blank) nasconderla prima.
Options: Avrei fatto · Cosa avrebbe detto il cartello · Sarebbe stato meglio
Show answer
Tomás
No. Sarebbe stato meglio nasconderla prima.
No. It would have been better to hide it earlier.
I would have made avrei fatto
Nuria
Io al posto tuo avrei fatto un cartello.
In your place, I would have made a sign.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Io al posto tuo (blank) un cartello.
Options: avrei fatto · sarebbe stato meglio · cosa avrebbe detto il cartello
Show answer
Nuria
Io al posto tuo avrei fatto un cartello.
In your place, I would have made a sign.
what would the sign have said? cosa avrebbe detto il cartello?
Tomás
Un cartello? E cosa avrebbe detto il cartello?
A sign? And what would the sign have said?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Un cartello? E (blank)?
Options: sarebbe stato meglio · avrei fatto · cosa avrebbe detto il cartello
Show answer
Tomás
Un cartello? E cosa avrebbe detto il cartello?
A sign? And what would the sign have said?
I would have chosen avrei scelto
Your turn
What goes with avrei scelto?
Options: I would have made · I would have chosen · it would have been better
Show answer
avrei scelto → I would have chosen
nobody would have eaten it nessuno l'avrebbe mangiata
Common mistake
Not avrebbero or avrei here. Il cartello (singolare).
Un cartello? E cosa avrebbe detto il cartello?
A sign? And what would the sign have said?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| it would have been better | sarebbe stato meglio |
|---|---|
| I would have made | avrei fatto |
| what would the sign have said? | cosa avrebbe detto il cartello? |
| I would have chosen | avrei scelto |
| nobody would have eaten it | nessuno l'avrebbe mangiata |
More lines from the story
- JaviUn posto sicuro? Io l'avrei mangiata comunque.A safe spot? I would have eaten it anyway.
- TomásDi nuovo! Le comparse hanno mangiato tutta la mia frutta.Again! The extras have eaten all my fruit.
- Nuria«Frutta di scena. Non si mangia.»"Prop fruit. Not for eating."