Italian grammar
Ero, era, c'era
Describe how things were.
From the scene Ero stanca (I was tired)
In short
To describe the past (feelings, what it was like, what was there), use the imperfetto: ero, era, c'era.
- I was tired ero stanca
- it was full era pieno
- there was a lot of noise c'era molto rumore
- there was no noise non c'era rumore
Your turn
Which one goes with it was full?
Options: ero stanca · c'era molto rumore · era pieno
Show answer
it was full → era pieno
How it works
To describe the past (how someone felt, what something was like, what was there) Italian uses the imperfetto (the past tense for descriptions).
Good to know
Ero = I was, era = he / she / it was, c'era = there was, c'erano = there were. Non c'era = there wasn't.
I was tired ero stanca
it was full era pieno
Nuria
Era pieno e la musica era molto alta.
It was full and the music was very loud.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) e la musica era molto alta.
Options: Ero stanca · C'era molto rumore · Era pieno
Show answer
Nuria
Era pieno e la musica era molto alta.
It was full and the music was very loud.
there was a lot of noise c'era molto rumore
Nuria
C'era molto rumore in strada.
There was a lot of noise in the street.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) in strada.
Options: C'era molto rumore · Ero stanca · Era pieno
Show answer
Nuria
C'era molto rumore in strada.
There was a lot of noise in the street.
there was no noise non c'era rumore
Elena
Non c'era rumore, cara. Ma Javi era al portone.
There was no noise, dear. But Javi was at the front door.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), cara. Ma Javi era al portone.
Options: Non c'era rumore · Ero stanca · Era pieno
Show answer
Elena
Non c'era rumore, cara. Ma Javi era al portone.
There was no noise, dear. But Javi was at the front door.
Common mistake
Not Era or Sono here. I was (last night).
Mi scusi, signora Elena. Ero molto stanca.
Sorry, Signora Elena. I was very tired.
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
| I was tired | ero stanca |
|---|---|
| it was full | era pieno |
| there was a lot of noise | c'era molto rumore |
| there was no noise | non c'era rumore |
More lines from the story
- NuriaMi scusi, signora Elena. Ero molto stanca.Sorry, Signora Elena. I was very tired.
- NuriaEra il bar nuovo qui sotto.It was the new bar downstairs.
- ElenaCara, ho bussato ieri sera e non hai risposto.Dear, I knocked last night and you didn't answer.