Italian grammar
Imperfetto for the scene, passato prossimo for the event
Set the scene of a story in the past, then say what happened.
From the scene Era notte e pioveva (It was night and it was raining)
In short
Set the scene with the imperfetto (era, pioveva). Say what happened with the passato prossimo (ho sentito).
Your turn
Which one goes with it was raining?
Options: era notte · era tutto buio · pioveva
Show answer
it was raining → pioveva
How it works
To set the scene in the past (what things were like, what was going on) use the imperfetto: era, pioveva, era, c'era.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
(blank) la porta e ho visto… zucchero sulle scale.
Clue: one action, then the next
Options: Apro · Ho aperto · Aprivo
Show answer
Ho aperto la porta e ho visto… zucchero sulle scale.
I opened the door and saw… sugar on the stairs.
Good to know
To say what happened at one moment, use the passato prossimo: ho sentito, ho aperto, ho visto.
it was night era notte
Elena
Era notte e pioveva molto.
It was night-time and it was raining hard.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) e pioveva molto.
Options: Non c'era nessun rumore · Era notte · Era tutto buio
Show answer
Elena
Era notte e pioveva molto.
It was night-time and it was raining hard.
it was raining pioveva
Elena
Era notte e pioveva molto.
It was night-time and it was raining hard.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Era notte e (blank) molto.
Options: non c'era nessun rumore · pioveva · era tutto buio
Show answer
Elena
Era notte e pioveva molto.
It was night-time and it was raining hard.
everything was dark era tutto buio
Elena
Era tutto buio. Non c'era nessun rumore.
Everything was dark. There was no noise at all.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Non c'era nessun rumore.
Options: Era tutto buio · Era notte · Pioveva
Show answer
Elena
Era tutto buio. Non c'era nessun rumore.
Everything was dark. There was no noise at all.
there was no noise non c'era nessun rumore
Elena
Era tutto buio. Non c'era nessun rumore.
Everything was dark. There was no noise at all.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Era tutto buio. (blank).
Options: Non c'era nessun rumore · Era notte · Pioveva
Show answer
Elena
Era tutto buio. Non c'era nessun rumore.
Everything was dark. There was no noise at all.
I heard / I opened / I saw ho sentito / ho aperto / ho visto
Elena
All'improvviso, ho sentito un rumore sulle scale.
Suddenly, I heard a noise on the stairs.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
All'improvviso, (blank) un rumore sulle scale.
Options: ho sentito · era notte · pioveva
Show answer
Elena
All'improvviso, ho sentito un rumore sulle scale.
Suddenly, I heard a noise on the stairs.
Watch out
Don't use the passato prossimo just to describe the scene — era, pioveva, not è stato, ha piovuto, when nothing is actually happening yet.
Common mistake
Not piovve or piove here. Background: "it was raining".
Era notte e pioveva molto.
It was night-time and it was raining hard.
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 was night | era notte |
|---|---|
| it was raining | pioveva |
| everything was dark | era tutto buio |
| there was no noise | non c'era nessun rumore |
| I heard / I opened / I saw | ho sentito / ho aperto / ho visto |
More lines from the story
- ElenaHo aperto la porta e ho visto… zucchero sulle scale.I opened the door and saw… sugar on the stairs.
- NuriaZucchero? Un ladro molto dolce!Sugar? A very sweet thief!
- ElenaNuria, ascolta. Ieri notte è successo qualcosa di strano.Nuria, listen. Something strange happened last night.