8. The auxiliary verbs essere and avere
In Italian, there are two irregular verbs that function as auxiliary verbs in compound tenses (e.g. in the present perfect): essere to be and avere to have.
They are inflected in the following way in the present tense:
|
ESSERE |
AVERE |
|
io sono |
io ho |
|
tu sei |
tu hai |
|
lui/lei/Lei è |
lui/lei/Lei ha |
|
noi siamo |
noi abbiamo |
|
voi siete |
voi avete |
|
loro sono |
loro hanno |
The auxiliary essere is used with several verbs that do not have an object.
EXAMPLE:
Siamo andati a casa.
We went home.
It is also used with reflexive verbs.
EXAMPLE:
Si è pettinata i capelli.
She brushed her hair.
The auxiliary avere is used with several verbs that have an object.
EXAMPLE:
Lui ha mangiato una mela.
He ate an apple.
It is also used with some verbs that denote movement and that do not have an object.
EXAMPLE:
Ho camminato.
I walked.
