Your Conjugation Information for -IRE Verbs in Italian 


Studying Italian grammar and battling the verbs ending in -IRE? These verbs is usually a enjoyable problem for learners as a result of they’re essential for on a regular basis dialog however include distinctive twists. Don’t fear! This text covers every little thing it is advisable to know to conjugate and confidently use -IRE verbs in Italian. Take into account it your go-to information as you be taught Italian with Rosetta Stone.

How do Italian verbs work?

Italian verbs are grouped into three coniugazioni (conjugations). Every conjugation dictates how a verb modifications primarily based on what you wish to categorical (like a tense or temper) and who’s performing the motion.

To pinpoint which conjugation a verb belongs to—and to make sure you’re utilizing the proper kind—you need to have a look at how its infinitive kind ends:

  • First conjugation: Verbs ending in -ARE, like andare (to go).
  • Second conjugation: Verbs ending in -ERE, like vedere (to see).
  • Third conjugation: Verbs ending in -IRE, like dormire (to sleep).

In every case, the verb’s ending, or suffix, modifications to match the tense and topic. As an example, to conjugate a daily -IRE verb like dormire (to sleep), you add to the foundation “dorm-” to the suffix akin to the verb’s temper, tense, and topic.

Irregular verbs are a bit extra advanced since each the foundation and the ending can change. Sadly, there isn’t a tough rule for these verbs—you’ll have to memorize each individually.

However don’t fear! Studying Italian grammar is a bit like navigating a brand new metropolis for the primary time. You’ll grow to be accustomed to these vocabulary “paths” with follow till you discover the correct conjugation feels as pure as recognizing the way in which house.

The key to common -IRE verb conjugations in Italian (with charts)

The third conjugation consists of all of the -IRE verbs in Italian, with lots of these verbs broadly utilized in on a regular basis dialog. Like the opposite conjugations, -IRE verbs are additionally conjugated in response to verb moods: 

  • Modi indefiniti (non-finite moods): They modify solely in response to when the motion is carried out relatively than to match the topic.
    • Infinito (infinitive)
    • Participio (participle)
    • Gerundio (gerund) 
  • Modi finiti (finite moods): They supply details about who performs the motion and when the motion is carried out, and so they conjugate in response to the topic.
    • Indicativo (indicative)
    • Congiuntivo (subjunctive)
    • Condizionale (conditional)
    • Imperativo (crucial)

However -IRE verbs in Italian have additionally a novel attribute. Not like the opposite two conjugations, the place all common verbs observe the identical suffixes in each tense and temper, common Italian -IRE verbs have two patterns for conjugation within the current indicative, subjunctive, and crucial.

2 sorts of common -IRE verbs

The primary sort of normal -IRE verbs in Italian follows a traditional sample. You merely add the suitable suffix to the foundation. For instance, right here’s how the common verb dormire (to sleep) is conjugated within the current indicative:

  • io dormo = I sleep
  • tu dormi = you sleep
  • lui/lei dorme = he/she sleeps

The second, various, sample modifications within the current indicative, the current subjunctive, and the crucial. This conjugation sample includes including “-isc-” earlier than the suffix in all types aside from the primary and second plural individuals. For instance, right here’s how the verb finire (to complete) is conjugated within the current indicative:

  • io finisco = I end
  • tu finisci = you end
  • lui/lei finisce = he/she finishes

Right here’s an inventory of a few of the mostly used common -IRE verbs that conjugate in response to the primary sort (root + suffix), and the second sort (root + “isc” + suffix).

First KindEnglishSecond KindEnglish
aprireto openfinireto complete
dormireto sleepagireto behave
offrireto supplycapireto grasp
partireto departcolpireto hit
seguireto observecostruireto construct
sentireto listen todefinireto outline
servireto servegestireto handle
coprireto cowlinserireto insert
nutrireto nourishpreferireto favor
consentireto permitpulireto scrub
mentireto lierestituireto return
fuggireto fleespedireto ship
inghiottireto swallowsuggerireto counsel

So, how do you identify whether or not Italian IRE verbs conjugate like dormire (to sleep) or like finire (to complete)?

The one surefire approach to know is to look it up in a dictionary, which is able to all the time record the first-person singular of the current indicative. However, as a fast repair, you may do this trick: Depend 5 letters again from the final letter of the verb in its infinitive kind. (With finire that may be i.) If that letter is a vowel, you could possibly in all probability use “-isc-”. If it’s a consonant, your verb must be in customary common kind if that letter is a consonant.

This shortcut is an informed guess, so keep in mind to double-check with a dictionary when potential!

Non-Finite Moods: Infinitive, Participle, and Gerund

These three non-finite moods function important constructing blocks for Italian verb conjugations, and so they gained’t change in response to the topic. Every has distinctive capabilities that may enable you create varied tenses and verb buildings.

Infinito (infinitive)

The infinitive kind is the bottom type of the verb, typically translated as “to” + [verb] in English, like “to eat.” It’s used to specific basic actions and not using a particular topic. 

Participio (participle)

The participle is vital for compound tenses like passato prossimo (current excellent) and passive voice constructions. This kind typically represents accomplished actions:

  • dormito = slept
  • finito = completed

Gerundio (gerund)

The gerund reveals ongoing actions, just like the English “-ing” kind. It’s primarily used with stare to create progressive tenses, indicating actions in progress.

  • dormendo = sleeping
  • finendo = ending

You’ll see how indispensable they’re as you retain studying this information to -IRE verbs.

Modo indicativo (indicative) of -IRE verbs in Italian

Senior man and young man holding crates of grapes in a vineyard

The modo indicativo (indicative) is without doubt one of the mostly used moods. It describes actions, states information, and expresses ideas.

You’ll largely use the current, imperfect, compound previous, and future easy. The opposite 4 tenses are much less frequent, but it surely’s nonetheless vital to acknowledge them.

Presente (easy current)

Use It for actions taking place within the current second or to explain on a regular basis recurring actions. It can be paired with the phrase sempre (all the time) to make clear you’re speaking about one thing recurrent.

  • Finisco e arrivo. = I’ll get there as quickly as I end. (Actually, I end and are available.)
  • Finisco sempre di lavorare alle 18:00. = I all the time end work at 6:00 p.m.
SuffixEasy Current 
(sleep)
Easy Current
(end)
Io
I
-odormofinisco
Tu
You (casual)
-idormifinisci
Lui/Lei 
He/She/formal You 
-edormefinisce
Noi 
We
-iamodormiamofiniamo
Voi 
You (plural)
-itedormitefinite
Loro 
They
-onoloro dormonoloro finiscono

Imperfetto (imperfect)

This tense is good for actions that have been taking place when an motion occurred or recurred previously.

  • Dormivo e non ho sentito il telefono. = I used to be asleep and didn’t hear the telephone.
  • Quando studiava, dormiva nel pomeriggio. = When he was finding out, he (all the time) slept within the afternoon.
SuffixImperfect
(was sleeping/used to sleep)
Io
I
-ivodormivo
Tu
You, casual
-ividormivi
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
-ivadormiva
Noi 
We
-ivamodormivamo
Voi 
You (plural)
-ivatedormivate
Loro 
They
-ivanodormivano

Passato prossimo (compound previous)

Use the passato prossimo while you discuss an motion that occurred previously, and it’s now accomplished.

  • Ieri sera ho dormito bene. = I slept properly final night time.

It’s a compound tense, so that you all the time have to make use of the auxiliary verbs essere (to be) or avere (to have) on the easy current indicative + the principle verb on the previous participle.

Auxiliary + ParticipleCompound Previous 
(slept)
Io
I
ho/sono + previous participleho dormito
Tu
You (casual)
hai/sei + previous participlehai dormito
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
ha/è + previous participleha dormito
Noi 
We
abbiamo/siamo + previous participleabbiamo dormito
Voi 
You (plural)
avete/siete + previous participleavete dormito
Loro 
They
hanno/sono + previous participlehanno dormito

Trapassato prossimo (previous excellent)

This tense is used for actions that have been accomplished earlier than one other previous motion.

  • Quando sono arrivato, avevano finito il lavoro. = Once I arrived, that they had already completed the work.

The trapassato prossimo is fashioned with the imperfect tense of the auxiliary verb avere (to have) or essere (to be) + the previous participle of the principle verb.

Auxiliary + ParticiplePrevious Excellent 
(slept)
Io
I
avevo/ero + previous participleavevo dormito
Tu
You (casual)
avevi/eri + previous participleavevi dormito
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
aveva/period + previous participleaveva dormito
Noi 
We
avevamo/eravamo + previous participleavevamo dormito
Voi 
You (plural)
avevate/eravate + previous participleavevate dormito
Loro 
They
avevano/erano + previous participleavevano dormito

Passato remoto (easy previous/distant previous)

You should use this tense for each motion within the distant previous. So, in case you are speaking about one thing that occurred in your childhood (or simply final yr), then use the straightforward previous.

  • Mia zia partì per l’Italia quando ero piccolo. = My aunt left for Italy after I was little.

These days, most Italians substitute it with different previous tenses:

  • Mia zia è partita per l’Italia quando ero piccolo. = My aunt left for Italy after I was little.

This tense continues to be utilized in on a regular basis conversations in sure areas like Tuscany and Naples and in literary contexts.

Suffix Easy Previous 
(slept)
Io
I
-iidormii
Tu
You (casual)
-istidormisti
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
dormì
Noi 
We
-immodormimmo
Voi 
You (plural)
-istedormiste
Loro 
They
-ironodormirono

Trapassato remoto (distant previous excellent)

You’ll not often hear the trapassato remoto in every day conversations, but it surely’s nonetheless utilized in literary contexts for actions accomplished earlier than one other motion previously.

Type it with the distant previous of the verb avere (to have) or essere (to be), adopted by the previous participle of the principle verb.

Auxiliary + ParticipleDistant Previous Excellent 
(had slept)
Io
I
ebbi/fui + previous participleebbi dormito
Tu
You (casual)
avesti/fosti + previous participleavesti dormito
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
ebbe/fu + previous participleebbe dormito 
Noi 
We
avemmo/fummo + previous participleavemmo dormito 
Voi 
You (plural)
aveste/foste + previous participleaveste dormito 
Loro 
They
ebbero/furono + previous participleebbero dormito 

Futuro semplice (future easy)

This works as simply as the long run tense in English.

  • Domani dormirò fino a tardi. = Tomorrow I’ll sleep until late.
Suffix Future Easy 
(will sleep)
Io
I
-iròdormirò
Tu
You (casual)
-iraidormirai
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
-iràdormirà
Noi 
We
-iremodormiremo
Voi 
You (plural)
-iretedormirete
Loro 
They
-irannodormiranno

Futuro anteriore (future excellent)

The longer term excellent tense describes actions that will probably be accomplished at a sure level sooner or later.

  • Avrete finito il corso prima dell’property. = You’ll have completed the course earlier than summer time.

Type this tense by utilizing the long run type of the auxiliary verb avere (to have) or essere (to be) adopted by the previous participle of the principle verb.

Auxiliary + ParticipleFuture Excellent 
(could have slept)
Io
I
avrò/sarò + previous participleavrò dormito 
Tu
You, casual
avrai/sarai + previous participleavrai dormito 
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
avrà/sarà + previous participleavrà dormito
Noi 
We
avremo/saranno + previous participleavremo dormito 
Voi 
You (plural)
avrete/sarete + previous participleavrete dormito
Loro 
They
avranno/saranno + previous participleavranno dormito

Modo condizionale (conditional temper) of -IRE Italian verbs

woman sleeping in bed with cat, expressing -IRE verbs in italian

The condizionale expresses hypothetical actions, and it’s additionally useful for making well mannered requests or expressing needs.

Presente (current)

Use the current conditional to translate English sentences with “would.”

  • Dormirei un’ora in più se potessi. = I’d sleep an additional hour if I may.
Suffix Conditional Current 
(would sleep)
Io
I
-ireidormirei 
Tu
You, casual
-irestidormiresti 
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
-irebbedormirebbe
Noi 
We
-iremmodormiremmo
Voi 
You (plural)
-irestedormireste
Loro 
They
-irebberodormirebbero

Passato (Previous)

You possibly can assemble it with the current conditional of auxiliary verbs avere (to have) or essere (to be) + the previous participle of the principle verb. The result’s just like “would have” in English.

  • Avrei dormito un’ora in più se avessi potuto. = I’d have slept an additional hour if I may.
Auxiliary + ParticipleConditional Previous 
(would have slept)
Io
I
avrei/sarei + previous participleavrei dormito 
Tu
You, casual
avresti/saresti + previous participleavresti dormito
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
avrebbe/sarebbe + previous participleavrebbe dormito
Noi 
We
avremmo/saremmo + previous participleavremmo dormito
Voi 
You, plural
avreste/sareste + previous participleavreste dormito
Loro 
They
avrebbero/sarebbero + previous participleavrebbero dormito

Modo congiuntivo (subjunctive temper) of -IRE verbs

The subjunctive conveys doubt, feelings, needs, and prospects. It usually seems in sentences or subordinate clauses, launched by the conjunction che (that).

A standard mistake, even amongst Italians, is utilizing the suffixes of the indicative when forming the subjunctive. In truth, the suffixes are fairly related, and the current subjunctive has additionally the shape with “-isc-”, similar to the indicative. 

So all the time take into consideration the aim of your sentence when choosing the proper verb temper. If it’s a press release or an actual truth, use the indicative; if it’s one thing hypothetical or a want, use the subjunctive.

Presente (current)

The presente congiuntivo is usually used after expressions like spero che (I hope that) or è possibile che (it’s potential that).

  • Spero che tu dorma stanotte. = I hope that you just sleep tonight.
SuffixCurrent Subjunctive 
(that I sleep)
Current Subjunctive
(that I end)
Io
I
-ache io dormache io finisca
Tu
You, casual
-ache tu dormache tu finisca
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
-ache lui/lei dormache lui/lei finisca
Noi 
We
-iamoche noi dormiamoche noi finiamo
Voi 
You, plural
-iateche voi dormiateche voi finiate
Loro 
They
-anoche loro dormanoche loro finiscano

Passato (previous)

The previous subjunctive is utilized in subordinate sentences to explain an motion that precedes the motion within the main phrase. It’s fashioned utilizing the current subjunctive of the auxiliary verb avere (to have) or essere (to be) adopted by the previous participle of the principle verb. It’s additionally launched by che (that), similar to the current tense.

  • Spero che tu abbia dormito bene. = I hope that you just slept properly.
Auxiliary + ParticiplePrevious Subjunctive 
(that I slept)
Io
I
abbia/sia + previous participleche io abbia dormito
Tu
You, casual
abbia/sia + previous participleche tu abbia dormito
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
abbia/sia + previous participleche lui/lei abbia dormito
Noi 
We
abbiamo/siamo + previous participleche noi abbiamo dormito
Voi 
You (plural)
abbiate/siate + previous participleche voi abbiate dormito
Loro 
They
abbiano/siano + previous participleche loro abbiano dormito

Imperfetto (imperfect)

The imperfetto expresses a hope or want, one thing that’s potential however not sure. It typically pairs with se (if), vorrei/mi piacerebbe che (I would love/love that):

  • Se dormissi di più, starei meglio. = If I slept extra, I’d really feel higher.
  • Vorrei che tu finissi i compiti. = I would love you to complete your homework.
SuffixImperfect Subjunctive 
(that I’d sleep)
Io
I
-issiche io dormissi
Tu
You, casual
-issiche tu dormissi
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
-isseche lui/lei dormisse
Noi 
We
-issimoche noi dormissimo
Voi 
You, plural
-isteche voi dormiste
Loro 
They
-isseroche loro dormissero

Trapassato (previous excellent subjunctive)

The trapassato is a compound tense that you should use to specific a want concerning the previous, and it’s now not possible.

  • Speravo che tu avessi dormito bene. = I hoped that you’d have slept properly.
Auxiliary + ParticiplePrevious Excellent Subjunctive 
(that I had slept)
Io
I
avessi/fossi + previous participleche io avessi dormito
Tu
You, casual
avessi/fosse + previous participleche tu avessi dormito
Lui/Lei 
He/She/You, formal
avesse/fosse + previous participleche lui/lei avesse dormito
Noi 
We
avessimo/fossimo + previous participleche noi avessimo dormito
Voi 
You, plural
aveste/foste + previous participleche voi aveste dormito
Loro 
They
avessero/fossero + previous participleche essi avessero dormito

Imperativo (crucial) of -IRE verbs

The imperativo (crucial) is used to provide direct instructions, make requests, or provide ideas.

  • Dormi adesso!  = Sleep now!

Because it’s a verb to provide instructions, it doesn’t conjugate with the pronouns “I” and “we.” Relying on the context, this temper could sound barely aggressive, so watch out with the tone of your voice.

Crucial of Dormire 
(to sleep)
Crucial of Finire 
(to complete)
Io
I
Tu
You, casual
dormi (sleep!)finisci (end!)
Lei 
You, formal
dorma (sleep!)la finisca (end it/cease it)
Noi 
We
Voi 
You, plural
dormiamo (let’s sleep!)finiamo (let’s end!)
Loro 
They
dormite (you all sleep!)finite (you all end!)

Key takeaways for -IRE verbs in Italian

Mastering verbs is all about discovering your private studying type. Whether or not you get pleasure from training with verbs you join with or memorizing particular endings, making it enjoyable is vital. Apply brings enchancment, so don’t stress. Begin with these three important factors and proficiency will come naturally.

  • Two patterns to recollect: Common -IRE verbs observe two important conjugation patterns. Some verbs conjugate simply by altering the suffix, whereas others add “-isc-” earlier than the suffix.
  • Compound tenses with auxiliaries: Use the auxiliary verbs essere (to be) or avere (to have) to kind compound tenses. The auxiliary verb is conjugated by individual and tense, whereas the principle verb stays within the participle kind.
  • Apply makes excellent: Repetition and common use are key to mastering -IRE verbs. Use sources like Rosetta Stone App, you’ll discover tales, phrasebooks, and extra options to speed up your studying as you grasp these conjugations.

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