Italian imperfetto exercises
A free A2 (elementary) Italian exercise on Imperfetto (imperfect tense): 60 fill in the blank questions in 4 sets, from core practice to a mixed review, each with the answer and a short explanation. Or take a random round of 10. No account needed.
The rule in brief
The imperfetto describes the past as a background rather than as a completed event. Use it for habits (what you used to do), for descriptions of people, places and weather, and for actions in progress when something else happened.
It is the most regular tense in Italian. Take the infinitive, drop -re and add the same endings to every verb: -vo, -vi, -va, -vamo, -vate, -vano. So parlare gives parlavo, prendere gives prendevo and dormire gives dormivo.
Only a few verbs are irregular. Essere has its own forms: ero, eri, era, eravamo, eravate, erano. Fare, bere and dire build the imperfetto on an older, longer stem (fac-, bev-, dic-) but then take the normal endings: facevo, bevevo, dicevo.
Words such as da bambino, ogni estate, di solito, sempre and mentre often signal the imperfetto.
| parlare | prendere | dormire | essere | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| io | parlavo | prendevo | dormivo | ero |
| tu | parlavi | prendevi | dormivi | eri |
| lui / lei | parlava | prendeva | dormiva | era |
| noi | parlavamo | prendevamo | dormivamo | eravamo |
| voi | parlavate | prendevate | dormivate | eravate |
| loro | parlavano | prendevano | dormivano | erano |
- Da piccola andavo a scuola a piedi. · When I was little I used to walk to school.
- Era una sera d’inverno e nevicava. · It was a winter evening and it was snowing.
- Mentre facevo la doccia, è suonato il telefono. · While I was having a shower, the phone rang.
Exercises · 60 questions in 4 sets
Write the imperfetto of the verb in brackets.
Set 1 · Core practice
- 1
Da bambino Matteo sempre a calcio con il nonno.(giocare)
As a child Matteo always used to play football with his grandfather.
Show answer
giocava · A childhood habit takes the imperfetto: gioca- + -va for lui.
- 2
Quando io piccola, abitavo in campagna.(essere)
When I was little, I lived in the countryside.
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ero · Essere is irregular in the imperfetto: io ero.
- 3
Ogni estate io e la mia famiglia le vacanze in Puglia.(passare)
Every summer my family and I spent our holidays in Puglia.
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passavamo · Ogni estate signals a repeated habit; io e la mia famiglia means noi, so passavamo.
- 4
La casa dei miei nonni grande e piena di luce.(essere)
My grandparents’ house was big and full of light.
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era · A description of a place in the past takes the imperfetto: era is the irregular lei form of essere.
- 5
Quando eri studente, che cosa il sabato sera?(fare)
When you were a student, what did you use to do on Saturday nights?
Show answer
facevi · Fare uses the stem fac- in the imperfetto: facevi for tu.
- 6
Mio padre sempre il caffè senza zucchero.(bere)
My father always used to drink his coffee without sugar.
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beveva · Bere uses the stem bev- in the imperfetto: beveva.
- 7
La nonna ci sempre di stare attenti in bicicletta.(dire)
Grandma always used to tell us to be careful on our bikes.
Show answer
diceva · Dire uses the stem dic- in the imperfetto: diceva.
- 8
Quella sera fuori e faceva molto freddo.(piovere)
That evening it was raining outside and it was very cold.
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pioveva · Weather in a past description takes the imperfetto: pioveva.
- 9
Ai tempi del liceo, Giulia e Sara a scuola in autobus.(andare)
In their secondary-school days, Giulia and Sara used to go to school by bus.
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andavano · Andare is regular in the imperfetto: anda- + -vano for loro.
- 10
Ragazzi, quando eravate all’università, in centro?(vivere)
Guys, when you were at university, did you live in the centre?
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vivevate · Ragazzi means voi, so vive- + -vate: vivevate.
- 11
Mentre io la cena, è arrivato Marco.(preparare)
While I was making dinner, Marco arrived.
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preparavo · An action in progress interrupted by another event takes the imperfetto: preparavo.
- 12
Da piccoli, io e mio fratello i cartoni animati tutte le mattine.(guardare)
When we were little, my brother and I watched cartoons every morning.
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guardavamo · Io e mio fratello means noi, and the routine (tutte le mattine) needs the imperfetto: guardavamo.
- 13
Il signor Rossi un cappello nero e un cappotto lungo.(portare)
Mr Rossi was wearing a black hat and a long coat.
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portava · Describing what someone looked like or wore takes the imperfetto: portava.
- 14
Quando dieci anni, ho cominciato a suonare la chitarra.(avere)
When I was ten, I started playing the guitar.
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avevo · Age in the past is a background state, so it takes the imperfetto; ho cominciato shows the subject is io.
- 15
Negli anni Novanta i miei genitori in un piccolo appartamento a Milano.(abitare)
In the nineties my parents lived in a small flat in Milan.
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abitavano · A long-lasting situation in the past takes the imperfetto: abita- + -vano.
15 questions.
Set 2 · More practice
- 16
Da ragazza mia madre in una banca del centro.(lavorare)
When she was young, my mother worked in a bank in the town centre.
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lavorava · A long-lasting situation in the past takes the imperfetto: lavora- + -va for lei.
- 17
Ogni domenica noi dai nonni per il pranzo.(andare)
Every Sunday we used to go to our grandparents’ for lunch.
Show answer
andavamo · Ogni domenica signals a habit, so the imperfetto: anda- + -vamo for noi.
- 18
Quando eri piccolo, paura del buio?(avere)
When you were little, were you afraid of the dark?
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avevi · Avere is regular in the imperfetto: ave- + -vi for tu.
- 19
Il cielo azzurro e non c’era nemmeno una nuvola.(essere)
The sky was blue and there wasn’t a single cloud.
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era · Describing the weather and the scenery takes the imperfetto: era is the irregular form of essere.
- 20
Da studente io sempre fino a mezzogiorno la domenica.(dormire)
As a student I always used to sleep until midday on Sundays.
Show answer
dormivo · A past habit takes the imperfetto: dormi- + -vo for io.
- 21
Al liceo Paolo e Marco sempre i compiti insieme.(fare)
At secondary school Paolo and Marco always did their homework together.
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facevano · Fare uses the stem fac- in the imperfetto: facevano for loro.
- 22
Ragazzi, da bambini il latte a colazione?(bere)
Guys, when you were children did you drink milk at breakfast?
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bevevate · Bere uses the stem bev- in the imperfetto; ragazzi means voi, so bevevate.
- 23
Ogni sera la nonna ci una storia prima di dormire.(raccontare)
Every evening Grandma used to tell us a story before we went to sleep.
Show answer
raccontava · Ogni sera signals a repeated habit: racconta- + -va for lei.
- 24
Quando abitavi a Bologna, all’università?(studiare)
When you lived in Bologna, were you studying at the university?
Show answer
studiavi · Abitavi shows the subject is tu, and the background situation takes the imperfetto: studiavi.
- 25
Da piccoli io e mia sorella spesso, ma ci volevamo bene.(litigare)
When we were little my sister and I often argued, but we loved each other.
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litigavamo · Io e mia sorella means noi, and spesso signals a habit: litigavamo.
- 26
Da giovane mio nonno il giornale ogni mattina al bar.(leggere)
When he was young my grandfather read the paper at the café every morning.
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leggeva · Ogni mattina signals a habit: legge- + -va for lui.
- 27
Quando abitavamo al mare, voi a trovarci ogni estate.(venire)
When we lived by the sea, you used to come and visit us every summer.
Show answer
venivate · Venire is regular in the imperfetto: veni- + -vate for voi.
- 28
Durante quell’inverno spesso e le strade erano sempre bianche.(nevicare)
During that winter it often snowed and the streets were always white.
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nevicava · Weather in a past description takes the imperfetto: nevicava.
- 29
Prima di comprare la macchina, io sempre l’autobus per andare al lavoro.(prendere)
Before I bought the car, I always used to take the bus to work.
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prendevo · A past routine takes the imperfetto: prende- + -vo for io.
- 30
Da bambine Marta e Chiara diventare ballerine.(volere)
As little girls Marta and Chiara wanted to become ballet dancers.
Show answer
volevano · Wishes and states of mind in the past usually take the imperfetto: vole- + -vano.
15 questions.
Set 3 · Trickier cases
- 31
Che cosa il professore quando sono entrato in classe?(dire)
What was the teacher saying when I came into the classroom?
Show answer
diceva · An action in progress when something else happened takes the imperfetto; dire uses the stem dic-: diceva.
- 32
Mentre noi colazione, è suonato il campanello.(fare)
While we were having breakfast, the doorbell rang.
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facevamo · The interrupted action takes the imperfetto, and fare uses the stem fac-: facevamo.
- 33
Ieri sera i bambini stanchi e sono andati a letto presto.(essere)
Last night the children were tired and went to bed early.
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erano · Even with ieri sera, a physical state is background, so the imperfetto: erano, the irregular loro form of essere.
- 34
Voi già sposati quando vi siete trasferiti a Milano?(essere)
Were you already married when you moved to Milan?
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eravate · A state in the background of a completed event takes the imperfetto: eravate for voi.
- 35
Da adolescente sempre la verità ai tuoi genitori?(dire)
As a teenager, did you always tell your parents the truth?
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dicevi · Tuoi genitori shows the subject is tu; dire uses the stem dic-: dicevi.
- 36
Quell’estate al mare io e Sara una spremuta d’arancia ogni mattina.(bere)
That summer at the seaside Sara and I drank a fresh orange juice every morning.
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bevevamo · Ogni mattina signals a habit; io e Sara means noi, and bere uses the stem bev-: bevevamo.
- 37
Mentre Luca la doccia, è andata via la luce.(fare)
While Luca was having a shower, the power went off.
Show answer
faceva · The action in progress takes the imperfetto: faceva; the interruption takes the passato prossimo.
- 38
Non sono venuta alla festa perché la febbre.(avere)
I didn’t come to the party because I had a temperature.
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avevo · The reason is a background state, so the imperfetto; sono venuta shows the subject is io: avevo.
- 39
Volevo uscire con gli amici, ma studiare per l’esame.(dovere)
I wanted to go out with my friends, but I had to study for the exam.
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dovevo · Modal verbs describing a past situation usually take the imperfetto; volevo shows the subject is io: dovevo.
- 40
Mio nonno la pipa e raccontava sempre barzellette.(fumare)
My grandfather smoked a pipe and was always telling jokes.
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fumava · Describing someone’s habits in the past takes the imperfetto: fuma- + -va.
- 41
Per il suo lavoro mia zia libri dall’inglese all’italiano.(tradurre)
For her job my aunt translated books from English into Italian.
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traduceva · Like fare and dire, tradurre uses a longer stem, traduc-, in the imperfetto: traduceva.
- 42
Che tempo quando siete partiti da Milano?(fare)
What was the weather like when you left Milan?
Show answer
faceva · Weather expressions with fare take the imperfetto in past descriptions: faceva.
- 43
Mentre voi in piscina, noi abbiamo fatto la spesa.(nuotare)
While you were swimming in the pool, we did the shopping.
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nuotavate · Mentre introduces an action in progress, so the imperfetto: nuota- + -vate for voi.
- 44
A quell’epoca io non ancora nessuno in città.(conoscere)
At that time I didn’t know anybody in town yet.
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conoscevo · Conoscere describes a state, so in the past it normally takes the imperfetto: conoscevo.
- 45
Alla festa di ieri Marco una camicia bianca e un cappello strano.(avere)
At yesterday’s party Marco had on a white shirt and a strange hat.
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aveva · What someone was wearing is a description, so it takes the imperfetto even for a specific day: aveva.
15 questions.
Set 4 · Mixed review
- 46
Scusa, non che eri allergico ai gatti!(sapere)
Sorry, I didn’t know you were allergic to cats!
Show answer
sapevo · Sapere for something you knew (or didn’t) is a state and takes the imperfetto: sape- + -vo.
- 47
Quando abitavo a Napoli, la pizza fritta ogni sabato sera.(mangiare)
When I lived in Naples, I ate fried pizza every Saturday night.
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mangiavo · Abitavo shows the subject is io, and ogni sabato signals a habit: mangiavo.
- 48
Da bambina Elena sempre il mal di gola in inverno.(avere)
As a little girl Elena always had a sore throat in winter.
Show answer
aveva · A repeated situation in childhood takes the imperfetto: aveva.
- 49
Ieri, mentre al lavoro in macchina, ho visto un incidente.(andare)
Yesterday, while I was driving to work, I saw an accident.
Show answer
andavo · Ho visto shows the subject is io; the action in progress takes the imperfetto: andavo.
- 50
Quando eravamo in vacanza in Toscana, sempre bel tempo.(fare)
When we were on holiday in Tuscany, the weather was always lovely.
Show answer
faceva · Weather in the background takes the imperfetto, and fare uses the stem fac-: faceva.
- 51
Il mio primo appartamento piccolo, ma aveva una terrazza meravigliosa.(essere)
My first flat was small, but it had a wonderful terrace.
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era · Describing a place in the past takes the imperfetto: era.
- 52
Da ragazzi tu e Marco sempre in giro in motorino.(andare)
As teenagers you and Marco were always riding around on a scooter.
Show answer
andavate · Tu e Marco means voi, and the habit takes the imperfetto: andavate.
- 53
Che lavoro i tuoi nonni da giovani?(fare)
What did your grandparents do for a living when they were young?
Show answer
facevano · A long-lasting situation takes the imperfetto; the subject is i tuoi nonni, so facevano.
- 54
Mentre il medico mi , mi faceva un sacco di domande.(visitare)
While the doctor was examining me, he kept asking me lots of questions.
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visitava · Two actions in progress at the same time both take the imperfetto: visitava and faceva.
- 55
Al liceo io e i miei compagni ogni sabato sera.(uscire)
At secondary school my classmates and I went out every Saturday night.
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uscivamo · Io e i miei compagni means noi; uscire is regular in the imperfetto: usci- + -vamo.
- 56
Quando ci siamo conosciuti, lui a Firenze e io a Pisa.(vivere)
When we met, he lived in Florence and I lived in Pisa.
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viveva · Where someone lived is a background situation for the meeting, so the imperfetto: viveva.
- 57
Da giovane la signora Neri il pianoforte molto bene.(suonare)
When she was young Mrs Neri played the piano very well.
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suonava · An ability or habit in the past takes the imperfetto: suona- + -va.
- 58
Ogni mattina, prima della scuola, mia madre mi i capelli.(pettinare)
Every morning before school, my mother used to comb my hair.
Show answer
pettinava · Ogni mattina signals a repeated habit: pettina- + -va for lei.
- 59
Quando eri adolescente, molto tempo al telefono?(passare)
When you were a teenager, did you spend a lot of time on the phone?
Show answer
passavi · Eri shows the subject is tu, and a teenage habit takes the imperfetto: passavi.
- 60
Nella vecchia scuola gli studenti la divisa e non potevano usare il telefono.(indossare)
At the old school the pupils wore a uniform and weren’t allowed to use their phones.
Show answer
indossavano · A past rule or routine takes the imperfetto: indossa- + -vano for loro.
15 questions.
Random 10
10 questions drawn at random from all 60. Repeat as often as you like: every round is different.
Learn it in the free course
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