The helping verb essere
In the passato prossimo, most verbs use avere as the helping verb. However, a specific group of verbs uses essere (to be) instead. These are usually verbs that describe motion (going, arriving, leaving) or a state of being (staying, becoming, happening).
Matching the subject
When you use essere as the helping verb, there is a crucial rule you must follow: the past participle must agree with the subject in gender and number.
Just like an adjective, the ending of the past participle changes depending on who or what the subject is:
- -o for masculine singular (lui è andato)
- -a for feminine singular (lei è andata)
- -i for masculine plural (loro sono andati)
- -e for feminine plural (loro sono andate)
Notice how the ending of andare (to go) changes depending on whether Marco or Anna is doing the action:
If the subject is plural, the participle ending becomes plural. If a group is mixed male and female, you default to the masculine plural -i.
Verbs of motion
Many of the most common verbs that take essere involve moving from one place to another. Along with andare and tornare (to return), this includes arrivare (to arrive), entrare (to enter), partire (to leave), and scappare (to escape).
States and changes of state
Verbs that describe staying in one place, or a change in condition, also take essere. Important verbs in this category include restare (to stay), diventare (to become), cadere (to fall), and succedere (to happen).
Bringing it together
Remember to always check both the helping verb and the ending of the past participle.