Italian - Time adverbs with the past tense (già, mai, ancora)

To add detail to past experiences, use short adverbs of time and frequency like "already," "never," or "always."

In the passato prossimo, place these adverbs between the helping verb (avere or essere) and the past participle.

Use già to say something has "already" happened:

Have you already met the writer?

To say you haven't done something "yet", place non before the helping verb and ancora in the middle.

I have not yet met the new writer.

They have not yet tasted the dessert.

Mai means "ever" in a question.

Have you ever tried this cake?

To say "never", use a double negative: place non before the helping verb and mai in the middle.

Have you never visited this museum?

I have never missed a flight.

Adverbs like sempre (always) and spesso (often) follow the same rule.

We have always eaten well here.

Marco has often missed the train.

This word order applies to all past tense verbs, including those that take essere.

Have we already arrived at the castle?

I have never been to Rome.

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