Potevo vs Ho potuto: What’s the Difference?
If you’re learning Italian, chances are you’ve already come across the modal verbs potere, volere, and dovere. At first, they seem pretty straightforward—but things get a little more nuanced when you start using them in the past tense. One of the most...
“Ho voluto” vs. “Volevo”: What’s the Difference?
“Ho voluto” or “Volevo”? (I wanted) Some Italian verbs change meaning depending on whether they’re used in the passato prossimo or the imperfetto. These verbs include: dovere, volere, potere, and conoscere. In this article, we’ll focus on just...
Ho dovuto vs. Dovevo: What’s the Difference?
“Ho dovuto” or “Dovevo”? Some Italian verbs change meaning depending on the tense you use: passato prossimo or imperfetto. These verbs include: dovere, volere, potere, and conoscere. In this article, let’s look at just one: dovere. Dovere...
Italian Passato Remoto
What is the Passato Remoto? The passato remoto (literally “remote past”) is a past tense in Italian used to describe actions that happened a long time ago and are completely over. Think: fairy tales, history books, legends, and stories about your great-grandparents....About
Ciao! I'm Serena, and I'm the creator of Smart Italian Learning. I am the head teacher of a small language school. We offer online, in-person and video courses for Italian learners, with a focus on adult English native speakers. Our courses are based on our passion for teaching and our experience as long-term adult language learners. You can meet us online, or in person in Rome.