Present Tense of Irregular Verbs

In this guide, you will learn how to conjugate common irregular verbs in the present tense. Irregular verbs do not follow the regular conjugation patterns, so it's important to memorize their conjugations. We will focus on three common irregular verbs: essere (to be), avere (to have), and fare (to do/make). Let's dive in!

Conjugating "essere" (to be)

The verb essere is used to express feelings, the state of being, and identification. Here is how you conjugate it in the present tense:

• io sono (I am)
• tu sei (you are - singular informal)
• lui/lei è (he/she is)
• noi siamo (we are)
• voi siete (you are - plural/formal)
• loro sono (they are)

Remember to match the verb form with the subject of the sentence. For example:

• Io sono italiano. (I am Italian.)
• Tu sei molto intelligente. (You are very intelligent.)
• Lei è una brava cantante. (She is a talented singer.)

Conjugating "avere" (to have)

The verb avere is used to express possession or to indicate the existence of something. Here is how you conjugate it in the present tense:

• io ho (I have)
• tu hai (you have - singular informal)
• lui/lei ha (he/she has)
• noi abbiamo (we have)
• voi avete (you have - plural/formal)
• loro hanno (they have)

Let's see some examples:

• Io ho un cane. (I have a dog.)
• Tu hai fame? (Are you hungry?)
• Lei ha molti amici. (She has many friends.)

Conjugating "fare" (to do/make)

The verb fare is used to express actions or activities. Here is how you conjugate it in the present tense:

• io faccio (I do/make)
• tu fai (you do/make - singular informal)
• lui/lei fa (he/she does/makes)
• noi facciamo (we do/make)
• voi fate (you do/make - plural/formal)
• loro fanno (they do/make)

Take a look at these examples:

• Faccio sempre la spesa il venerdì. (I always do the grocery shopping on Fridays.)
• Fai molti esercizi ogni giorno. (You do a lot of exercises every day.)
• Fanno una torta deliziosa. (They make a delicious cake.)

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Conjugating irregular verbs takes practice, so make sure to review and practice these conjugations often. Try creating your own examples and using them in sentences to solidify your understanding.

Remember, these are just a few of the many irregular verbs in Italian. As you continue with your language learning journey, you will encounter more irregular verbs with different conjugation patterns. Keep learning and don't be afraid to make mistakes!

That's it for the present tense of irregular verbs. Happy conjugating!