Fortunately for learners, Italian and English are two very close languages with very similar verb usage. become (become) and have (have).
In most cases, the intuitive use of these two verbs is probably correct, but if you want to improve your knowledge of Italian, it is worth pointing out some important differences.
In order to address this topic clearly, I will divide this explanation into six parts and several shorter paragraphs.
part 1.Differences in the usage of “Essere” and “Avere” in everyday sentences
1.1 You can use verbs when introducing yourself in Italian become State your name, occupation and nationality:
- I’m Robert = I’m Roberto
- i am a math teacher = i am a math teacher
- i am swiss = i am swiss
But when it comes to your age (if you really have to) remember to use have:
- I am 45 years old = I am 45 years old
This literally corresponds to English: I have 45 years.
Later, it may be appropriate to ask ‘Are you OK?‘ in Italian Treated as a real question, not just a form of greeting.In this case, remember to translate the verb become and stare (stay):
- Are you OK? = Are you OK?
- I am fine, thank you = I am fine, thank you
1.2 You can of course express your emotions and feelings with verbs become:
- i am very happy = i am very happy
- i am sad = i am sad
However, there is a different way to express some important physical needs, which requires the verb have:
- I’m hungry = I’m hungry
- decided = IM thirsty
- I am sleepy = I’m sleepy
1.3 When things aren’t clear or don’t seem like the right thing to do, you can say:
- It doesn’t make any sense! = It doesn’t make sense!
In this case you cannot translate make and fare. This is interesting because usually the opposite is true, such as take a bath (go take a shower), going for breakfast (going for breakfast), fwalk (walk), etc.
1.4 have a wish This is a common formula for expressing a desire to do or experience something. The intensity of this desire depends on the circumstances in which it is expressed.
- i want to go out for a walk = I want to (go) for a walk
- i don’t want to work today = i don’t want to work today
- Do you want ice cream? = Do you want/like ice cream?
part 2. “Have it” and “Be there”
have it and over there is two’pronoun verb‘. A verb called ‘pronoun‘ changes its meaning when one or more pronouns are added to its original form.
in this case:
- there+ there+ of = have it
- there+ = over there
new meaning:
- have it (with someone) = to be angry/angry (with/to someone)
- over there = get there
example:
- Mark is angry with Paul because he didn’t invite him to the party = Mark is angry with Paul because he didn’t invite him to the party
- I don’t know if there is any milk in the refrigerator = I don’t know if there is any milk in the refrigerator
PART 3. “To be” and “To have” in compound tenses
3.1 A compound tense is a verb construction that uses more than one word to express a meaning, while a simple tense requires only one. This happens in both Italian and English, but with one important difference. In English, an auxiliary verb – the first word of a compound tense – is always a verb ‘have‘, while in Italian it can be have or become.
There’s actually more to say about compound tenses in the progressive form, but we’ll see in the next paragraph.
An example of simple tense is simple present in italy and present tense in English:
- Elisa reads = Elisa reads
- let’s go = let’s go
Examples of compound tenses are present perfect tense and present perfect tense :
- Eliza read = Eliza read
- we walked = we walked
Due to the similarity of these tenses in the two languages, the following examples in this paragraph will start with present perfect tense with preferred translation present perfect tense. However, in real life, Past Tense Might be the most suitable option.
So how do we know which auxiliary verb to use in Italian?Here is one possible approach: we assume have (have) is the default auxiliary verb, but we need to change it to become (become) in some special cases.
we must use the verb become In the following cases:
compound tenses of verbs become itself:
- I already = I already
- we used to = We’re already
Compound tenses of verbs that describe change or transformation:
- grow up → I grew up = I grew up
- become→ i have become = i have become
- change → I have changed = i changed
- lose weight→ i lost weight = i lost weight
- getting fatter → i got fat = i gained weight
Compound tenses of verbs that indicate “directed” movement but do not describe how the movement occurs:
we use become and:
- go → i went = I am leaving
- Exit → I’m going out = i go out/exit
- arrive → I have arrived = I have arrived
- come back→ I’m back = I’m back
but we use have and:
- walk→ I walked = I have gone for a walk
- dancing → I dance = i danced
- run → i ran away = i ran away
Compound tenses indicating where you are:
- gaze→ I already = i stayed
- stay→ I stayed = I stay
Compound tenses of reflexive verbs:
- wake up→ I woke up = I woke up
- remember→ I remember = I remember
- Introduce yourself→ I introduce myself = i have introduced myself
3.2 The progressive tense is a specific type of compound tense that describes ongoing actions in the past, present, and future. It sounds complicated, but just look at the English/Italian example below and try to notice what’s going on in the translation:
Past: I am eating = I am eating
exhibit: i am eating = I am eating
future: I want to eat = i will eat
Well, except for the English suffix -ing become -Ando Italian (in other cases – Endo), most notably become no translation here becomebut with stare / stay.
This has happened before, do you remember when? If you don’t, you should read this article again!
PART 4. ‘Essere’ and ‘Avere’ as auxiliary verbs for modal verbs
modal verb A verb is a specific verb that can have an autonomous meaning or be associated with another verb to “regulate” its meaning. when they are independent, think (want to), responsibility (must/have to), candy (can/could) sometimes Know (know/know how) always have have as their auxiliary verbs:
- Marco wants ice cream instead of cake = Marco wants ice cream, not cake
But when they refer to other verbs, it is best to use auxiliary verbs of the verb whose meaning they modulate.In the example below, you can see that two different auxiliary verbs are used because of the following verb responsibility.
- i have to go to the office early = i have to go to the office early
- they have to decide = they have to decide
PART 5. Impersonal Form
The impersonal form is used to express general behavior and can be constructed in different ways.Most of the time, they need become Except for verbs used to talk about the weather (see paragraph 5.4).
5.1 become + adjective/adverb:
- Can classes be rescheduled? = Can classes be rescheduled?
- You need to download the app = It is necessary to download the application
- just repeat = just repeat
5.2 verbs that form the so-calledsubjective proposition‘ in Italian:
- it happened many years ago = it happened many years ago
- everyone finds it unusual = everyone finds it unusual
- It is recommended to eat more vegetables = It is recommended to eat more vegetables
5.3 frequent impersonal structures’is + verb‘ Still need help become Compound tense:
- let’s have lunch together → yes it was eaten
- you visit siena → we visited siena
- a lot has been said → a lot has been said
5.4 when you want to use weather verbalthough you can use become As an auxiliary verb in most cases, it is better to switch to have When you want to emphasize the duration of an action.
- It rained a little this morning = It rained a little this morning
- It rained for two hours yesterday = It rained for two hours yesterday
PART 6. Passive form
In Italian, passive forms are never built on verbs havebut on the verb becomealso used with verbs in some cases Come (unless Come used as simple tense):
- The carrot was eaten by the rabbit = The carrot was eaten by the rabbit
- meeting postponed = meeting postponed
Are you more comfortable with the difference between have and become In Italian? Let us know in the comments below!
Author Nico Curini, a certified Italian teacher since 2016 and working online since 2019. website: ditelab.blogspot.com | Social Media: instagram – Facebook – Twitter
