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This focuses on more complicated verb conjugations. It is basically a reference to other simple tenses and how to build composed (analytical) tenses. The Perfect Tense This tense is used in stories to narrate past occurrences but in Romana can also be used in speech, as in English. It is a simple tense. Endings: These are added to the perfect stem of verbs. For -are verbs, the perfect stem is the normal stem (e.g. "ambl-") plus "a". So, the perfect stem for "amblare" is "ambla-". You then add the endings to the stem for whatever tense you are using. The perfect stem is only for the simple perfect tenses (perfect and pluperfect). NOTE: "Dare" and "stare" are two -ARE verbs that have irregular perfect stems. The accent is on the last syllable of the perfect stem. To see irregular verbs (past participles and perfect stems), go to the Irregular Verbs section of this site. Sample conjugation "amblare" (to walk): Conjugation of "essere" in perfect tense: The Pluperfect Tense This is used when speaking of something that happened long in the past, an action that occurred before another past action. In Romana, this tense is also simple but can also be composed as you'll see later on. The simple tense for the pluperfect is used only in written works. Endings (perfect stem + ...): Sample conjugation "parlare" (to speak): Conjugation of "essere" in pluperfect tense is almost regular: Building Composed Tenses To build a composed tense, you use an auxiliary verb plus a participle or infinitive. Perfect: Present "avere" plus past participle. Note that with 'avere' the past participle must always agree with the direct object if the direct object precedes the verb 'avere'. For example "L'istoria che io avo narata no ave ocurso in realitate." Here's how to form the past participle of any verb:
Note that the past participle can also be an adjective. It is declined like any other adjective to agree with whatever it must agree. The past participle of "essere" is "fosto". All past participles are listed in the word lists. Sample phrase: "Avevam dato una casa al meo fratre." = "I had given my brother a house." Imperative The imperative is used to order people around. It's very simple to form. Just take the infinitive, remove the -re, leave it like that for one person or add -te if you're ordering more than one person or you're being polite. Sample phrase: "Mangia, esti solo piele ed ossi!" = "Eat, you're skin and bones!" Practice Conjugate these verbs in imperative, simple perfect and simple pluperfect.
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