Italian Present Perfect Tense - Il Passato Prossimo

The indicative passato prossimo—called the present perfect in English—is one of the most widely used tenses in the Italian language. It expresses actions that, whether in the very immediate past or a past slightly more removed, happened before the moment of narration and have a defined chronological arc, now concluded. Sometimes the actions described in the passato prossimo reflect or linger somehow onto the present: you passed a test today, for example, or you saw a friend, or you ate a beautiful meal last night. However the duration of the event is perfect, enclosed in a parenthesis and finished, unlike the chronological arc of the imperfetto, or imperfect tense, which, aptly named, describes routine, repetition, and actions that have a fuzzier—imperfect—duration. A Compound Tense: How to Form the Passato Prossimo The passato prossimo is likely the first Italian compound tense (tempo composto) you are studying. Being a compound means that the verb is expressed and conjugated with a combination of two elements: an auxiliary verb, essere or avere—conjugated, in this case, in the present tense—and the past participle of the main verb, or the participio passato. Since we need to have them handy, lets review the present tense of essere and avere: Avere Essere io ho sono tu hai sei lui/lei/Lei ha à ¨ noi abbiamo siamo voi avete siete loro/Loro hanno sono Participio Passato: What Is It? Participi passati are very important. The participio (there is also a participio presente) is one of the so-called undefined modes of a verb, together with the infinitive and the gerund. You need the participio passato for all compound tenses of verbs, the passive voice, many adverbial subclauses, and for constructions in which the past participle is used as an adjective. The regular participio passato of a verb is formed by removing the -are, -ere, and -ire endings of the infinitives and adding, respectively, the suffixes -ato, -uto, and -ito to the root of the verb. For example, the past participle of mangiare is mangiato; of bere, bevuto; of sentire, sentito. However, the irregulars among participi are many, especially with second-conjugation verbs: scrivere, scritto; vedere, visto. It is helpful to look them up in a dictionary and try to commit them to memory as you go along. What Does the Passato Prossimo Look Like? Here are a few examples: Ti ho scritto una lettera ieri. I wrote you a letter yesterday.Questa settimana ho visto Carlo quattro volte. This week I saw Carlo four times.Ieri abbiamo mangiato da Lucia. Yesterday we ate at Lucias.Avete studiato ieri? Did you study yesterday?Mi sono iscritto alluniversità   quattro anni fa e ho finito questanno. I enrolled in university four years ago and I finished this year.Questa mattina sono uscita presto. This morning I left early.Sono arrivati i cugini di Francesco. Francescos cousins have arrived.Ci siamo vestiti prima di andare alla festa. We got dressed before going to the party. As you see in the sentences above, you couple the present tense of essere or avere with your past participle: ho scritto; ho visto; abbiamo mangiato; avete studiato. Essere or Avere? Which verbs get essere and which avere? Often you hear that transitive verbs get avere and intransitive verbs get essere. This is partially but not entirely true: Most transitive verbs with a direct object do get avere, but some intransitive verbs also get avere. And some verbs can get either, for different uses. Reflexive and reciprocal verbs and verbs of movement or condition of being (to be born and to die) get essere, but some verbs in some of those groups can also get both. A nice way of thinking of it is this: if only the object is affected by the action, then it gets avere. For example, I ate a sandwich, or I saw the dog. If the subject is also subjected or somehow affected by the action, it gets essere (or it may get either). For example, I got lost; I enrolled in university; I lived in Paris: all those take essere. When in doubt, look it up in a good Italian dictionary. Past Participle Agreement As you can see in the last four sentences above, with verbs of movement, reflexive and reciprocal verbs, and any other intransitive verb that gets essere, because the action returns onto the subject (which in the case of reflexive verbs is the same as the object) or otherwise affects the subject, the past participle MUST agree in number and gender. For example, you want to say that last summer you went to Rome. Your verb is andare, your past participle andato; since andare is a verb of movement that uses essere as its auxiliary, your conjugated passato prossimo is sono andato. Note, however, the changes in the past participle depending on the number and gender of the subject: Marco à ¨ andato a Roma (masculine singular).Lucia à ¨ andata a Roma (feminine singular).Marco e Lucia sono andati a Roma (plural masculine because masculine trumps in a mixed plural).Lucia e Francesca sono andate a Roma (plural feminine). If you’re using avere as the auxiliary, it’s much simpler: the past participle does not have to agree in number and gender (that is, unless you’re using direct object pronouns). Verb Mode Matters Lets practice with the verb guardare (to watch/look at), which, like many other verbs, can be used in transitive, intransitive, reflexive, and reciprocal modes. The participio passato is guardato. In plain transitive mode—today we watched a movie, for example—it uses avere: Oggi abbiamo guardato un film. The past participle is unaltered. In intransitive, reflexive and reciprocal forms, the same verb guardare uses essere. Note the changes in the past participle: Le bambine si sono guardate nello specchio (reflexive). The little girls looked at themselves in the mirror.Lucia e Marco si sono guardati e sono scoppiati a ridere (reciprocal). Lucia and Marco looked at each other and cracked up laughing.Mi sono guardata bene dal dirglielo (pronominal intransitive). I carefully guarded against telling him. Passato Prossimo Versus Imperfetto When you are talking about the recent past, for learners of Italian it can be challenging to correctly decide between using the passato prossimo or the imperfetto. But remember this: The passato prossimo is the expression of an action in the past (most often conversational and recent) whose arc is specific and finished. In fact, the passato prossimo is often preceded by specific expressions of time: ieri, questa settimana, il mese scorso, lanno scorso, ieri sera, questa mattina, sabato scorso. Or a specific date in recent times: Mi sono sposata nel 1995. I got married in 1995. The imperfetto, on the other hand, is often preceded by such expressions as destate, in inverno, quando ero piccola, quando eravamo al liceo (in summer, in winter, when I was little, or when we were in high school). These set the stage for actions whose unfolding was inexact and imperfect, routine or repeated over time (when I was little John and I always went swimming in summer). Or—and this is the other very important use of the imperfetto—to set the background for another action in the passato prossimo: Mangiavo quando à ¨ venuto il postino. I was eating when the mailman came.Stavo andando a scuola quando sono caduta. I was walking to school when I fell.Leggeva e si à ¨ addormentata. She was reading when she fell asleep. Passato Prossimo Versus Passato Remoto Interestingly, in contemporary Italian, the passato prossimo is increasingly favored over the passato remoto, even for the expression of actions in the remote past. For example, Giuseppe Mazzini was born in 1805: Traditionally one would have said, Giuseppe Mazzini nacque nel 1805. Now more commonly a school student will say, Giuseppe Mazzini à ¨ nato nel 1805, as if it happened last week. Conversely and quite interestingly, the passato remoto in Southern Italy is used to describe things that happened yesterday or earlier in the day, almost in the place of the passato prossimo. Watch Inspector Montalbano, Andrea Camilleris famous Sicily-based detective series, and you will notice it. We suggest you follow the more traditional route and use the passato remoto for things that took place a while ago. Buon lavoro!

Qualities of an Archetypal Hero Essay - 569 Words

Heroes are seen all around us, in life, literature, and movies. Heroes like Superman, Captain America, and Thor are common, but have you ever thought of Luke Skywalker as an archetypal hero? Luke Skywalker is an aspiring young Jedi Knight, who is called to the quest of defeating the empire in the movie Star Wars IV: A New Hope, written and directed by George Lucas. Luke Skywalker demonstrates certain characteristics before, during, and after his quest that makes him an archetypal hero. An archetypal hero must have specific characteristics before embarking on a quest. For example many heroes, experience some sort of traumatic event during childhood. In the movie Star Wars IV: A New Hope the archetypal hero Luke Skywalker experiences the†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"Use the force Luke† is a phrase commonly said to Luke Skywalker by his mentor. This super natural force is crucial to Luke’s success and the completion of his quest. Once the world has been restored and the hero has completed and succeeded in his quest a transformation occurs along with a series of events. One archetypal hero event is an award presented to the hero for their cunning abilities and bravery. Luke Skywalker along with Han Solo receive medals of Honor to demonstrate their bravery, and skill at a ceremony fit for the greatest archetypal hero. This medal symbolizes more for Luke Skywalker as it demonstrates the change that has occurred within him. The characteristics of a hero archetype changes before and after his/her quest as they become more mature. Although Luke Skywalker dose not physically demonstrate a change, it is seen in him during the award ceremony. His facial expressions, clothing, posture, even hair style demonstrates a wiser more mature Luke Skywalker then the one seen at the beginning of the film. Before, after, and during an archetypal hero’s quest he/she must demonstrate certain characteristics much like the ones Luke Skywalker expressed. These characteristics are seen over and over again in several Medias, for example like Luke Skywalker, Spiderman’s parents are killed at birth and he goes and lives with his aunt and uncle. Another example ofShow MoreRelatedHeroes : The Green Knight And Oedipus1156 Words   |  5 Pages A hero is seen as a selfless and courageous individual who saves the day. Joseph Campbell, an American mythologist, once said â€Å"the hero is the man of self achieved submission.† A hero must also go through the twelve stages which include: call to adventure, assistance/departure, trials, approach, crisis, treasure, result, returning to their ordinary world, new life, resolution and returning to status quo. Heroes such as Beowulf, The Green Knight and Oedipus, are all seen as heroes for different reasonsRead MoreIN WHAT WAYS DOES KATN ISS EVERDEEN CHALLENGE OR CONFIRM OUR UNDERSTANDING OF A TYPICAL HERO IN THE HUNGER GAMES?1104 Words   |  5 PagesHunger Games, confirms or challenges the idea of an archetypal hero is one debated worldwide. Throughout the novel, written by Suzanne Collins, Katniss demonstrates qualities and undertakes actions which are, without a doubt, heroic. However, whether or not this makes her a hero is dependent upon who you are asking; many characters in the novel would have very different ideas as to what a hero is. Also, although Katniss may come off as a hero many times in the book, she also challenges that titleRead MoreExamples Of Archetypes In The Odyssey1291 Words   |  6 PagesThree major archetypes shown in The Odyssey include the archetypal characters the hero, the guide, and the monster. Of course, these characters are notjust found in The Odyssey; they are found throughout all literature. That is why they are considered archetypes. A strong example of the hero archetype is found in The Odyssey. The archetypal character the hero is displayed in The Odyssey. The character that fits into this role is Odysseus. A hero is one of the main characters of any story. Although eachRead MoreExamples Of Archetypes In Homers Odyssey1292 Words   |  6 PagesThree major archetypes shown in The Odyssey include the archetypal characters the hero, the guide, and the monster. Of course, these characters are not just found in The Odyssey; they are found throughout all literature. That is why they are considered archetypes. A strong example of the hero archetype is found in The Odyssey. The archetypal character the hero is displayed in The Odyssey. The character that fits into this role is Odysseus. A hero is one of the main characters of any story. AlthoughRead MoreBeowulf As An Ultimate Hero933 Words   |  4 PagesEmon Nguyen Mrs. Hunter English 12 19 September 2017 Beowulf: the archetypal (ultimate) hero Archetypal heroes are found in many literary works, and in varied forms. In literary terms, a hero (male) or heroine (female) is defined as a character that goes against adversity, has great strength, courage, bravery, and who makes unselfish sacrifices, usually for the greater good. The Collins English Dictionary defines â€Å"archetypal† as a perfect example of something. Archetypes in literature was firstRead MoreArchetypes In The Epic Of Gilgamesh926 Words   |  4 PagesGilgamesh the main character, Gilgamesh, is an example of a superheroic archetypal hero. He took on an epic quest for everlasting life by following the archetypal steps of a hero’s journey. Through suffering due to tragedy, realizing the nature of his quest, seeking help from a mentor, experiencing failure, and returning home with a companion, Gilgamesh’s story followed the situational archetype of a hero’s journey. A hero is characterized by bravery, strength, honor, and unusual circumstancesRead MoreThe Ultimate Hero s Quest1285 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ultimate Hero’s Quest The Hero’s Quest is an archetypal journey a character embarks on, representing their quest of overcoming an obstacle and becoming a hero. The Hero’s Quest follows a specific pattern of stages the hero goes through on their quest. Typically this hero goes through great physical, mental and lifestyle changes to transform from a normal person into a hero on one quest, attempting to overcome one obstacle. Beowulf is an epic poem written during the time of the Anglo-Saxons;Read More The Hero Sojourner In A Worn Path by Eudora Welty Essay883 Words   |  4 PagesThe Hero Sojourner in A Worn Path by Eudora Welty In A Worn Path by: Eudora Welty, the main character emulates the necessary nuts and bolts of the archetypal journey as its hero; answers a call to an adventure, has to go through trials of fear, and ending with the retrieval of two prizes. Eudora Weltys short story A Worn Path takes place on a bright, frozen day in December. Representing a struggle, but most of all represents determination. Her name is Phoenix Jackson. This story is about sacrificeRead MoreOdysseus - a Different Type of Hero1225 Words   |  5 PagesOdysseus Ââ€" A Different Type of Hero The Homeric epic, the Odyssey, is set in the peaceful years following the Trojan War, and concerns the returning heroes on their journeys home, in particular Odysseus of Ithaca. Odysseus is an epic hero; he displays courage, superior strength, and leadership, all qualities that people admire. While displaying these archetypal heroic traits he also displays his weaknesses as a man, particularly his excessive pride, which actually make him easy to relate to. SoRead MoreGilgamesh Essay Paper728 Words   |  3 PagesEnglish 3, 4 7 October 2012 The Quest for Immortality In the â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh† translated by N.K. Sanders, Gilgamesh completes a series of many challenges and obstacles, fulfilling the conditions of an archetypal quest story. In order to fulfill an archetypal quest story, the hero or protagonist must complete a series of hurdles, on their way toward achieving their goal. In the â€Å"Epic of Gilgamesh†, Gilgamesh hunts for his main obsession, immortality, while he battles off monsters, with the

Complex Phenomenon of Obesity Free Essays

Obesity a Complex Phenomenon When a person hears the word obesity thoughts that may come to mind are overweight, big, or unhealthy. Obesity is a growing outbreak in America that effects all ages and gender. Obesity today is becoming or has become a problem in America. We will write a custom essay sample on Complex Phenomenon of Obesity or any similar topic only for you Order Now Comparing to other countries, not one has an overweight problem near as bad as the United States. With that in mind, people’s health is a huge concern in America in which obesity has a big impact on. Obesity occurs when a person consumes more calories than what they burn. The human body needs calories to sustain life and be physically active, but to maintain weight it needs to balance the energy we eat with the energy that’s use to operate. Childhood obesity in America is a growing disease because of advertisement of fast food, lack of physical activities, and parental control. This has made fast food a major health issue in young teenagers’ lives, parents need to take charge and help out the situation. Obesity is a complex phenomenon, but â€Å"the main causes can be grouped into three main topics, poor food choice, lack of exercise, and the lack of awareness. (Obesity; study) Poor food choice is one of the main causes. People today eat more and more fast food which is high in fats, cholesterol, and contains too much carbohydrate. The body is overloaded with fats and sugar, which is converted into body fat. The second main cause is lack of exercise. A recent study shown in Diabetes week states that â€Å"kids in elementary schools spe nd an average of 22-24 hours a week watching television† (Weight Loss). Kids no longer spend their free time playing outside; instead they sit in a couch all day and watch TV or play video games. The danger in some rough neighborhoods can also add to the situation, because some parents do not feel that it is safe for their children to play outside. A third contributing factor is lack of awareness about good eating habits. Mothers give their children too much choices and too little guidance in what to eat, advertising confuses kids and leaves them debating whether a fast food product is good or bad for their health, and conflicting information about diets and healthy eating from the food industry and medical experts just makes them confused about diets. Fast-food joints have not only come to dominate the American landscape, they are also the most visible American export around the globe. Unfortunately, â€Å"fast food contains almost no nutrients and is loaded with added salt, sugar, refined flours, fat, and preservatives. †(Weight loss) The irony is that even though at the moment getting a meal from a fast food restaurant seems great, it’s not. For every dollar that is spent on fast food, and every second saved at a drive-through, over a lifetime it comes back and puts people at serious health risk. Obesity amongst children is a serious matter that goes beyond a child putting on a few pounds. It is an issue that has many health and social consequences, which often continue into adulthood. According to Su Shaoyong in his article Genetics and Obesity â€Å"obesity increases one’s risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, cancers, pulmonary disease, bone joint disorders, and early death. † (1) Obesity also often causes psychological problems. Many are judged on their appearance rather than their personality, meaning that people with obesity also suffer from discrimination and rejection by their peers. This ultimately causes poor self-image, which leads to low self-esteem. Meaning the greater the degree of obesity, greater the chance of suffering physical and psychological health problems. The good news is that there is no doubt that obesity can be prevented at an early age. Physical activity and inputting nutritional knowledge on kids are the main methods to preventing obesity. Parents and schools provide the connection to counterfeit a kid’s urge for fast-food. Adapting a healthy lifestyle at a young age is very important, since it is difficult to change later on. â€Å"The quality of food in schools, including school meals, vending machines, has a huge impact on a children’s physical health. †(Obesity; Study) Schools should be careful and take into great consideration to try to provide a healthy overall menu. Schools need to require physical education during school and provide after-school opportunities for physical activities to help regularize a more active lifestyle for a kid. Second, parents are the most important role models. â€Å"Adults have the responsibility to encourage children to become active, help them watch their diet†. (Shaoyong 1) Some parents argue that they should be able to feed their children what they want, and it’s their kids own body so it’s up to them to take care of themselves. That should not be an excuse, being obese comes with several other problems. Why would any parent want to worry about their children having any type of health risks? Adults need to fulfill their jobs as being parents towards heir children, by being able to teach and show their kids how to live a healthy lifestyle. Doing a lot of small things for example limiting the amount of times they eat out at a fast-food restaurant or buying more fruits and vegetables instead of convenience foods that have a lot of fat in it can have a big impact on their child’s health. Every day the number of obese children increases. It should be a number on e priority in many families to eat properly and exercise, their lives depend on it. Most people in the United States have changed their lifestyle completely, from one in which there was more walking, physical and outdoor activity, into a lazy lifestyle with little or no exercise. Most citizens take cars to work and do office jobs, spend their days off watching TV, and would rather much prefer fast food over an exhausting home cooked meal. America has brought this problem upon themselves, now it’s up to its citizens to take precaution about the situation and help solve it by getting educated and becoming more aware of it. Word Count: 1030 How to cite Complex Phenomenon of Obesity, Papers