italiano · A2 · verb · 4 minutes

Regular -are verbs in the passato prossimo

Turn a completed -are action into avere plus an -ato participle.

Understand the choice

Parlato is the model for lavorato, comprato, studiato, and ascoltato. The auxiliary carries the person; the regular participle remains stable in a basic avere construction.

Core rule: Regular -are verbs form the past participle by replacing -are with -ato and normally use avere.

Notice it in context

Ho parlato con la direttrice dopo la riunione.

I spoke with the director after the meeting.

Ho is first-person auxiliary; parlato is participle; con names the conversation partner.

Marta ha lavorato tutto il giorno.

Marta worked all day.

Ha agrees with Marta; lavorato follows the -ato pattern.

Avete studiato per l’esame?

Did you study for the exam?

Avete carries voi; studiato comes from studiare.

What to remember

  • Verbs ending -care/-gare keep h in the participle: cercato, pagato do not need h before a.
  • Avere participles can agree with a preceding direct pronoun at higher levels.

Common trap: Do not leave the infinitive after avere: ho parlato, not ho parlare.

Practice this lesson with recall