Learning Italian? Then mastering the verb “essere” (to be) is absolutely essential. It’s one of the most common and powerful verbs in the Italian language, used in everyday conversations, descriptions, emotions, and even in forming compound tenses like the passato prossimo (present perfect).
In this guide, you’ll find clear and complete conjugation tables for “essere” across all major Italian tenses, from present to future, from imperfect to subjunctive, each with English translations to help you learn faster and more confidently.
Whether you’re a beginner or brushing up your grammar, this resource is your go-to reference for understanding and using “essere” correctly in any context.
Let’s dive in! 🇮🇹✨
Infinite (Infinito)
Italiano
Inglese
Essere
to be
Presente (Present tense)
Italiano
Inglese
Io sono
I am
Tu sei
You are
Lui/Lei è
He/She is
Noi siamo
We are
Voi siete
You are (plural)
Loro sono
They are
Passato prossimo (Present perfect)
Italiano
Inglese
Io sono stato/a
I have been
Tu sei stato/a
You have been
Lui/Lei è stato/a
He/She has been
Noi siamo stati/e
We have been
Voi siete stati/e
You have been (pl.)
Loro sono stati/e
They have been
Imperfetto (Imperfect tense)
Italiano
Inglese
Io ero
I was
Tu eri
You were
Lui/Lei era
He/She was
Noi eravamo
We were
Voi eravate
You were (plural)
Loro erano
They were
Futuro semplice (Future tense)
Italiano
Inglese
Io sarò
I will be
Tu sarai
You will be
Lui/Lei sarà
He/She will be
Noi saremo
We will be
Voi sarete
You will be
Loro saranno
They will be
Condizionale presente (Present conditional)
Italiano
Inglese
Io sarei
I would be
Tu saresti
You would be
Lui/Lei sarebbe
He/She would be
Noi saremmo
We would be
Voi sareste
You would be
Loro sarebbero
They would be
Congiuntivo presente (Present subjunctive)
Italiano
Inglese
Che io sia
That I be
Che tu sia
That you be
Che lui/lei sia
That he/she be
Che noi siamo
That we be
Che voi siate
That you be (plural)
Che loro siano
That they be
Congiuntivo imperfetto (Imperfect subjunctive)
Italiano
Inglese
Che io fossi
That I were
Che tu fossi
That you were
Che lui/lei fosse
That he/she were
Che noi fossimo
That we were
Che voi foste
That you were (plural)
Che loro fossero
That they were
Trapassato prossimo (Past perfect)
Italiano
Inglese
Io ero stato/a
I had been
Tu eri stato/a
You had been
Lui/lei era stato/a
He/She had been
Noi eravamo stati/e
We had been
Voi eravate stati/e
You had been (plural)
Loro erano stati/e
They had been
Futuro anteriore (Future perfect)
Italiano
Inglese
Io sarò stato/a
I will have been
Tu sarai stato/a
You will have been
Lui/lei sarà stato/a
He/She will have been
Noi saremo stati/e
We will have been
Voi sarete stati/e
You will have been (pl.)
Loro saranno stati/e
They will have been
Passato remoto (Remote past)
Italiano
Inglese
Io fui
I was (remote)
Tu fosti
You were
Lui/Lei fu
He/She was
Noi fummo
We were
Voi foste
You were
Loro furono
They were
Trapassato remoto (Preterite past perfect)
Italiano
Inglese
Io fui stato/a
I had been (remote)
Tu fosti stato/a
You had been
Lui/Lei fu stato/a
He/She had been
Noi fummo stati/e
We had been
Voi foste stati/e
You had been
Loro furono stati/e
They had been
Imperativo (Imperative)
Italiano
Inglese
(Tu) sii!
Be! (you)
(Noi) siamo!
Let’s be!
(Voi) siate!
Be! (you all)
Gerundio (Gerund)
Tempo
Forma
Inglese
Gerundio presente
essendo
being
Gerundio passato
essendo stato/a
having been (gendered)
💡 “ESSERE is one of the most important verbs in Italian – learn it by heart!” 📌 Tip: ‘è’ (he/she is) has an accent — don’t forget it!
