How to say “to spend time”: Italian grammar lesson 114

Learn how to say to spend time in Italian with this inspiring grammar lesson.

Discover versatile verbs and idiomatic expressions that will help you make the most of your time in Italy.

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Summary

The article explores the use of the Italian verb passare, focusing on its conjugations, different meanings, and common expressions. The verb's most common usage is to express the idea of "passing" or "going through" something, such as time or a place. The article provides an overview of the verb's conjugations in different tenses and moods, including the imperative and the conditional.

The article then delves into the specific usage of passare il tempo, or to spend time, offering examples and context for this common expression. The author explains how to use passare in combination with different prepositions to convey different meanings, such as passare da to mean to stop by or passare a prendere to mean to pick up.

Finally, the article covers some of the other meanings and usages of passare in Italian, including as a reflexive verb and in idiomatic expressions like passare la mano, to give up, or passare di moda to go out of fashion.

Overall, the article provides a comprehensive look at the versatile verb passare in Italian, including its conjugations, expressions, and various meanings.

What is passare in Italian?

In this lesson, we will have a look at the verb passare, which can often be translated with the English to pass.

Passare is a very common verb in the Italian language, and it can be used in a variety of contexts and with many different meanings.

One of the uses of the verb passare  is to express the passing of time:

Passare il tempo.

To spend time.

First of all let’s have a look at how to conjugate passare  which is has regular conjugation.

How to conjugate passare?

Presente

io passo
tu passi
lui / lei passa
noi passiamo
voi passate
loro passano

Futuro semplice

io passerò
tu passerai
lui / lei passerà
noi passeremo
voi passerete
loro passeranno

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Passato prossimo

io ho passato
tu hai passato
lui / lei ha passato
noi abbiamo passato
voi avete passato
loro hanno passato

Imperfetto

io passavo
tu passavi
lui / lei passava
noi passavamo
voi passavate
loro passavano

What does passare il tempo mean?

Now that you know how to conjugate the verb passare , let’s see how to use it to talk about time in Italian.

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As we’ve already seen above, in Italian, we use the expression passare il tempo to say to pass or spend time.

Let’s have a look at some examples:

Mi piace passare il tempo con i miei nonni.

I love spending time with my grandparents.

Passi più tempo con Franco che con me!

You spend more time with Franco than you do with me!

Vi piacerebbe passare più tempo insieme?

Would you like to spend more time together?

Sometimes, we can also change the direct object from the word tempo to any other word that indicates a period of time. Have a look at the sentences below:

Vorrei passare il Natale con i miei genitori quest’anno.

I would like to spend Christmas with my parents this year.

Giacomo vorrebbe passare il fine settimana in montagna.

Giacomo would like to spend the weekend in the mountains.

What other meanings passare has?

The verb passare in Italian can also be used in other ways, and not just to talk about time.

If we use it in a transitive way (with a direct object) the verb passare almost always means to pass.

Here we have some examples:

Hai passato l’esame?

Did you pass the exam?

Passami l’olio d’oliva per favore.

Pass me the olive oil please.

Il parlamento ha passato una nuova legge.

The Parliament passed a new law.

If you use the same verb in an intransitive mode (without a direct object) it can mean many different things such as passor go through, to pass by, to travel through, etc.

Take a look at the following examples:

Il Tevere passa per Roma.

The Tevere river passes through Rome.

Sono passata a salutare Lucia stamattina.

I passed by Lucia’s to say “hi” this morning.

Se vai in Croazia puoi passare da Trieste, è bellissima!

If you go to Croatia, you can go through Trieste; it is very nice.

Siamo passati per la Francia per arrivare in Spagna.

We traveled through France to get to Spain.

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FAQs on How to say “to spend time”: Italian grammar lesson 114

What is "passare"?

Is a very common verb that is used in a variety of contexts and with many different meanings. One of the uses is to express the passing of time.

What other meanings "passare"?

When used in a transitive way it always means to pass but when is used in an intransitive way it can mean pass, go through, pass by, or travel through.

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