IT→EN: passato prossimo vs imperfetto

English translations often turn both Italian past tenses into a simple past tense. But for learners, the difference is useful: event vs background.

In short: passato prossimo vs imperfetto in lyrics is about whether the line describes a completed moment or an ongoing scene.

A fast rule for lyrics

• Passato prossimo: a completed action / a moment
• Imperfetto: a habit / an ongoing scene / “used to” vibes
• Cue words: sempre, spesso, mentre (background) vs ieri, una volta, all’improvviso (event)

Quick test

• Is the line a finished moment? → passato prossimo.
• Is it describing a scene or habit? → imperfetto.
• Use cue words as hints, not absolute rules.

When you align the Italian line to English, treat the English as meaning-check, but keep the Italian tense as the learning target.

Try a chorus in 10alect and compare two lines that use different past tenses. For a full routine, use the 20‑minute method.

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