With essere the participle agrees
In the perfect with essere, the participle agrees with the subject in gender and number. It behaves like an adjective ending in -o. In English the participle never changes: he has gone, she has gone.
andare (to go): andato
| Number | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | andato | andata |
| Plural | andati | andate |
Marco è andato a scuola.
Marco went to school.
Maria è andata a scuola.
Maria went to school.
I ragazzi sono andati a scuola.
The boys went to school.
Le ragazze sono andate a scuola.
The girls went to school.
With avere the participle does not agree with the subject: Maria ha mangiato, le ragazze hanno mangiato.
Also with io, tu and noi
Agreement also applies to I, you and we: the participle matches the person it refers to.
Ieri sera sono tornata tardi.
Yesterday evening I got back late. (a woman speaking)
A che ora sei partito?
What time did you leave? (to a man)
Io e Giulia siamo nate a Roma.
Giulia and I were born in Rome. (two women)
Mixed groups
For men and women together the masculine plural -i is used, even if there is only one man. Only an all-female group takes -e.
Marco e Maria sono andati via.
Marco and Maria left.
I miei genitori sono partiti ieri.
My parents left yesterday.
Maria e Giulia sono andate via.
Maria and Giulia left.
