Ieri, oggi e domani
Chapter Overview and Objectives
Chapter 18 brings together everything you can already say about the past, present, and future. In Chapters 16 and 17 you learned to narrate completed actions with avere and essere. Now you will practice moving between what already happened, what usually happens, and what is coming next, all in the same conversation. You will also meet the future tense for the first time, but only as a recognition target: you will learn to notice forms such as sarò, avrò, andrò, and farò when you hear or read them, while continuing to plan ahead the way you already know how — with the present tense. By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Use the present tense to talk about scheduled or planned future events.
- Review and combine the passato prossimo with avere and with essere in the same conversation.
- Recognize common future-tense forms such as sarò, avrò, andrò, and farò without producing a full future paradigm.
- Use contrastive time markers such as ieri, oggi, domani, adesso, prima, dopo, and la prossima settimana.
- Express intentions and plans with voglio, vorrei, devo, and posso plus an infinitive.
- Talk about a week that includes something you did, something you are doing, and something you plan to do.
Communication Scenario
Giulia and Marta have spent two conversations looking back — first at a quiet weekend, then at Marta's trip to Bologna. Today Marta wants to know what Giulia has planned for the coming week, and Giulia realizes she has a lot to organize.
- This chapter teaches you to contrast past, present, and future within a single conversation.
- You will practice this through Giulia and Marta's conversation about last week, this week, and next week, then apply the same tools to your own schedule.
Where This Chapter Fits
Chapter 18 completes Unit IV, Esperienze e progetti. It reviews the passato prossimo with avere from Chapter 16 and with essere from Chapter 17, and it adds present-for-future planning and future-tense recognition for the first time.
Coming Into This Chapter
You can already narrate completed actions with both avere and essere, ask follow-up questions about a trip, and sequence events with prima, poi, dopo, and alla fine.
In This Chapter
You will use the present tense to talk about what is scheduled to happen, recognize (but not produce) future-tense forms, and combine past, present, and future reference in one connected account of your week.
Looking Forward
Chapter 19, Raccontare e restare in contatto, connects sentences into longer stories and messages and introduces object pronouns as a recognition system.
Core Vocabulary
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| ieri | yesterday |
| oggi | today |
| domani | tomorrow |
| adesso | now |
| prima | before |
| dopo | after |
| la settimana scorsa | last week |
| la prossima settimana | next week |
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| il progetto | the project / plan |
| l'appuntamento | the appointment |
| la riunione | the meeting |
| l'esame | the exam |
| l'impegno | the commitment / obligation |
| il fine settimana | the weekend |
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| voglio + infinitive | I want to ... |
| vorrei + infinitive | I would like to ... |
| devo + infinitive | I have to ... |
| posso + infinitive | I can ... |
| penso di + infinitive | I'm thinking of ... |
Receptive only: future-tense forms such as sarò, avrò, andrò, and farò appear in this chapter's reading and listening materials. You are expected to recognize their meaning, not to produce a full future-tense paradigm.
Pronunciation Focus
Words like ieri, oggi, and domani often carry extra sentence stress when they contrast with each other, since the speaker is drawing attention to the difference in time: IERI ho lavorato, OGGI riposo, DOMANI parto. Practice giving each time word a clear, slightly emphasized pronunciation so the contrast is audible.
18.1 Recognizing future-tense endings by ear
Future-tense forms share a family of endings that are worth recognizing even before you produce them: -ò, -ai, -à, -emo, -ete, and -anno. Listen for the stressed final vowel in forms like sarò and andrò — the accent mark shows you exactly where the stress falls.
18.2 Rhythm across a three-part narration
When you move from past to present to future in the same paragraph, keep each verb phrase as its own rhythmic unit, and pause briefly at each time-word boundary: Ieri ho lavorato. // Oggi riposo. // Domani parto per Torino.
Grammar and Sentence Patterns
Italian often uses the present tense to talk about something that is already planned or scheduled, especially when a time expression makes the future meaning clear. You have been doing this since earlier chapters without naming it:
- Domani parto per Torino. — Tomorrow I'm leaving for Turin.
- La prossima settimana ho un esame. — Next week I have an exam.
- Stasera vediamo un film. — Tonight we're seeing a movie.
This is your main productive tool for talking about the future in Volume I. A time expression such as domani or la prossima settimana normally accompanies the present-tense verb so the future meaning is clear.
Combine what you learned in Chapters 16 and 17. Remember that most verbs use avere, while a scheduled set of movement and change-of-state verbs uses essere with participle agreement:
| Auxiliary | Example verbs | Sample sentence |
|---|---|---|
| avere | lavorare, mangiare, vedere, leggere | Ho lavorato fino a tardi. |
| essere | andare, partire, arrivare, tornare | Sono tornata domenica sera. |
Ieri ho lavorato tutto il giorno, poi sono uscita con un'amica. — Yesterday I worked all day, then I went out with a friend.
You will meet the future tense in reading and listening this chapter. Recognize these high-frequency forms, but continue to use the present tense productively for your own future plans:
| Infinitive | Future form (io) | English |
|---|---|---|
| essere | sarò | I will be |
| avere | avrò | I will have |
| andare | andrò | I will go |
| fare | farò | I will do / make |
Do not worry about forming the future tense for other persons or other verbs yet. This is receptive knowledge for this stage of the course.
Use familiar modal-style expressions plus an infinitive to talk about what you want, would like, must, or can do next:
- Voglio finire il progetto oggi. — I want to finish the project today.
- Devo studiare per l'esame. — I have to study for the exam.
- Penso di andare al mare in agosto. — I'm thinking of going to the beach in August.
Use ieri, oggi, domani, adesso, prima, dopo, la settimana scorsa, and la prossima settimana to anchor each verb to a clear point in time: La settimana scorsa ho lavorato molto, adesso riposo un po', e la prossima settimana ho un appuntamento importante.
Model Dialogue
Setting: Giulia and Marta continue their conversation from Chapter 17.
Domande di comprensione — Comprehension questions:
- What did Giulia do last week?
- What commitments does Giulia have today and tomorrow?
- What is Giulia planning for next week?
Guided Practice
Esercizio 1 — Complete each sentence with the correct present-tense form to express scheduled future meaning:
- Domani (io) ______ (partire) per Roma.
- La prossima settimana (noi) ______ (avere) un esame.
- Stasera Marco ______ (vedere) un film.
Esercizio 2 — Choose avere or essere and complete each past-tense sentence:
- Ieri (io, f.) ______ (lavorare) tutto il giorno.
- Sabato (io, f.) ______ (andare) a un matrimonio.
- La settimana scorsa Marco ______ (studiare) molto e poi ______ (uscire) con gli amici.
Esercizio 3 — Match the future-tense form to its meaning (recognition only):
- sarò → ______
- andrò → ______
- avrò → ______
- farò → ______
Listening Practice
Ask an instructor, study partner, or fluent Italian speaker to read the passage below aloud, at a natural pace, twice.
If no speakers are available, this is a Listening Script for Independent Use. Read it aloud yourself, slowly at first, then at a more natural pace. Any spoken model should be verified by a fluent Italian speaker before being treated as a pronunciation standard.
La settimana di Paolo — Paolo's week:
"La settimana scorsa ho lavorato molto e sono andato a una riunione importante. Oggi sono a casa e riposo un po'. Domani ho un appuntamento dal dottore. La prossima settimana sarò in vacanza: andrò al mare con la mia famiglia e farò lunghe passeggiate sulla spiaggia."
Compito di ascolto — Listening task:
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What did Paolo do last week? | ______ |
| What is Paolo doing today, and what does he have tomorrow? | ______ |
| What are Paolo's plans for next week? | ______ |
Speaking Practice
Pratica controllata — Controlled practice: three time frames
With a partner, take turns saying one sentence about yesterday, one about today, and one about tomorrow, using the correct tense for each.
Compito comunicativo — Communicative task: my week
In pairs or small groups, describe your week: something you already did, something you are doing now, and something you plan to do, using at least one time marker from this chapter for each part. Your partner should ask at least one follow-up question.
Pratica da solo — Solo alternative
Record yourself describing your week across all three time frames, checking that you use the present tense for future plans and the correct auxiliary for past actions.
Reading Practice
Read the short message below aloud, sounding out each Italian word slowly.
Note: è stata appears here as a receptive-only form, and the future-tense forms sarò, andrò, and farò appear for recognition only. You are not expected to produce these forms independently at this stage.
Domande di comprensione — Comprehension questions:
- What three things happened during the writer's week?
- How does the writer feel now?
- What are the writer's plans for next week?
Writing Workshop
Write a short message describing your week across three time frames.
Compito di scrittura — Writing task: Write five to seven sentences describing your week. Include at least one completed action with avere, one completed action with essere, one present-tense sentence about today, and one present-tense sentence expressing a future plan with a time marker.
- Say what you did last week. Use la settimana scorsa plus passato prossimo with avere or essere.
- Say what is happening today. Use oggi plus a present-tense verb.
- Say what you plan to do next. Use domani or la prossima settimana plus a present-tense verb, or an intention expression such as voglio or penso di.
- Close with a question for your reader. Ask what plans they have.
Lista di controllo — Editing checklist:
- Past-tense sentences use the correct auxiliary (avere or essere) with correct participle agreement where needed.
- Present-tense sentences about the future include a clear time marker such as domani or la prossima settimana.
- No full future-tense paradigm is required; recognition forms are not used productively unless naturally recalled.
- Time markers such as ieri, oggi, and domani are spelled and placed correctly.
- Intention expressions (voglio, devo, penso di) are followed by an infinitive.
Culture and Communication
Sharing an overview of a busy or eventful week is common small talk among friends, colleagues, and family members across Italian-speaking communities, though the pace of daily life, working hours, and typical commitments vary by region, profession, and family situation. Avoid assuming that any one schedule represents Italian life in general.
How far in advance people plan, and how firmly they commit to plans, can differ by relationship, generation, and setting. Some plans are treated as fixed appointments, while others remain flexible until closer to the date. Context and relationship help signal how firm a plan is.
Common Mistakes
Error: Trying to conjugate the future tense across all persons for everyday planning, such as producing forms for tu, noi, or loro from memory.
Correction: At this stage, use the present tense with a clear time marker for your own future plans, such as Domani parto. Recognize future forms like sarò and andrò when you read or hear them, but you are not expected to produce the full future paradigm yet.
Error: Saying Ho andata a un matrimonio instead of Sono andata a un matrimonio.
Correction: Movement verbs such as andare still require essere with agreement, even in a chapter that reviews both auxiliaries together.
Error: Saying Parto per Roma to mean "I will leave for Rome" with no time context.
Correction: Without a time marker, a present-tense sentence like Parto per Roma can sound like it is happening right now. Add domani or another clear time marker to signal future meaning: Domani parto per Roma.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter you learned to move between past, present, and future within the same conversation. You reviewed the passato prossimo with both avere and essere, used the present tense to talk about scheduled future events, learned to recognize (without producing) common future-tense forms, and practiced expressing intentions with voglio, devo, posso, and penso di.
Chapter Review
Parte A — Comprensione (Comprehension)
1. Return to the model dialogue and answer in English:
- What commitments does Giulia mention for today and tomorrow?
- What does Giulia plan to do next week, and why?
Parte B — Grammatica (Grammar)
1. Complete with the present tense for future meaning: Domani (noi) ______ (partire) per la montagna.
2. Complete with the correct auxiliary: Ieri (io, f.) ______ (uscire) con un'amica e ______ (vedere) un film.
3. Match the meaning: farò means ______.
Parte C — Lettura (Reading)
1. Return to the message between friends and answer:
- What did the writer do on Monday and Wednesday?
- What does the writer plan to do next week?
Parte D — Scrittura (Writing)
1. Write a short message following the writing workshop steps above.
Parte E — Parlato (Speaking)
1. With a partner or recorded solo, describe your week across past, present, and future, including one follow-up question and answer.
Practical Performance Task
Chapter 18 Performance Task — Ieri, Oggi e Domani
Talk and Write About Your Week
Complete the following four connected tasks in order.
- Listen to Paolo's week passage above and complete the listening table.
- Read the message between friends above and answer the comprehension questions.
- Write a short message describing your week, including a completed action with each auxiliary, a present-tense statement about today, and a present-tense statement about a future plan with a time marker.
- Speak by exchanging weekly updates with a partner and asking at least one follow-up question, or by recording a solo narration.
| Criterion | What is assessed |
|---|---|
| Present tense for scheduled future events | The learner uses the present tense with a clear time marker to express a future plan. |
| Passato prossimo review | The learner correctly selects and forms avere and essere in past-tense sentences, including participle agreement where required. |
| Future-tense recognition | The learner correctly identifies the meaning of common future-tense forms without being required to produce them. |
| Time markers | The learner uses contrastive time markers accurately to anchor each part of the narration. |
| Task completion | The account includes past, present, and future reference and at least one follow-up question across speaking and writing. |
This task assesses present-tense future reference, review of both passato prossimo auxiliaries, and future-tense recognition. It does not require a productive future-tense paradigm, the imperfect tense, conditional forms, or object pronouns.
Answer Key
Model Dialogue — Comprehension
- Last week Giulia worked a lot and went to a wedding on Saturday.
- Today Giulia has a meeting; tomorrow she has a dentist appointment.
- Next week Giulia plans to go to the mountains with her parents to rest after a busy week.
Guided Practice
Esercizio 1: (1) parto (2) abbiamo (3) vede
Esercizio 2: (1) ho lavorato (2) sono andata (3) ha studiato ... è uscito
Esercizio 3: (1) sarò = I will be (2) andrò = I will go (3) avrò = I will have (4) farò = I will do / make
Listening
- Last week Paolo worked a lot and went to an important meeting.
- Today Paolo is at home resting; tomorrow he has a doctor's appointment.
- Next week Paolo will be on vacation: he will go to the beach with his family and take long walks on the beach.
Reading — Comprehension
- On Monday the writer had a meeting; on Wednesday she went out with colleagues.
- The writer feels a little tired now.
- Next week the writer plans to visit her parents and take a mountain walk.
Chapter Review — Parte B
- partiamo
- sono uscita ... ho visto
- I will do / I will make
Looking Ahead
Cosa sai fare ora — What you can do now
You can talk about your week by combining what already happened, what is happening now, and what you plan to do next, using both passato prossimo auxiliaries, present-tense future reference, and recognition of common future-tense forms.