When telling stories in Italian, you'll choose between two main past tenses: the 'passato prossimo' and the 'imperfetto'. The 'passato prossimo' is for the main events of your story, while the 'imperfetto' is for setting the scene and describing the background. This deck teaches you how to choose the right one.

First, let's look at the 'passato prossimo'. Use it for specific, completed actions that move the story forward. Think of it as the 'what happened' tense. It's used for single events, a series of actions, or a sudden change. For example, 'Ieri ho comprato un libro' means 'Yesterday I bought a book' – a single, finished action.