How to Conjugate the Verb 'Stare' in Italian

"Stare" is used to talk about all things, from how you’re doing to where you’re at in Italy, so it’s best if you feel comfortable using this word in all its forms. What’s more, it’s an irregular verb, so it doesn’t follow the typical "-are" verb ending pattern. Following, you’ll find all of its conjugation tables and examples, so you can become more familiar with using "stare."

Definitions of "Stare"

The verb "stare" can have many definitions. It's important to be familiar with all of its uses, which at its most basic is in the infinitive form. Its definitions include, to:

• Be
• Do
• Stay
• Remain
• Rest
• Stand
• Sit
• Be situated
• Lie
• Live
• Be about to

Notice that the verb "stare" translates into a number of different verbs in English, some with very different meanings, such as "sit" and "stand," for example.

"Stare" Basics

"Stare" is an intransitive verb, so it does not take a direct object. As noted in the previous section, the "infinito," or "infinitive," is "stare." A few other basic facts about the verb include:

• The "protect passato," or "past participle" is "stato."
• The gerund form is “stando.”
• The past gerund form is “essendo stato.”

Indicativo (The Indicative)​

The "indicativo," or "indicative" expresses a factual statement. The tables below present conjugations in the present tense, the present perfect (an action started in the past that either ends in the past or continues to the present), the imperfect (an action that repeated itself routinely over a certain period in the past), the near past (an action that occurred recently), the distant past (an action that occurred quite some time in the past), the simple future (an action that has yet to occur), and the anterior future (known as the future perfect tense in English and involves an action that will start and finish at some point in the future).

Note that in this and the subsequent tables, when a verb form starts with a capital letter and ends in final letters separated by a forward slash—as in "Loro sono stati/e" (They have been)—it represents the formal version of the verb in either the male or female gender use.)

Some "esempi," or "examples" of the present tense of the verb "stare" in common dialog, where the Italian is listed on the left and the English translation on the right, include:

• Sto bene, e tu? ˃ I’m good, and you?
• Maria sta buttando la pasta, ti fermi a pranzo con noi? ˃ Maria is about to cook pasta, are you going to have lunch with us?

Some "esempi" include:

• Sono stata a Bologna ieri sera. ˃ I was in Bologna last night.
• Marco e Giulio sono stati davvero carini! ˃ Marco and Giulio were extremely nice!

Some examples include:

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• Che stavi facendo? ˃ What were you doing?
• Stavamo per partire quando ci ha chiamato Giulia. ˃ We were about to leave when Giulia called us.

Some examples include:

• Ho vissuto in Italia per 12 anni e non ero mai stato a Roma. ˃ I lived in Italy for 12 years and I had never been to Rome.
• Ero stato anche all’aeroporto, ma era già partita. ˃ I also was at the airport, but she had already left.

Some example include:

• Nel 1996, stetti a Londra per due settimane. ˃ In 1996, I stayed in London for two weeks.
• Stettrero ospiti a casa di Sandra durante il loro soggiorno a Milano. ˃ They stayed at Sandra’s during their stay in Milan.

This tense is rarely used, so don’t worry too much about mastering it. You’ll find it only in very sophisticated writing.

Some examples include:

• Sì, infatti, lui è malato, però starà bene fra un paio di giorni. ˃ Yes, in fact, he is sick, but he will be better in a couple of days.
• Starò più attento, te lo prometto. ˃ I will pay more attention, I promise.

Some examples include:

• Ho dimenticato di prenotare i biglietti? Sarò stato davvero stanco ieri sera. ˃ I forgot to book the tickets? I must have been really tired last night.
• Dov’era Giulia a sabato? Sarà stata con suoi amici. ˃ Where was Giula on Saturday? She must have been with her friends.

Congiuntivo (Subjunctive)​

Some examples include:

• Non so perché lui stia qua. ˃ I don’t know why he is here.
• Non penso che tu stia preparando abbastanza piatti. ˃ I don’t think you’re preparing enough dishes.

Some examples include:

• Penso sia stato meglio così. ˃ I think it was for the best.
• Credo proprio che siano stati accompagnati in taxi all’aereoporto. ˃ I really think they had been taken by taxi to the airport.

Some examples include:

• Non pensavo che lui stesse alla festa. ˃ I didn’t know that he was at the party.
• Pensavo che stesse a dormire a casa tua. Sarei stato molto più tranquillo! ˃ I thought she was sleeping at your place. I would have been a lot more relaxed!

Esempi:

• Se quel giorno fossi stato con lui, non sarebbe stato così triste. ˃ If I had been with him that day, he wouldn’t have been so sad.
• Se fossimo stati amici in quel periodo, ci saremmo divertiti un sacco! ˃ If we had been friends during that time, we would have had so much fun!

Condizionale (Conditional)​​

Some examples include:

• Se io abitassi in Italia, starei meglio. ˃ If I were to live in Italy, I would be better.
• Se aveste finito i vostri compiti a quest’ora stareste al mare! ˃ If you had finished your homework, by this time you would be at the seaside!

Some examples include:

• Sarei stata contenta se lui mi avesse regalato dei fiori. ˃ I would have been happy if he had given me some flowers.
• Non sarebbe stato possibile senza l’aiuto di Giulia. ˃ It wouldn’t have been possible without Giulia’s help.

Imperativo (Imperative)​​

• Stai zitto! ˃ Be quiet (informal)!
• Stia attenta! ˃ Pay attention (formal)!