Conjugation of the verb partire in Italian: tenses and moods

The verb partire (to leave) is one of the most commonly used verbs in the Italian language. It belongs to the third group of regular verbs ending in -ire and therefore follows precise conjugation rules that apply to many other verbs in this category.

The present indicative of partire

To conjugate partire in the present indicative, we remove the -ire ending and add the specific endings for this tense. The verb partire follows the simple conjugation pattern of third group verbs.

Examples of usage:

Domani parto per Roma. (Tomorrow I’m leaving for Rome.)
I treni partono ogni ora. (The trains leave every hour.)

The imperfect indicative of partire

The imperfect expresses a habitual or ongoing action in the past. For third group verbs like partire, we remove the -ire ending and add the endings: -ivo, -ivi, -iva, -ivamo, -ivate, -ivano.

Example of usage:

Ogni estate partivamo per la montagna. (Every summer, we used to leave for the mountains.)

The simple future of partire

The simple future expresses an action to come. For partire, the formation of the future follows the general rule: we keep the infinitive by removing the final -e and add the future endings.

Example of usage:

La prossima settimana partirò per le vacanze. (Next week I will leave for holidays.)

The perfect tense of partire

The perfect tense of partire is formed with the auxiliary essere (to be) followed by the past participle partito. The past participle agrees with the subject, as is always the case with the auxiliary essere.

Example of usage:

Maria è partita stamattina presto. (Maria left early this morning.)

The present conditional of partire

The conditional expresses a possible, desired or hypothetical action. It is formed by adding the conditional endings to the future stem.

Example of usage:

Con più soldi, partirei subito in vacanza. (With more money, I would leave immediately for holidays.)

The present subjunctive of partire

The subjunctive expresses doubt, opinion, feelings. It is often preceded by “che”. For partire, we use the stem part- followed by the present subjunctive endings.

Example of usage:

Spero che tu parta presto. (I hope that you leave soon.)

The imperative of partire

The imperative is used to express an order, request or advice. It is only conjugated in the second persons singular and plural, as well as the first person plural.

Examples of usage:

Parti subito! (Leave immediately!)
Partiamo insieme! (Let’s leave together!)

The impersonal forms of partire

The verb partire also has important impersonal forms to know:

Present infinitive: partire (to leave)
Past infinitive: essere partito/a (to have left)
Present participle: partente (leaving)
Past participle: partito/a/i/e (left)
Present gerund: partendo (whilst leaving)
Past gerund: essendo partito/a (having left)

Examples of usage:

Prima di partire, chiudi tutte le finestre. (Before leaving, close all the windows.)
Partendo presto, arriveremo in tempo. (By leaving early, we will arrive on time.)

Other tenses and moods of partire

Pluperfect indicative:

Ero partito/a (I had left), eri partito/a (you had left), era partito/a (he/she had left), eravamo partiti/e (we had left), eravate partiti/e (you had left), erano partiti/e (they had left)

Past historic:

Partii (I left), partisti (you left), partì (he/she left), partimmo (we left), partiste (you left), partirono (they left)

Future perfect:

Sarò partito/a (I will have left), sarai partito/a (you will have left), sarà partito/a (he/she will have left), saremo partiti/e (we will have left), sarete partiti/e (you will have left), saranno partiti/e (they will have left)

Example of usage:

Quando arriverai, io sarò già partito. (When you arrive, I will have already left.)

Practical exercise

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