costruiti

Costruiti is the masculine plural form of the past participle of the Italian verb costruire, meaning to build. In Italian, the past participle costrutto forms are used both in compound tenses with avere or essere and as adjectives. The form costruiti specifically modifies masculine plural nouns, while other gender/number forms exist (costruita, costruite, costruito) to agree with the noun they describe or with the subject in passive constructions.

Etymology and form: costruire derives from Latin construere, literally “to pile together” or “to build.” The Italian past participle costrutt to is standardly used in constructions such as “edifici costruiti” (built buildings) and functions as an adjective or as part of passive voice with essere.

Usage and grammar: When used as an adjective, costruiti agrees in gender and number with the noun (edifici costruiti, casa costruita). In passive voice, formed with essere, the participle agrees with the subject of the sentence: Le case sono costruite (the houses are built) or Le case sono state costruite. With the auxiliary avere in compound tenses, the participle generally does not agree with the subject but can agree with a preceding direct object: Ho costruito edifici; gli edifici che ho costruito, if the object precedes the verb, the form may reflect that object in certain dialects or contexts. In everyday use, costruiti is most often found in descriptive phrases denoting objects or structures that have been built.

Examples: edifici costruiti nel XIX secolo (buildings built in the 19th century); opere costruite a mano (hand-built works). Costruito is the singular form; costruita, costruite, costruiti are used to match the noun’s gender and number.

See also: costruire, participio passato, grammatica italiana.