essero

Essero is a verb form of the Italian verb essere, meaning to be. It represents a past subjunctive (congiuntivo imperfetto) form used with third-person plural subjects. In modern standard Italian, the corresponding form for this tense is typically essere in the form fossero. Therefore, essero is largely historical or literary and is not common in everyday speech.

Usage and context: Essero appears in older Italian texts and in some regional dialects or literary styles as an alternative to fossero. It is most often encountered in clauses introduced by che or se, where a past-subjunctive meaning of “were” is required. Modern grammar guides generally prescribe fossero for contemporary usage, while essero is described as archaic or stylistically marked.

Grammatical note: The existence of essero reflects historical variation in the formation of the congiuntivo imperfetto of essere. Although it is recognized in grammars and dictionaries as an obsolete or literary variant, it is not considered standard in contemporary Italian. Learners are advised to use fossero in formal writing and most spoken contexts, reserving essero for study of historical texts or appreciation of older literary language.

See also: essere, fossero, congiuntivo imperfetto, Italian verbs, historical Italian grammar.