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Italian · Verb · #264 most common

distinguere

to distinguish
to differentiate
Irregular2nd ending

In the tables below, the stem is shown in black and the ending in purple.

1.

Presente

Current actions, habits, and general truths.

iodistinguo
tudistinguo
lui/leidistinguere
noidistinguamo
voidistinguete
lorodistinguono

Riesco a distinguere i colori più chiari.

I can distinguish the lighter colors.

Lui distingue facilmente i suoni diversi.

He easily distinguishes the different sounds.

2.

Passato Prossimo

Recently completed actions with present relevance.

ioho distinto
tuhai distinto
lui/leiha distinto
noiabbiamo distinto
voiavete distinto
lorohanno distinto

Ho distinto tra il bene e il male.

I distinguished between good and evil.

Abbiamo distinto le due varietà di vino.

We distinguished the two varieties of wine.

3.

Imperfetto

Ongoing or habitual past actions, descriptions, and background.

iodistinguessi
tudistinguessi
lui/leidistinguessero
noidistinguessimo
voidistingueste
lorodistinguessero

Quando ero bambino, distinguevo sempre i miei amici.

When I was a child, I always distinguished my friends.

Loro distinguevano le diverse specie di uccelli.

They distinguished the different species of birds.

4.

Futuro Semplice

Future events, predictions, and conjectures.

iodistinguero
tudistinguera
lui/leidistinguera
noidistinguermo
voidistinguere
lorodistinguero

Domani distinguerò tra le opzioni disponibili.

Tomorrow I will distinguish between the available options.

Loro distingueranno i vari stili di danza.

They will distinguish the various dance styles.

5.

Condizionale Presente

Hypothetical outcomes, polite requests, and wishes.

iodistinguerei
tudistingueresti
lui/leidistinguerebbe
noidistingueremmo
voidistinguereste
lorodistinguerebbero

Se avessi tempo, distinguerei meglio i dettagli.

If I had time, I would better distinguish the details.

Loro distinguerebbero i fatti dalle opinioni.

They would distinguish the facts from the opinions.

6.

Congiuntivo Presente

Doubt, opinion, desire, and necessity in subordinate clauses.

iodistinguo
tudistinguo
lui/leidistinguo
noidistinguamo
voidistinguate
lorodistinguano

Spero che tu distingua tra le due situazioni.

I hope you distinguish between the two situations.

È importante che lui distingua i suoi sentimenti.

It is important that he distinguishes his feelings.

7.

Congiuntivo Imperfetto

Past subjunctive contexts, hypothetical se-clauses, and polite suggestions.

iodistinguessi
tudistinguessi
lui/leidistinguesse
noidistinguessimo
voidistingueste
lorodistinguessero

Se solo avesse distinto i segnali, avrebbe evitato il problema.

If only he had distinguished the signals, he would have avoided the problem.

Sarebbe stato meglio se noi avessimo distinto le differenze.

It would have been better if we had distinguished the differences.

"distinguere" in other languages

Related verbs

Common questions
Is "distinguere" regular or irregular in Italian?
"distinguere" is an irregular Italian verb. It does not follow the standard 2nd conjugation pattern and must be memorized.
How do you conjugate "distinguere" in the present tense?
In the Presente, "distinguere" conjugates as: distinguo, distinguo, distinguamo, and more. See the full table above.
What is the past tense of "distinguere" in Italian?
In the Passato Prossimo, "distinguere" conjugates as: ho distinto, hai distinto, abbiamo distinto, and more. See the full table above.
How common is "distinguere" in Italian?
"distinguere" (to distinguish, to differentiate) is one of the most commonly used verbs in Italian.