Italian Phrase
Ho preso un buon voto.
Meaning
Literally, 'I have taken a good grade.' In everyday Italian it means 'I got a good grade' on a test, exam, or assignment.
When to use
Use this sentence right after you receive a test result you are happy with, or when you want to share your academic success with friends, family, or teachers.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Hopresounbuonvoto.
Auxiliary verb (avere)
In the passato prossimo, most transitive verbs use the auxiliary 'avere' (ho) to form the past.
Past participle agreement
With 'avere' the past participle does NOT agree with the subject; 'preso' stays unchanged.
Indefinite article
'un' is the masculine singular indefinite article used before a consonant.
Adjective contraction
'buono' shortens to 'buon' before a masculine singular noun that starts with a consonant.
Noun 'voto'
'voto' means a grade or score, typically in school or exams.
🗨In Conversation
Ho preso un buon voto.
I got a good grade.
Complimenti! Qual è stato il tuo voto?
Congrats! What was your grade?
✕Common Mistakes
Sono preso un buon voto.
Use 'ho' (avere) as the auxiliary for 'prendere', not 'sono'.
Ho preso un buono voto.
Before a masculine singular noun, 'buono' contracts to 'buon'.
Ho preso una buon voto.
'voto' is masculine, so the article must be 'un', not 'una'.
↔Alternatives
Ho ottenuto un buon voto.
I obtained a good grade.
Ho ricevuto un bel voto.
I received a nice grade.
Il mio voto è stato buono.
My grade was good.
Cultural Tip
In the Italian school system grades run from 0 to 10, with 6 as the minimum passing mark. A 'buon voto' usually means a score of 8, 9, or 10. When talking about university exams, students often say 'ho superato l'esame con un buon voto' to emphasize they passed with a high mark. Remember that 'voto' can also refer to a vote in a poll, so context matters.