Italian grammar
Era, andavo, vedevo
Describe what a place was like and what you used to do there.
From the scene Era, andavo, vedevo (It was, I went, I saw)
In short
Most imperfetto forms are regular: andavo, vedevo. Essere is the big exception: ero, era, erano.
- it / he was era
- they were erano
- I used to go andavo
- we used to go andavamo
- I / we used to see vedevo / vedevamo
Your turn
Which one goes with they were?
Options: erano · era · andavo
Show answer
they were → erano
How it works
The Italian imperfetto is very regular: andare → andavo, vedere → vedevo.
Good to know
The big exception is essere: ero, eri, era, eravamo, eravate, erano (fare, dire and bere also use a longer stem: facevo, dicevo, bevevo).
it / he was era
Nuria
Questa piazza era la mia preferita.
This square was my favourite.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Questa piazza (blank) la mia preferita.
Options: andavo · era · erano
Show answer
Nuria
Questa piazza era la mia preferita.
This square was my favourite.
they were erano
Nuria
Sì, ma i vicini erano come una famiglia.
Yes, but the neighbours were like a family.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sì, ma i vicini (blank) come una famiglia.
Options: andavamo · erano · andavo
Show answer
Nuria
Sì, ma i vicini erano come una famiglia.
Yes, but the neighbours were like a family.
I used to go andavo
Nuria
La domenica, andavo a messa con mia nonna.
On Sundays, I used to go to mass with my grandmother.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
La domenica, (blank) a messa con mia nonna.
Options: erano · andavo · era
Show answer
Nuria
La domenica, andavo a messa con mia nonna.
On Sundays, I used to go to mass with my grandmother.
we used to go andavamo
Nuria
Era molto bello. Andavamo tutte a messa.
He was very handsome. We all used to go to mass.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Era molto bello. (blank) tutte a messa.
Options: Erano · Andavo · Andavamo
Show answer
Nuria
Era molto bello. Andavamo tutte a messa.
He was very handsome. We all used to go to mass.
I / we used to see vedevo / vedevamo
Nuria
E io e le mie amiche vedevamo il figlio del fornaio.
And my friends and I used to see the baker’s son.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
E io e le mie amiche (blank) il figlio del fornaio.
Options: erano · vedevamo · era
Show answer
Nuria
E io e le mie amiche vedevamo il figlio del fornaio.
And my friends and I used to see the baker’s son.
Watch out
Andavo (I used to go) and andava (she used to go) differ by one vowel, so the ending tells you who.
Common mistake
Not vedevano or vedevo here. My friends and I = we.
E io e le mie amiche vedevamo il figlio del fornaio.
And my friends and I used to see the baker’s son.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| it / he was | era |
|---|---|
| they were | erano |
| I used to go | andavo |
| we used to go | andavamo |
| I / we used to see | vedevo / vedevamo |
More lines from the story
- NuriaVedevo il mare e le montagne.I used to see the sea and the mountains.