Italian grammar
Mentre + imperfect
Describe two things happening at the same time in the past.
From the scene Mentre cenavamo (While we were having dinner)
In short
Mentre + imperfetto sets the background. The other action: imperfetto if ongoing, passato prossimo if once.
Your turn
Which one goes with he was playing?
Options: suonava · mentre cenavamo · mentre guardavate
Show answer
he was playing → suonava
How it works
Mentre (while) + imperfect sets the background: mentre cenavamo.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Mentre voi (blank) il palco, io guardavo il mio piatto.
Clue: you two
Options: guardavano · guardavamo · guardavate
Show answer
Mentre voi guardavate il palco, io guardavo il mio piatto.
While you two were watching the stage, I was watching my plate.
Good to know
The other action is imperfect if it was also going on (suonava), or passato prossimo if it happened once (ho ordinato altro pane).
while we were having dinner mentre cenavamo
Nuria
Mentre cenavamo, il chitarrista suonava senza sosta.
While we were having dinner, the guitarist played nonstop.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), il chitarrista suonava senza sosta.
Options: Mentre guardavate · Mentre applaudivo · Mentre cenavamo
Show answer
Nuria
Mentre cenavamo, il chitarrista suonava senza sosta.
While we were having dinner, the guitarist played nonstop.
he was playing suonava
Nuria
Mentre cenavamo, il chitarrista suonava senza sosta.
While we were having dinner, the guitarist played nonstop.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Mentre cenavamo, il chitarrista (blank) senza sosta.
Options: mentre guardavate · mentre applaudivo · suonava
Show answer
Nuria
Mentre cenavamo, il chitarrista suonava senza sosta.
While we were having dinner, the guitarist played nonstop.
while you two were watching mentre guardavate
Elena
Normale. Mentre guardavate i ballerini, io ho ordinato altro pane.
Of course. While you were watching the dancers, I ordered more bread.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Normale. (blank) i ballerini, io ho ordinato altro pane.
Options: Mentre cenavamo · Suonava · Mentre guardavate
Show answer
Elena
Normale. Mentre guardavate i ballerini, io ho ordinato altro pane.
Of course. While you were watching the dancers, I ordered more bread.
while I was clapping mentre applaudivo
Your turn
What goes with mentre applaudivo?
Options: he was playing · while I was clapping · while we were having dinner
Show answer
mentre applaudivo → while I was clapping
the salmorejo got warm il salmorejo si è scaldato
Nuria
Beh, mentre parlavamo, il salmorejo si è scaldato.
Well, while we were talking, the salmorejo got warm.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Beh, mentre parlavamo, (blank).
Options: mentre cenavamo · suonava · il salmorejo si è scaldato
Show answer
Nuria
Beh, mentre parlavamo, il salmorejo si è scaldato.
Well, while we were talking, the salmorejo got warm.
Watch out
Mentre needs a verb; before a noun use durante — mentre cenavamo, durante la cena, never durante cenavamo.
Common mistake
Not Perché or Durante here. While (at the same time).
Mentre cenavamo, il chitarrista suonava senza sosta.
While we were having dinner, the guitarist played nonstop.
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
| while we were having dinner | mentre cenavamo |
|---|---|
| he was playing | suonava |
| while you two were watching | mentre guardavate |
| while I was clapping | mentre applaudivo |
| the salmorejo got warm | il salmorejo si è scaldato |
More lines from the story
- ElenaMentre voi guardavate il palco, io guardavo il mio piatto.While you two were watching the stage, I was watching my plate.
- JaviChe fortuna! Io non ho mangiato niente.Lucky you! I ate nothing.
- JaviSignora Elena, Lei è l'unica che ha cenato davvero ieri sera.Signora Elena, you're the only one who really had dinner last night.