Italian grammar
Stavamo + gerundio (noi)
Say what you were doing when someone interrupted.
From the scene Stavamo aspettando (We were waiting)
In short
For we were doing, use stavamo + gerund. The interruption takes the passato prossimo.
Your turn
Which one goes with we were keeping watch?
Options: stavamo facendo la guardia · stavamo aspettando · stavamo mangiando
Show answer
we were keeping watch → stavamo facendo la guardia
How it works
For "we were doing something" use stavamo + gerundio: stavamo aspettando (we were waiting).
Good to know
The action that interrupts it goes in the passato prossimo: …e sei arrivato tu.
we were waiting stavamo aspettando
Nuria
Javi? Stavamo aspettando il ladro e sei arrivato tu!
Javi? We were waiting for the thief and you turned up!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Javi? (blank) il ladro e sei arrivato tu!
Options: Stavamo facendo la guardia · Stavamo mangiando · Stavamo aspettando
Show answer
Nuria
Javi? Stavamo aspettando il ladro e sei arrivato tu!
Javi? We were waiting for the thief and you turned up!
we were keeping watch stavamo facendo la guardia
Elena
Sì. Stavamo facendo la guardia dalla mezzanotte.
Yes. We had been keeping watch since midnight.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sì. (blank) dalla mezzanotte.
Options: Stavamo mangiando · Stavamo facendo la guardia · Stavamo aspettando
Show answer
Elena
Sì. Stavamo facendo la guardia dalla mezzanotte.
Yes. We had been keeping watch since midnight.
we were eating stavamo mangiando
Nuria
E stavamo mangiando churros. Ne vuoi uno?
And we were eating churros. Do you want one?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
E (blank) churros. Ne vuoi uno?
Options: stavamo aspettando · stavamo facendo la guardia · stavamo mangiando
Show answer
Nuria
E stavamo mangiando churros. Ne vuoi uno?
And we were eating churros. Do you want one?
what were you doing? cosa stavi facendo?
Elena
E tu, cosa stavi facendo fino ad adesso?
And you, what were you doing until now?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
E tu, (blank) fino ad adesso?
Options: stavamo facendo la guardia · cosa stavi facendo · stavamo aspettando
Show answer
Elena
E tu, cosa stavi facendo fino ad adesso?
And you, what were you doing until now?
I was working stavo lavorando
Javi
Stavo lavorando in panetteria.
I was working at the bakery.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) in panetteria.
Options: Stavamo aspettando · Stavamo facendo la guardia · Stavo lavorando
Show answer
Javi
Stavo lavorando in panetteria.
I was working at the bakery.
Watch out
It's stavamo, not eravamo — the gerund needs stare, not essere.
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
| we were waiting | stavamo aspettando |
|---|---|
| we were keeping watch | stavamo facendo la guardia |
| we were eating | stavamo mangiando |
| what were you doing? | cosa stavi facendo? |
| I was working | stavo lavorando |
More lines from the story
- ElenaMolto sospetto! Torni sulla mia lista.How suspicious! You're back on my list.