Calcolavate

Calcolavate is the second-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb calcolare. It expresses a past action that was ongoing, habitual, or repeated for the subject “voi.” For example, Voi calcolavate i costi mensili ogni trimestre. In the sentence, the imperfect highlights that the calculation activity occurred over a period of time rather than as a single completed event.

Morphology and usage: Calcolare follows the regular -are verb conjugation pattern in the imperfect: io calcolavo, tu calcolavi, lui/lei calcolava, noi calcolavamo, voi calcolavate, loro calcolavano. The imperfect form calcolavate is used in narrative or descriptive contexts to set scenes or describe routine procedures in the past, contrasting with the passato prossimo, which would indicate a completed action.

Etymology and related forms: The verb calcolare derives from calcolo, from Latin calculus meaning a pebble used for counting, with the broader idea of computation. Related terms include il calcolo (the calculation) and calcolatrice (calculator). The imperfect form shares the same root and is part of standard, formal Italian.

Notes: Calcolavate is widely understood across Italian-speaking regions and is appropriate in both written and spoken Italian, particularly when recounting past routines, procedures, or historical descriptions. It is not dialectal and does not carry specialized jargon beyond ordinary arithmetic or budgeting contexts.