Leíamos

Leíamos is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb leer, meaning “to read.” It translates mainly as “we used to read” or “we were reading,” depending on the context.

In the imperfect of leer, the full conjugation in the indicative mood is: yo leía, tú leías, él leía, nosotros leíamos, vosotros leíais, ellos leían. The form leíamos carries an accent on the í to mark the stressed syllable, a characteristic of the imperfect for this irregular verb.

Usage and nuance: Leíamos is used to describe habitual or ongoing past actions, background actions in narratives, or routines that occurred previously. It contrasts with leímos, the preterite form meaning “we read” as a completed action in the past. It can also set a scene and indicate simultaneous actions with other past events.

Examples:

- Cuando éramos niños, leíamos muchos libros.

- Durante las vacaciones, leíamos junto a la playa cada tarde.

Etymology and related forms: Leemos is the present tense for “we read.” Leíamos belongs to the same verb family as leer, with the stem changing in the imperfect form. Learners often confuse it with preterite forms like leímos, which denote a definite past action rather than a habit or ongoing state.

See also: Leer, Spanish conjugation, Pretérito imperfecto, Past narrative tenses.