calmábamos

Calmábamos is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb calmar, meaning to calm or soothe. It translates as “we calmed” or, depending on the context, “we were calming.” The imperfect tense expresses past actions that were habitual, repeated, or ongoing, rather than completed at a specific moment. This form is common in narration and description.

Morphology and usage: Calmábamos is regular for -ar verbs in the imperfect. The stem calm- takes the endings -ábamos for the nosotros form. Other imperfect forms of calmar are calmaba, calmabas, calmábamos, calmabais, calmaban. The imperfect is often used with time expressions or within descriptive passages to set background in past events.

Distinction: This form is distinct from the imperfect subjunctive calmáramos (or calmásemos), which appears in dependent clauses after expressions of desire, doubt, or possibility. The imperfect indicative conveys actual past actions or states, while the imperfect subjunctive marks hypothetical or uncertain circumstances.

Examples:

- Cuando los niños estaban inquietos, calmábamos sus temores con cuentos y canciones.

- En aquella época, calmábamos la casa con pasos suaves y música tranquila.

- Nos calmábamos mutuamente con palabras serenas durante las largos descansos.

Etymology: Calmar proviene del español y, a su vez, se relaciona con calma y serenidad; el verbo procede de una raíz latina asociada al concepto de suavizar o tranquilizar.

Ver también: calmar, calma, calmo.