cuidabais

Cuidabais is the second-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb cuidar, meaning to take care of or to tend. It expresses a past action that was habitual or ongoing when the subject is vosotros, the informal plural you used in Spain.

Regional usage in Spain and beyond: The vosotros forms, including cuidabais, are common in Spain in informal speech and writing. In much of Latin America, where the vosotros form is not used, cuidaban or ustedes cuidaban would typically convey a similar sense instead.

Formation and grammar: Cuidabais is formed from the stem cuid- plus the imperfect ending -abais, following the standard -ar verb pattern for the imperfect: -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban.

Examples:

- Cuando vivíais allí, cuidabais de los niños del barrio durante los veranos.

- Antes cuidabais de vuestra abuela cada fin de semana.

Etymology: The verb cuidar derives from the Latin curare (to take care of), passing into Spanish through its Romance precursors. The imperfect endings, including -abais, are inherited from the broader Latin verb conjugation pattern for -ar verbs.