duplicabais

Duplicabais is the second person plural imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb duplicar, meaning to double or replicate. It denotes an ongoing or habitual past action carried out by vosotros, the informal plural “you all.” This form is primarily used in Spain, where the pronoun vosotros is common.

In the imperfect tense, regular -ar verbs like duplicar follow the endings -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban. Therefore the full imperfect paradigm for duplicar is: yo duplicaba, tú duplicabas, él duplicaba, nosotros duplicábamos, vosotros duplicabais, ellos duplicaban. The imperfect contrasts with the preterite duplicaron (they doubled) and with vosotros duplicasteis (you all did duplicate) in the same tense framework. In Latin America, where the vosotros form is uncommon, speakers typically use ustedes duplicaban instead of vosotros duplicabais.

Usage notes include that duplicabais can describe repeated past actions, ongoing processes, or background settings in past narratives. It is commonly found in descriptive or historical discourse, literature, and informal speech in regions that retain the vosotros form. Misuse often involves confusing imperfect with preterite forms when recounting specific past events.

Etymology traces duplicar to the Spanish verb duplicar, itself from Latin duplicare, from duplicus “twofold.” This lineage reflects the basic meaning of creating a copy or making something twofold.