mettessero

Mettessero is the third-person plural form of the Italian verb mettere in the congiuntivo imperfetto (imperfect subjunctive). It is used in dependent clauses after verbs of doubt, possibility, desire, emotion, or judgment, and appears in more formal or literary writing as well as in reported speech. The form signals a hypothetical or non-real action in the past or a potential action in a past- or present-time frame.

The imperfect subjunctive forms of mettere are used to express nuance in dependent clauses, typically following conjunctions like che. The standard third-person plural form is mettessero. Examples include: “Speravo che loro mettessero da parte abbastanza soldi,” meaning I hoped that they would set aside enough money, and “Se loro mettessero in ordine i documenti, potremmo procedere,” a hypothetical condition about organizing the documents.

Usage notes: The congiuntivo imperfetto, including mettessero, is more common in formal, literary, or historical contexts. In everyday spoken Italian, speakers often prefer the present subjunctive (mettono, mettano) or other constructions to convey similar ideas. The imperfect subjunctive may be retained in indirect speech, classical prose, or legal and administrative texts to preserve nuance of past unreality or formality.

See also: Mettere, Italian verbs, Congiuntivo imperfetto, Italian grammar.