mostravamo

Mostravamo is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb mostrare, meaning "we were showing" or "we used to show." It is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, often to set the scene or describe what people did over a period of time.

Conjugation: mostrare is a regular -are verb. The imperfect forms are io mostravo, tu mostravi, lui/lei mostrava, noi mostravamo, voi mostravate, loro mostravano. Mostravamo corresponds specifically to the nosotros/we form.

Usage: In narrative and description, mostravamo expresses actions that were in progress or repeated in the past rather than a single completed act. It is commonly paired with time references such as "quando" or other phrases signaling background context. For example: "Quando eravamo bambini, mostravamo i nostri disegni ai vicini." or "Durante la mostra, mostravamo fianco a fianco i progetti." The imperfect nuance emphasizes continuity or habit rather than immediacy.

Etymology and relation: Mostrare derives from the Latin monstrare, meaning to show or point out. The form mostravamo is one of several inflected forms that allow speakers to express past aspect and tempo. It is contrasted with present tense forms like mostriamo (we show) and with passato prossimo forms like abbiamo mostrato (we showed).

See also: mostrare, imperfetto, Italian verbs.