ottenevamo

Ottenem o is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb ottenere, meaning to obtain or to acquire. It translates to we were obtaining or we used to obtain in English.

The imperfect form ottenevamo is used to describe past actions that were ongoing, repeated, or habitual, or to set the scene in narration. It often conveys a sense of progress toward a goal rather than a single completed act. It is commonly paired with a direct object (what was obtained) or with subordinate clauses explaining the outcome. For example: Durante il progetto, ottenevamo spesso i permessi necessari. We often obtained the necessary permits during the project. Un altro esempio: Prima di firmare, ottenevamo l’approvazione del consiglio. Before signing, we were obtaining the approval of the council.

Etymology: otten ere comes from Latin obtinēre, formed from ob- plus tenēre, meaning to hold or to obtain. The Italian form retains the root and the characteristic -ev- in the imperfect endings.

Usage notes: Ottener e is common in both spoken and written Italian, with ottenevamo specifically marking habitual past action by the subject noi. The corresponding forms exist for all three persons in the imperfect (avevo, avevi, aveva, avevamo, avevate, avevano for verbs with a different stem, while ottenere follows the -ev- pattern in the imperfect). As with other Italian imperfect forms, context determines whether the action is described as ongoing, repeated, or simply in the past.

See also: ottenere; Italian verbs; imperfect indicative.