pensávamos

Pensávamos is the first-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Portuguese verb pensar. It expresses thinking that occurred in the past with a sense of duration, habit, or background context in a narrative. It can indicate ongoing thought in the past or a belief that existed before another event.

Etymology and grammar: Pensar comes from Latin pensāre, meaning to weigh or to consider. In the imperfect indicative, the conjugation for -ar verbs follows a regular pattern: eu pensava, tu pensavas, ele pensava, nós pensávamos, vós pensáveis, eles pensavam. In modern usage, the vós form is uncommon in everyday speech, while nós pensávamos remains standard in both Brazilian and European Portuguese.

Usage and nuance: Pensávamos is used to describe thoughts that were happening over a period in the past or that were habitual. It also appears in reported beliefs or expectations in the past, often with que: Pensávamos que iria chover (We thought it would rain). It commonly contrasts with pensamos (we think now) and with pensei/ pensou (I thought / he/she thought). The meaning can shift slightly depending on context, sometimes conveying uncertainty, reflection, or reassessment.

Examples:

- Nós pensávamos em viajar durante as férias, mas ficamos em casa.

- Pensávamos que ele já tinha saído.

- Ao chegar, nós pensávamos no que fazer a seguir.

In summary, pensávamos is a standard imperfect tense form used to express past thinking processes, beliefs, or plans that were temporary or habitual.