preoccupavate

Preoccupavate is an Italian verb form that can function in two closely related ways. It is the imperfect indicative second-person plural form of the transitive verb preoccupare (to worry, to concern) and, in its pronominal use, the imperfect indicative form of the reflexive verb preoccuparsi (to worry oneself). In both cases it expresses a past, ongoing, or habitual action, roughly translating to “you all were worrying” or “you all used to worry.”

Grammatical notes

In non-reflexive use, the form appears as voi preoccupavate and requires a direct object to complete the meaning, e.g., voi preoccupavate i vostri vicini con i rumori notturni. In reflexive use, the corresponding form is voi vi preoccupavate, where the pronoun vi marks the reflexive action, e.g., voi vi preoccupavate troppo per l’esame. The choice between reflexive and non-reflexive depends on whether the subject worries something else (non-reflexive) or worries themselves or their own situation (reflexive). The imperfect indicates a past state or repeated behavior rather than a single past event.

Etymology

Preoccupare and preoccuparsi derive from Latin praeeoccupāre, from prae- “before” and occupāre “to seize, to occupy.” The sense shift from “occupy beforehand” to “cause concern” developed over time in Italian.

Usage and nuance

Preoccupavate is typically used in narrative or descriptive past contexts to set a scene of ongoing concern. It can convey mild or pronounced worry depending on context, and is commonly found in literary writing as well as everyday speech when describing past attitudes or routines.

See also

preoccupare, preoccupazione, preoccuparsi, preoccupato.