prevedevano

Prevedevano is the imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb prevedere, meaning “they foresaw” or “they predicted.” It is used to describe past forecasts or expectations that were ongoing or repeated in the past, often providing background in narrative or analysis.

Etymology and classification: Prevedere derives from Latin praevidere, literally “to foresee” (prae- ‘before’ + videre ‘to see’). The verb belongs to the regular -ere verb family, with predictable conjugation patterns in the imperfect.

Conjugation notes: In the imperfect tense, the typical endings attach to the stem prevedev- (formed in accordance with other -ere verbs). The third-person plural form is prevedevano. The full imperfect paradigm for prevedere is: io prevedevo, tu prevedevi, lui/lei prevedeva, noi prevedevamo, voi prevedevate, loro prevedevano.

Usage: The imperfect preverbal forms are common in historical writing, journalism, and literature when describing forecasts that were believed to be likely in the past, or when signaling a recurring pattern of predictions. They contrast with more definitive tenses like the passato prossimo or with future-oriented forms.

Examples: “Secondo le stime del periodo, prevedevano una crescita costante.” “Gli analisti prevedevano che la situazione sarebbe migliorata entro l’anno.” These examples illustrate how prevedevano situates forecasts within a past timeframe and narrative context.

See also: prevedere, previsione, previsione del tempo, previsioni.