sognavo

Sognavo is the first-person singular imperfect indicative form of the Italian verb sognare, meaning "to dream." It describes a dream or the act of dreaming in the past that was ongoing, repeated, or habitual. In narrative, the imperfect helps set a past scene or express recurring dreams or wishes. For example: "Quando avevo dieci anni, sognavo di diventare pilota." The imperfect conveys ongoing or non‑completed action, unlike the passato prossimo, which foregrounds a completed past event.

Conjugation and usage: The full imperfect is io sognavo, tu sognavi, lui/lei sognava, noi sognavamo, voi sognavate, loro sognavano. Sognare is a regular -are verb; related tenses include present sogno, passato prossimo ho sognato, and future sognerò. The imperfect is used for past habits, descriptions of ongoing mental states, and wishes in the past, as well as for setting scenes in storytelling.

Etymology and related terms: Sognare derives from Latin somniare, from somnium "dream." The noun sogno means "dream" and shares the same origin. A common expression is sognare a occhi aperti, meaning "to daydream." In Italian, the imperfect form often marks ongoing or habitual past experiences, aligning with the broader Italian aspect system.

See also: sogno; sognare.