Question 1

Why is passeggiavo in the imperfetto tense after mentre?

Accepted Answer

The word mentre translates to while and is used to talk about an ongoing background action. The imperfetto tense is exactly what we need here because it describes actions that were continuous or in progress in the past, just like the English -ing form.

Question 2

Why is the second verb avevo also in the imperfetto tense?

Accepted Answer

The imperfetto is always used to describe physical and emotional states in the past. Since feeling hot was an ongoing condition happening at the exact same time as the strolling, rather than a sudden completed event, it needs the imperfetto as well.

Question 3

Could I use quando instead of mentre here?

Accepted Answer

You could, but it changes the focus. The word mentre strongly emphasizes that two things were happening at the exact same time. If you used quando instead, it would mean when, and could imply a repeated past habit like Whenever I used to stroll.

Question 4

Why does the sentence use avevo instead of ero to mean I was hot?

Accepted Answer

In Italian, you express feeling hot or cold by saying you have heat or have cold. You use the verb avere to have plus the noun caldo heat. If you said ero caldo using the verb essere to be, it would mean your actual body was physically hot to the touch, like a radiator!

Mentre passeggiavo, avevo molto caldo.

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