Breakdown of Ieri mi domandavo se l'universo nascondesse un segreto.
un
a / an (masculine)
il segreto
the secret
se
if
ieri
yesterday
nascondere
to hide
l'universo
the universe (m)
domandarsi
to wonder
Questions & Answers about Ieri mi domandavo se l'universo nascondesse un segreto.
Why is nascondesse in the imperfect subjunctive here?
This sentence features an indirect question introduced by se (if or whether). Verbs expressing doubt or wondering, like domandarsi, trigger the subjunctive in these clauses. Since the main verb (mi domandavo) is in a past tense, and the potential hiding was happening at the same time, the rules of tense harmony require the imperfect subjunctive (nascondesse).
Why use the reflexive mi domandavo instead of just domandavo?
The reflexive verb domandarsi literally translates to asking oneself, which is how Italians express the concept of wondering. If you used domandavo without the reflexive pronoun mi, it would simply mean you were asking a question to someone else, and the sentence would feel incomplete without stating who you were asking.
Could I use the passato prossimo (mi sono domandato) instead of the imperfect (mi domandavo)?
You could, but it changes the nuance. The imperfect mi domandavo expresses an ongoing state of mind, translating well to I was wondering. If you used the passato prossimo, it would sound like a single, completed action: I asked myself or I wondered at one specific moment yesterday.
Would it be wrong to use the indicative form nascondeva instead of the subjunctive?
In very informal, everyday spoken Italian, you might actually hear people use the imperfect indicative (se l'universo nascondeva) for indirect questions. However, the subjunctive (nascondesse) is the strictly correct grammatical form, and you should always use it in writing or formal situations at the B2 level.
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