Question 1

Why does this sentence use the indicative eravamo instead of the subjunctive? I thought fare finta che required the subjunctive!

Accepted Answer

You are right that fare finta che usually triggers the subjunctive. However, this sentence is a classic example of the imperfetto ludico (playful imperfect). In spoken Italian, especially when setting up games or hypothetical scenarios, the imperfect indicative is often used instead of the subjunctive to build an imaginary world.

Question 2

Would it be wrong to use the subjunctive fossimo here?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! Facciamo finta che fossimo pirati is strictly grammatically correct and would be preferred in formal writing. However, eravamo perfectly captures the spontaneous, playful tone of spoken Italian when roleplaying.

Question 3

What is the difference between facciamo finta and fingiamo?

Accepted Answer

While both mean 'let's pretend', fare finta is much more common in everyday spoken Italian, particularly for games or casual situations. Fingiamo (from the verb fingere) sounds a bit more formal and is often used when talking about actual deception or hiding one's feelings, rather than playful pretending.

Question 4

Why is there no article before pirati? Shouldn't it be i pirati?

Accepted Answer

In Italian, when you state a profession, title, or role directly after the verb essere, you typically drop the article. Just as you would say lui è medico (he is a doctor), here they are taking on the role of pirates, so it is simply eravamo pirati rather than eravamo i pirati.

Facciamo finta che eravamo pirati.

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