Lesson 139: Other Uses of the Imperfect / Altri usi dell'imperfetto

The imperfect (l'imperfetto) is mainly used as a past tense, but it also has these other following uses:

• The imperfect can be used for courteous requests o to express opinions in a polite or subdued manner. It is often used to replace the present tense or the conditional and is mainly used in spoken Italian:
  
  Volevo un caffè e un cornetto, per favore.
  I would like a coffee and croissant, please.
  
  Ti diceva la verità ma ha paura.
  He would tell you the truth, but he is scared.
  
  
• The imperfect can also be used to express actions that might have occurred but did not for whatever reason in the past. This usage is most common with the modals: volere, potere and dovere. When the imperfect is used, it is implied that the action did not take place, even if it is not qualified. This construction often replaces the past conditional:
  
  Voleva andare alla festa.
  He would have wanted to go to the party. (but did not for whatever reason)
  
  
• The imperfect can be used to express the future in the past, often expressed with the past conditional, of an action in the future that did not occur because of an impediment (in place of the past conditional):
  
  Provavo a chiamarti, ma ho perso il mio telefonino.
  I would have tried to call you, but I lost my mobile.
  
  
• Imperfect can also be used in hypothetical statements (often with se) in both phrases:
  
  Se non mi tradivi ti sposavo.
  If you would not have betrayed me, I would have married you.