étaient

Étaient is the third-person plural imperfect indicative form of the French verb être, meaning "to be". It is used to describe a state or action that was ongoing in the past, or to describe habitual actions or characteristics in the past. For example, "Ils étaient heureux" translates to "They were happy," indicating a past state of being. Similarly, "Elle disait qu'ils étaient gentils" means "She said that they were kind," describing a past characteristic. The imperfect tense is also used to set the scene for a narrative or to describe simultaneous actions in the past. When referring to multiple subjects, "étaient" is the correct conjugation. It is distinct from the passé composé, which describes a completed action in the past. Understanding the usage of "étaient" is crucial for accurately conveying past events and states in the French language.