Escolhiam

Escolhiam is the third-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Portuguese verb escolher, meaning “they chose” or “they used to choose.” It marks a past action that was ongoing or habitual, rather than a completed event, in narratives or descriptions.

Morphology and conjugation: Escolher is a regular -er verb in the imperfect tense. The full imperfect indicative paradigm is eu escolhia, tu escolhias, ele escolhia, nós escolhíamos, vós escolhíeis, eles escolhiam. The form escolhiam corresponds specifically to eles/elas/vocês in the imperfect tense. The imperfect subjunctive of escolher is formed differently (for example, eles escolhessem or se eu escolhesse), which helps distinguish mood from the indicative.

Usage: Escolhiam commonly appears in past-tense narration to describe repeated or extended actions of choosing. It is used in both Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese, though regional frequency and style may vary. Example: Durante o processo, eles escolhiam candidatos com base em critérios específicos.

Etymology: The verb escolher derives from Latin eligere, via Romance languages. Cognates include Spanish elegir and French élire, both related to the act of choosing or selecting. The noun escolha (the act of choosing) is related to the same root.

This entry summarizes the meaning, tense, and usage of escolhiam, situating it within Portuguese verb conjugation and past-tense expression.