Exigía

Exigía is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb exigir, meaning to demand or require. It corresponds to “I/he/she used to demand” and is used to describe past, ongoing, or repeated demands or obligations in narrative or descriptive contexts. Exigir is a transitive verb and often takes a direct object, as in “La empresa exigía un informe semanal.” It can also introduce a subordinate clause with que and the subjunctive: “La escuela exigía que los alumnos llegaran a tiempo.”

Etymology: exigir comes from Latin exigere, formed from ex- “out” and agere “to drive, to do,” with the principal sense evolving from “to drive out” to “to demand, to exact.”

Usage notes: Exigir carries a stronger, more formal or coercive sense than pedir. It is common to express requirements in the past with exigía, especially in reports, narratives, or statements of policy. The verb can appear with different complements, including conditions or obligations imposed on people or institutions.

Related terms: exigir (the base verb), exigencia (demand, requirement), exigente (demanding). These forms are frequently used in legal, administrative, and formal contexts, as well as in everyday speech when stressing obligations or requirements.