Existía

Existía is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb existir, meaning to exist. It is used to refer to the existence of something in the past, often describing ongoing states, conditions, or habitual situations rather than a single completed event. It contrasts with existió, the preterite form used for past events regarded as finished or punctual.

Etymology: existía derives from Latin existere (to stand forth, to arise), through the development of Romance languages into Spanish, preserving the core sense of “to exist.”

Usage: In narrative and descriptive contexts, existía expresses background information or a past reality. It can refer to physical existence, institutions, beliefs, or conditions: for example, "Existía una antigua tradición en la aldea" or "Existía una confianza general en aquel período." The form can be either yo existía or él/ella/usted existía, with subject often implied by context. Because Spanish pronouns are frequently omitted, the exact subject is inferred from surrounding text.

Notes: The imperfect form conveys duration, repetition, or a steady state in the past. It is not used for events seen as a single point in time; for those, existió is appropriate. In instructional settings, existía is often contrasted with existió to illustrate imperfect versus preterite usage.

See also: existir; conjugation of Spanish verbs; Real Academia Española.