Otorgaban

Otorgaban is the third-person plural imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb otorgar, meaning “they granted” or “they used to grant.” It is used to describe granting actions in the past without specifying a precise time, or to indicate habitual or repeated grants in a past period.

Usage and context

Otorgar denotes giving or bestowing something, such as rights, licenses, privileges, titles, or benefits. The imperfect form otorga... no, the correct form is otorgaban when referring to multiple subjects in the past. This form is common in formal, legal, administrative, and historical writing, where authorities, institutions, or rulers are described as granting items or statuses over a span of time.

Grammar and related forms

Otorgar is a regular -ar verb. In the imperfect, the typical ending for the ellos/ellas/ustedes form is -aban, yielding otorgaban. Other imperfect forms include otorgaba, otorgabas, otorgábamos, otorgabais. Related forms include the present otorgo, otorgas, otorga; the preterite otorgó/ otorgan; the past participle otorgado, and the gerund otorgando. The verb can be used transitively with a direct object (e.g., licencias, derechos) and can appear in passive constructions with ser or in adjectival phrases (derechos otorgados).

Examples

Las autoridades otorgaban licencias de conducir a ciudadanos aptos. En la época medieval, la corona otorgaba tierras a los vasallos. These examples illustrate how the imperfect signals past, ongoing, or repeated granting actions.

See also

Conceder, otorgamiento, otorgamiento de derechos.