Sétaient

Sétaient is a French word, a conjugated form of the verb "être," meaning "to be." Specifically, it is the third-person plural imperfect indicative form. This tense, the imperfect, is used to describe ongoing actions, habitual actions, or states of being in the past. Therefore, "sétaient" translates to "they were" or "they used to be."

For example, in a sentence like "Les oiseaux s'étaient perchés sur la branche," it means "The birds were perched on the branch." Here, "sétaient" describes a past state of being. Another example could be "Ils s'étaient toujours aimés," meaning "They always loved each other," indicating a habitual or ongoing feeling in the past.

The imperfect tense, and thus the form "sétaient," is crucial for setting the scene or providing background information in past narratives. It contrasts with the passé simple, which describes completed actions in the past. Understanding the nuances of "sétaient" and the imperfect tense is fundamental to comprehending French literature and spoken French. It conveys a sense of continuity or description rather than a single, completed event.