começaram

"Começaram" is the third-person plural preterite indicative form of the Portuguese verb "começar". This verb translates to "to begin" or "to start" in English. Therefore, "começaram" signifies that an action or event was initiated by a group of people or things in the past.

For example, in the sentence "Os jogos começaram cedo," the verb "começaram" indicates that "the games" (a plural subject) started early. Similarly, "As obras começaram no mês passado" means "The construction works began last month." The preterite tense is used to describe completed actions in the past.

The word "começaram" is crucial for conveying past events involving multiple subjects. Its usage is widespread in written and spoken Portuguese across various contexts, from everyday conversations to formal reports and literature. Understanding its conjugation and meaning is fundamental for comprehending Portuguese grammar and accurately expressing past occurrences. It is the direct past tense equivalent of "they/you all began/started."