consistía

Consistía is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb consistir. It is used to describe what something was made up of or what a thing contained in the past, indicating a state or situation that was ongoing or habitual at a previous time. The construction commonly appears with the preposition en to introduce the components or elements, as in “La colección consistía en veinte piezas” (The collection consisted of twenty pieces). The form can also appear with de in some contexts, though en is generally preferred when enumerating items or parts.

Etymology and meaning: consistir comes from Latin consistĕre (con- plus sistere), meaning to stand together or to be composed of. In modern Spanish, the verb covers both physical composition (materials, components) and more abstract make-up (a plan, a set of rules, a team’s membership) as described in the past.

Usage notes: In narrative or descriptive prose, consistía is employed to recount past compositions, structures, or configurations. It contrasts with the present tense consistir (which would describe current composition) and with preterite forms that emphasize completed past events. While consistir en is the standard way to state the components, some speakers use consistir de in informal contexts, though this is typically regarded as less formal or less standard in normative grammar guides. For describing the creation or formation of something in the past, phrases like “estaba formado por” or “constaba de” can also be used.

See also: consistir, constar de, estar compuesto por, historia de la lengua.