continuaron

Continuaron is the third-person plural form of the Spanish verb continuar in the pretérito indefinido (preterite). It is used to indicate that the action of continuing occurred and was completed at a past point in time, often within a narrative sequence. The form corresponds to ellos, ellas, or ustedes as the subject.

Conjugation and form. Continuar is a regular -ar verb in the pretérito. The stem is continu-, and the endings for the preterite are -é, -aste, -ó, -amos, -asteis, -aron. Therefore, the third-person plural form is continuaron. Other forms include continué, continuaste, continuó, continuamos, continuasteis, and continuaron, depending on the subject and person.

Usage and nuance. Continuaron signals that the act of continuing persisted or resumed in the past. It is commonly used in storytelling or reporting past events to connect actions or to emphasize perseverance or continuation despite obstacles. In some contexts, it can imply a repetition or extension of an ongoing process rather than a single completed moment. It is often contrasted with proseguir or seguir, which can carry slight nuances about continuing a line of action or a course.

Examples.

- Después de la pausa, continuaron la marcha.

- A pesar de la lluvia, continuaron trabajando en el proyecto.

Etymology and related forms. Continuar derives from Latin continuare, from continuus meaning uninterrupted. Related verbs include proseguir and seguir, which can be used in similar contexts with nuanced meaning differences.