demandaban

Demandaban is a verb form in Spanish, specifically the third-person plural imperfect indicative of the verb demandar. It translates to “they demanded” or “they were demanding,” depending on context. The verb demandar has senses related to asking for something and, in legal contexts, to filing a lawsuit or making a formal claim.

Origin and senses: Demandar comes from Latin demandare, through Old Spanish, and has developed two main senses in modern Spanish. One is to request or require something from someone, and the other is to initiate legal action or sue. The plural noun form demandadas refers to the acts of demanding or to formal lawsuits in some contexts, while the common noun demanda (singular) means a request or a lawsuit, depending on usage.

Usage notes: Demandaban is used to describe past actions that were ongoing, repeated, or habitual, rather than a single completed act. It contrasts with demandaron, the simple preterite form used for a completed past action. In narrative or descriptive past, demandaban often conveys a sense of ongoing pressure, a state of demanding, or a recurring demand.

Examples:

- Los trabajadores demandaban mejores condiciones laborales. (The workers were demanding better working conditions.)

- Durante la huelga, los residentes demandaban al gobierno atención inmediata. (During the strike, the residents demanded immediate attention from the government.)

- En ese periodo, la comunidad demandaba justicia y transparencia. (In that period, the community demanded justice and transparency.)

See also: demandar, demanda, demanda judicial.