duraient

Duraient is the imperfect tense form of the French verb durer, meaning to last or endure. It is used in the third person plural (ils/elles) in the past.

The imperfect forms of durer follow the standard -er verb pattern with the stem dur-: je durais, tu durais, il durait, nous durions, vous duriez, ils duraient. The form duraient specifically corresponds to ils/elles duraient. In practice, this tense describes ongoing or habitual past situations rather than a completed action.

In usage, the imparfait communicates duration, background, or repeated past actions. It sets scenes in narrative, describes states of being, or expresses what was customary to do in the past. It contrasts with the passé composé, which marks completed actions or specific events.

Examples:

- Les travaux duraient plusieurs mois. (The works lasted several months.)

- Quand il était jeune, les journées duraient longtemps et il lisait beaucoup. (When he was young, the days lasted long and he read a lot.)

Etymology and related forms:

Durer comes from Latin durare, related to the idea of lasting or enduring over time. The imperfect form duraient is part of standard French verb conjugation and is taught as a regular example of imperfect endings with a common verb stem.

See also: durer; imparfait; passé composé; French verb conjugation.