erstreckten

Erstreckten is a form of the German verb erstrecken, meaning to extend or to stretch out. In its simple past (Präteritum) form, erstreckten is used with plural subjects or when describing a completed extension in the past. For reflexive or intransitive use, the corresponding singular form would be erstreckte sich, while plural subjects take erstreckten sich.

Etymology and sense: The verb erstrecken comes from the prefix er- plus strecken (to stretch). It is used to describe something that reaches or extends over a space or a period, such as geographical extents, or the duration of a phenomenon. The sense of extending can be literal (physical length) or figurative (time, influence, or scope). In modern everyday German, sich erstrecken is more common for intransitive uses, while erstrecken with a direct object is comparatively rare and more formal or literary.

Usage: Erstreckten frequently appears in historical, geographical, or descriptive prose. Examples include descriptions of borders, coastlines, horizons, or timeframes in which a territory, influence, or phenomenon extended across multiple units. In everyday speech, speakers often prefer sich erstrecken or ausdehnen depending on the nuance.

Examples:

- Die Küste erstreckte sich über zehntausend Kilometer. (The coast stretched for ten thousand kilometers.)

- Die Grenzen erstreckten sich über mehrere Länder. (The borders extended across several countries.)

- Der Blick erstreckte sich weit in die Ferne. (The view stretched far into the distance.)

See also: erstrecken, sich erstrecken, ausdehnen, Ausdehnung, Streckung.