exigías

Exigías is the second person singular imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb exigir, meaning you demanded, you were demanding, or you used to demand. It is used with the pronoun tú and corresponds to actions or states in the past that were ongoing or habitual.

Grammatical notes: exigir is a regular -ir verb in the imperfect, with endings: -ía, -ías, -ía, -íamos, -íais, -ían. In addition to its main meaning of demanding or requiring, exigir often governs subordinate clauses in the subjunctive when expressing a demand or stipulation, for example: “exigías que llegara temprano” (you demanded that he arrive early). Exigías can take direct objects (un pago, más tiempo) and may appear in negative constructions like “no exigías tanto” (you didn’t demand so much). It is used in both Spain and Latin America, and the corresponding forms for usted/él/ella differ in person but share similar meaning.

Etymology and related forms: exigir derives from Latin exigere, meaning to demand or exact. Related forms include exijo, exiges, exige (present), and exigían, exigís, exigen (other imperfect and present forms).

Usage and nuance: exigías emphasizes past demands or expectations that were characteristic of the subject’s behavior, rather than a completed action. It contrasts with exigó (usted) or exigió (él/ella) for simple past. Examples illustrate typical contexts: demanding payment, insisting on conditions, or requiring compliance in a past situation.