existiam

Existiam is a conjugated form of the Portuguese verb existir, specifically the third-person plural imperfect indicative. It translates to “they existed” or “there were,” and is used to describe past existence or past habitual occurrences.

Etymology and grammar: The verb existir comes from the Latin existere, meaning to stand forth or to appear, with its noun form existência deriving from the same root. Existiam follows the regular imperfect ending pattern for -ir verbs in Portuguese, combining the stem exist- with the imperfect endings. Other forms of the same verb include existiam, existia, existiamos, and existirem, depending on person and tense. In contrast, the present tense is existem, and the future is existirão.

Usage: Existiam is commonly found in historical narratives, descriptions of past situations, and literature to set scenes or indicate that certain conditions or populations existed in a previous time. It can pair with nouns, adjectives, or subordinate clauses to convey ongoing or repeated existence in the past. Example: Existiam muitos problemas na época, o que moldou as decisões tomadas. Another example: No século XIX, existiam várias comunidades remotas que mantinham tradições distintas.

See also: Existir, existência, existir conjugation, Portuguese verb conjugation. Note that existiam is a grammatical form rather than a standalone noun or proper noun, and it should be understood through its role as part of the verb existir in past tense.