handelten

handelten is a German verb form and the simple past (Präteritum) of handeln. The verb handeln has two primary meanings: to act or to take action, and to trade or deal, especially with goods. The form handelten is used for plural subjects in the past tense, as in wir handelten, ihr handeltet, sie handelten, and also with the formal Sie handelten. In narrative and formal writing, the Präteritum is common, while the Perfekt (haben gehandelt) is used in spoken language and many contemporary texts.

Conjugation basics:

- Present tense: ich handle, du handelst, er handelt, wir handeln, ihr handelt, sie handeln; Sie handeln.

- Preterite: ich handelte, du handeltest, er handelte, wir handelten, ihr handeltet, sie handelten; Sie handelten.

- Past participle: gehandelt, used with haben to form the Perfekt: ich habe gehandelt, du hast gehandelt, er hat gehandelt.

Usage notes:

- Distinguish from verhandeln, which means to negotiate, and from handeln im Sinne von Handel treiben, meaning to trade or deal in goods.

- Handeln can describe actions in general (to act responsibly) or commercial activities (to trade with a partner). The choice of tense (Präteritum vs. Perfekt) depends on style and register.

Etymology:

- The verb derives from Old High German handeln/handelôn, related to concepts of action and dealing, and is cognate with terms connected to “hand” and “dealings” in Germanic languages.