ignoraban

Ignoraban is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb ignorar, meaning to ignore or to be unaware of. In standard Spanish, it corresponds to the third-person plural subject: ellos, ellas, or ustedes.

In the imperfect, -ar verbs take endings such as -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban. Therefore ignoraban conveys “they were ignoring” or “you all were ignoring” depending on the context. The form signals ongoing or habitual action in the past.

Usage notes: Ignoraban is common in narrative past to describe situations where something was ignored over a period, or to recount habitual behavior in the past. The tone is neutral by itself; any sense of disregard or judgment comes from context or chosen surrounding language.

Examples:

- Ellos ignoraban las señales de tránsito cuando cruzaban la calle.

- Ustedes ignoraban las advertencias de la autoridad.

- Durante años, ignoraban la evidencia presentada.

Etymology: The verb ignorar comes from Latin ignorare, formed with in- “not” + notus “known,” passing into Spanish via historical development through Old French and early Spanish. The imperfect form ignoraban reflects the regular -ar verb endings of its root.