indicaban

Indicaban is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb indicar, meaning to indicate, point out, or signal. As a past-tense form, indicaban represents ongoing or habitual action in the past and agrees with a plural third-person subject (ellos, ellas, or ustedes). This form is contrasted with indicaron, the preterite tense that marks a completed past action.

Etymology and meaning: indicar comes from Latin indicare, meaning to point out or reveal. In Spanish, indicaban can convey that at a certain time in the past, people were indicating something, or that indicating was a repeated or habitual activity.

Grammar and usage: Indicaban is used to describe actions that were in progress or repeated in the past. It often sets a scene, provides background information, or reports ongoing behavior. In narrative or reported speech, indicative imperfect forms like indicaban help convey continuity or simultaneity with other past events. It requires a subject plural in the past (they or you all) and can take direct or indirect objects, as in indicaban el camino (they indicated the way) or indicaban su apoyo (they indicated their support).

Examples:

- En la sala, los guardias indicaban las salidas de emergencia.

- Los testigos indicaban que era necesario evacuar, pero no había instrucciones claras.

Notes: Distinguishing indicaban from indicaron is important for tense and nuance. Indicaron signals a completed past action, while indicaban emphasizes ongoing or repeated indication in the past. Related terms include indicar (to indicate), indicación (indication), and imperfect tense usage in Spanish grammar.