jatkaisivat

Jatkaisivat is the third-person plural past imperfective form of the Finnish verb "jatkaa". "Jatkaa" means to continue, to carry on, or to extend. Therefore, "jatkaisivat" translates to "they would continue", "they kept on", or "they extended". It is used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past, or a hypothetical continuation of an action in the past. For example, in a sentence like "Jos heillä olisi ollut enemmän aikaa, he jatkaisivat työtään" (If they had had more time, they would have continued their work), "jatkaisivat" expresses a hypothetical past continuation. Alternatively, in a sentence like "Lapset leikkivät pihalla, ja he jatkaisivat leikkiään koko päivän" (The children were playing in the yard, and they kept on playing all day), "jatkaisivat" describes a past action that was ongoing. The imperfective aspect indicates that the action was not completed or viewed as a single event, but rather as a process or duration. Understanding the context of the sentence is crucial for accurately interpreting the precise nuance of "jatkaisivat". It signifies a sustained or recurring action in the past, or a potential for such action depending on certain conditions.