követhették

"követhették" is the third-person plural conditional past form of the Hungarian verb "követ". "Követ" translates to "to follow" in English. Therefore, "követhették" expresses a hypothetical or potential action of following that could have happened in the past, but did not necessarily occur. It implies that the subjects were in a position to follow, or it was possible for them to follow, but the decision or outcome is uncertain or contrary to fact.

The conditional mood in Hungarian, especially the past conditional, is used to express unfulfilled conditions, possibilities, or polite suggestions related to past events. "Követhették" specifically denotes that "they" (the plural subject) might have followed, or could have followed, in a past context. For example, one might say "If they had known, they might have followed" or "They could have followed the path, but chose another." The exact nuance depends heavily on the surrounding sentence structure and context. This verb form is crucial for constructing complex conditional sentences and expressing counterfactual scenarios in Hungarian.