modificaron

Modificaron is the third-person plural preterite form of the Spanish verb modificar, meaning “they modified” or “you all modified.” It indicates a completed action of changing something by a plural subject. The infinitive is modificar, and this form shows the standard -ar verb conjugation in the preterite for ellos/ellas/ustedes.

In usage, modificaron is employed to recount past changes or updates, often in narratives, reports, or descriptions of events. It can refer to edits to documents, adjustments to plans or systems, or alterations to rules and policies. Examples include: “Los editores modificaron el artículo” and “Las condiciones del contrato fueron modificadas.” The form aligns with other preterite actions that are finished at a definite time in the past.

Etymology and related forms: modificar comes from Latin modificare, formed from a root related to making or shaping changes. Related terms include modificado (participio), modificación (sustantivo), and modificador (sustantivo denoting a modifier). The preterite has other forms as well (modifiqué, modificaste, modificó, modificamos, modificasteis, modificaron), with modificaron serving as the plural past form.

Notes: In Spanish, the preterite is often used for actions completed in the past, in contrast to the imperfect, which describes ongoing or habitual past actions. Modificar also appears in passive constructions with ser or estar, as in “fue modificado” (was modified), to emphasize the change itself rather than the actor.