spielten

Spielten is the Präteritum (simple past) form of the German verb spielen for plural subjects. Specifically, it is used with wir (we) and sie/Sie (they or you, formal) in the past tense, as in wir spielten or sie spielten. The corresponding forms for other subjects are ich spielte, du spieltest, er/sie/es spielte, and ihr spieltet.

In standard German, das Präteritum is commonly found in written language, such as narratives, reports, and historical accounts. In everyday spoken German, the Perfekt (present perfect) is more frequent for past actions, using haben or sein as auxiliary verbs, for example: wir haben gespielt, ihr habt gespielt.

Usage and nuances: spielten expresses completed actions in the past without specifying a definite time frame beyond the past. It is often used to recount events, describe what happened, or set scenes in literature and journalism. Because it is a past tense form, it can convey a straightforward chronology or situate past events in a broader narrative.

Examples:

- Wir spielten im Garten, bis es dunkel wurde.

- Sie spielten Karten, während der Regen prasselte.

Notes: Because German uses both Präteritum and Perfekt to express past events, contexts, regional preferences, and registers influence choice. In northern and formal writing, Präteritum like spielten is common; in conversation and many dialects, Perfekt is typically preferred.