substituíram

Substituíram is the third-person plural preterite indicative form of the Portuguese verb "substituir". This verb translates to "to substitute" or "to replace" in English. Therefore, "substituíram" signifies that a group of people or entities performed the action of substituting or replacing something in the past.

The context in which "substituíram" is used is crucial for understanding its precise meaning. For example, "Eles substituíram o antigo sistema por um novo" translates to "They replaced the old system with a new one." Here, "substituíram" indicates a completed action by "eles" (they) in the past. Similarly, "Os jogadores substituíram os titulares lesionados" means "The substitutes replaced the injured starters."

The preterite tense ("substituíram") emphasizes that the act of substitution is finished and occurred at a specific point in the past. It is distinct from other verb tenses that might describe ongoing substitution or future replacements. Understanding the grammatical function of "substituíram" allows for accurate interpretation of Portuguese sentences describing past events of replacement or substitution.