tenían

Tenían is a Spanish verb form. It is the imperfect indicative third-person plural of the verb tener, which means "to have." The imperfect tense in Spanish is used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, as well as to set the scene or describe states of being in the past. Therefore, "tenían" translates to "they had," "they used to have," or "they were having."

This verb form can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, "Ellos tenían un perro" means "They had a dog," indicating possession in the past. "Cuando eran niños, tenían miedo a la oscuridad" translates to "When they were children, they used to be afraid of the dark," describing a habitual state in the past. "La casa tenía muchas ventanas" means "The house had many windows," describing a characteristic of the house in the past.

The imperfect tense is often contrasted with the preterite tense, which describes completed actions in the past. While "tuvieron" (preterite of tener) would mean "they had" (a specific instance of having something), "tenían" suggests a more continuous or habitual possession or state. Understanding the nuances of the imperfect tense is crucial for accurate comprehension and use of Spanish.