wirkten

Wirkten is the simple past tense (Präteritum) form of the German verb wirken. It indicates that something had an effect, operated, or appeared to do so in the past. In written language, Präteritum is common for narration and formal reports; in everyday speech, the perfect tense (Perfekt) is often used instead.

Conjugation of wirken in Präteritum: ich wirkte, du wirktest, er/sie/es wirkte, wir wirkten, ihr wirktet, sie wirkten. In the formal address, Sie wirkten follows the same form as the third-person plural, with Sie capitalized in writing. The past form is used to describe completed events or states in the past.

Meanings and usage: Wirken has several senses. It can mean to have an effect or influence (to operate, function), as in "Die Medizin wirkte schnell" (The medicine acted quickly). It can also mean to seem or appear in a certain way, as in "Das wirkte seltsam." Additionally, it can describe the influence of plans, policies, or circumstances, e.g., "Die Maßnahmen wirkten sich auf die Bevölkerung aus." The past tense form wirkten is thus appropriate for describing past effects or appearances.

Etymology and related forms: The verb wir­ken comes from Germanic roots and yields the noun Wirkung (effect, influence) and related derivatives. The Präteritum ending -ten in wirkten follows the regular weak-verb pattern in German.

Wirkten is primarily encountered in written or formal narrative; in colloquial speech, speakers more often use the Perfekt form to convey past actions.