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ils commençaient

were beginning, were starting

→ commencer
commenç to begin, to start + aient they imperfect tense
verb · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Rare #45,570
were beginning, were starting
FR: Les enfants commençaient à rire.
EN: The children were beginning to laugh.
Conjugation of commencer
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
Third commençait commençaient

Les étoiles commençaient à apparaître.

The stars were beginning to appear.

Les premières pêches commençaient déjà à tomber.

The first peaches were already beginning to fall.

Ils commençaient à perdre foi en leur commandant.

They were beginning to lose faith in their commander.

Ils commençaient à débarrasser.

They were starting to clear up.

— Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

J'ai réussi mon examen final, et les vacances commençaient dans deux jours.

I passed my final exam, and vacation was starting in two days.

— Sous la chaleur du soleil (1994)