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ils sortaient

were going out, were coming out

→ sortir
sort to go out, to leave + aient imperfect tense, they
verb · third plural · imperfect indicative Rare #35,935
were going out, were coming out Imperfect tense (ils/elles). Often describes an ongoing action or a repeated habit in the past.
FR: Ils sortaient tous les soirs après le dîner.
EN: They used to go out every evening after dinner.
Conjugation of sortir
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First sortais sortions
Second sortais sortiez
Third sortait sortaient

Je ne savais pas qu'elles sortaient ensemble.

I didn’t know they were dating.

Toutes les filles sortaient avec des garçons.

All the girls were dating boys.

— La Vie d'Adèle - Chapitres 1 et 2 (2013)

Grand-père, pensez-vous que ce serait bon si les garçons sortaient avec nous ?

Grandfather, do you think it would be a good idea for the boys to come out with us?

— भाग मिल्खा भाग (2013)

Ils ne sortaient pas ensemble ?

They weren't dating?

— Mystic River (2003)

D'où sortaient ces soldats ?

Where did these soldiers come from?

— Le Secret des poignards volants (2004)

Je ne savais pas qu'ils sortaient ensemble.

I didn't know they were dating.

C'est comme s'ils sortaient directement des pages du journal de grand-père.

It's as if they came straight out of Grandpa's journal.

— Rang de Basanti (2006)