Yap.Town

ellos usaban

used, were using

u ˈs a b a n → usar
us to use + aban 3rd-person plural imperfect
verb · 3rd-person plural, imperfect tense Rare #39,017
used For a continuing or repeated action in the past.
SP: Antes usaban este camino para ir al pueblo.
EN: They used to take this road to get to the village.
were using For an action in progress in the past.
SP: Cuando llegué, usaban la puerta de atrás.
EN: When I arrived, they were using the back door.
Conjugation of usar
Indicative imperfect
SingularPlural
First usaba usábamos
Third usaba usaban
Subjunctive imperfect
SingularPlural
First usaba usábamos
Third usaba usaban

Estos químicos se usaban para hacer tacones de zapato.

These chemicals were used to make shoe heels.

¿Cómo los usaban?

How did they use them?

— Ofrenda a la tormenta (2020)

Yo no sabía que usaban la puerta de atrás.

I didn't know they used the back door.

— Un profeta (2009)

Quizá las orquídeas usaban toda el agua disponible.

Maybe the orchids used all the available water.

Usaban a la niña como traficante.

They used the girl as a drug runner.

— El Hombre De Ninguna Parte (2010)

Los magos las usaban cuando yo era joven.

Wizards used them when I was young.

Sólo la usaban en las bodas.

They only used it at weddings.

— El castillo en el cielo (1986)

Antes, los políticos usaban el sistema para ganar dinero.

Previously, politicians used the system to make money.

— Tropa de Élite 2 (2010)