Choose the correct imperfect form of 'estar' for the subject 'ellos'.

Choose the correct imperfect form of 'estar' for the subject 'ellos'.

• A. estaba
• B. estabais
• C. estábamos
• D. estaban

Answer: (D)

The test is about forming the imperfect tense of estar for a plural third-person subject. In the imperfect, estar becomes: estaba, estabas, estaba, estábamos, estabais, estaban. For ellos, the form that matches a group in the past as an ongoing state is están­ban. So, if you say they were tired or they were in that condition, you’d use estaban. For example: Ellos estaban cansados ayer. This shows a past, ongoing situation rather than a completed action. The other options correspond to different subjects: was for a singular subject (él/ella/usted), were in the vosotros form, or were in the nosotros form, which don’t fit the subject here.

The test is about forming the imperfect tense of estar for a plural third-person subject. In the imperfect, estar becomes: estaba, estabas, estaba, estábamos, estabais, estaban. For ellos, the form that matches a group in the past as an ongoing state is están­ban. So, if you say they were tired or they were in that condition, you’d use estaban. For example: Ellos estaban cansados ayer. This shows a past, ongoing situation rather than a completed action. The other options correspond to different subjects: was for a singular subject (él/ella/usted), were in the vosotros form, or were in the nosotros form, which don’t fit the subject here.