GENERAL INFO

étaient is the third-person plural (ils/elles) imperfect tense of the verb "être" (to be) meaning "they were".

USAGE

It describes past conditions, ongoing actions, or habitual events.

For example: "Ils étaient fatigués" (They were tired) or "Elles étaient toujours en retard" (They were always late).

TRAPS

Don't confuse it with "ont été" (passé composé for "they were," focusing on a completed event) or "était" (imperfect for singular subjects: il/elle/on). It's distinct from future or conditional forms.