vivían
bee-BEE-ahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Mis abuelos vivían en una casa pequeña cerca del mar.
A2My grandparents used to live in a small house near the sea.
Mientras ellos vivían en Madrid, aprendieron mucho español.
A2While they were living in Madrid, they learned a lot of Spanish.
Ustedes vivían muy felices en ese barrio.
B1You all used to live very happily in that neighborhood.
💡 Grammar Points
Setting the Scene
This word is used to describe background situations in the past. If you're starting a story about where people lived for many years, use 'vivían' instead of 'vivieron'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Choosing the right 'Past'
Mistake: "Using 'vivieron' to describe a childhood home."
Correction: Use 'vivían' because childhood is a long period, not a single quick event.
⭐ Usage Tips
Look for the accent
Make sure to put the accent on the second 'i' (vivían). This helps people hear that it's a past description and not a present-tense word.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: vivían
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly describes a long-term living situation in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'vivieron' and 'vivían'?
'Vivieron' is for a finished event (They lived there for a year and left). 'Vivían' is for descriptions or habits (They used to live there/They were living there when something happened).
Can 'vivían' also mean 'you all'?
Yes! In Spain and Latin America, 'vivían' is the form used for 'ustedes' (you all) when describing the past.