How to Say "they needed" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “they needed” is “necesitaban” — A2 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Ellos necesitaban más tiempo para terminar el examen.
They needed more time to finish the exam.
Las plantas necesitaban agua después de la sequía.
The plants needed water after the drought.
Ustedes necesitaban una reserva para entrar al restaurante.
You all needed a reservation to enter the restaurant.
The 'Background' Past
Use 'necesitaban' when describing an ongoing need in the past, like a backdrop in a story, rather than a quick one-time event.
Choosing the right past form
Mistake: “Using 'necesitaron' to describe how someone felt for a long time.”
Correction: Use 'necesitaban' for ongoing states and 'necesitaron' for a sudden, specific moment of need.
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