How to `import { module } from 'x'` into an old project?

ionic-v1
1

Just getting into a legacy ionic-v1 app. Trying to add some functionality but cant import modules. Everything else works perfectly.

I have tried many ways to include this module, but nothing works. Below is the way stackoverflow, ionicforum and tutorials show how to do it, but it doesnt work, because of the way the app is built.

Getting this specific error:

Uncaught Error: [$injector:modulerr] Failed to instantiate module starter due to:
Error: [$injector:modulerr] Failed to instantiate module starter.controllers due to:
Error: [$injector:nomod] Module 'starter.controllers' is not available! You either misspelled the module name or forgot to load it. If registering a module ensure that you specify the dependencies as the second argument.

The code for main.js looks like this:

var app = angular.module('starter.controllers', [])

// This is what generates the error:
import { IonicStorageModule } from '@ionic/storage-angular';

app.controller('AppCtrl', function(
    $scope,
    $rootScope,
    $state,
    $translate,
    $http,
    $location,
    $ionicHistory,
    $ionicViewSwitcher,
    $timeout,
    $ionicPlatform,
    StorageService
    // adding 'IonicStorageModule' here gives error2 displayed below 
) {
    // app code ...
}

Error2:

ionic.bundle.js:26771 Error: [$injector:unpr] Unknown provider: IonicStorageModuleProvider <- IonicStorageModule <- AppCtrl

Also, this is the package.json:

{
    "name": "xxx",
    "version": "x.x.x",
    "description": "xxx",
    "dependencies": {
        "@ionic/storage-angular": "^3.0.6",
        "cordova": "^8.1.2",
        "cordova-android": "7.1.4",
        "cordova-android-support-gradle-release": "^3.0.1",
        "cordova-ios": "^5.0.1",
        "cordova-plugin-app-name": "^1.0.7",
        "cordova-plugin-compat": "^1.2.0",
        "cordova-plugin-device": "^1.1.7",
        "cordova-plugin-email": "^1.2.7",
        "cordova-plugin-geolocation": "^2.4.3",
        "cordova-plugin-inappbrowser": "^1.7.2",
        "cordova-plugin-network-information": "^1.3.4",
        "cordova-plugin-splashscreen": "^4.1.0",
        "cordova-plugin-statusbar": "git+https://github.com/apache/cordova-plugin-statusbar.git",
        "cordova-plugin-whitelist": "^1.3.5",
        "cordova-sqlite-storage": "^6.0.0",
        "gulp": "^3.9.1",
        "gulp-concat": "^2.2.0",
        "gulp-minify-css": "^0.3.0",
        "gulp-rename": "^1.2.0",
        "gulp-sass": "^3.1.4",
        "ionic": "^3.5.0",
        "ionic-native": "^2.9.0",
        "ionic-plugin-deeplinks": "^1.0.24",
        "ionic-plugin-keyboard": "^2.2.1",
        "localforage-cordovasqlitedriver": "^1.8.0",
        "phonegap-plugin-barcodescanner": "git+https://github.com/phonegap/phonegap-plugin-barcodescanner.git"
    },