Arreglaba

Arreglaba is a Spanish verb form that functions as the imperfect indicative of the verb arreglar, meaning to fix or repair. The form can correspond to yo arreglaba or él/ella/usted arreglaba, since the imperfect endings for -ar verbs are -aba, -abas, -aba, -ábamos, -abais, -aban. Because the ending is the same for the first and third person singular, the intended subject is determined by context.

Usage typical in Spanish narrative, the imperfect form arreglaba describes past habitual actions or actions that were ongoing in the past. It often sets background or describes routine, repeated activities, or conditions in a past scene rather than a single completed event. For example: “Cuando era niño, arreglaba bicicletas para ganar dinero,” meaning that fixing bicycles was a regular activity in the past. Another example: “Ella arreglaba la puerta cuando sonó el timbre,” which conveys an action in progress at a past moment.

In grammar, arreglaba contrasts with the present tense arregla (he/she fixes) and with the preterite tense arregló (he/she fixed) to indicate different temporal aspects. Context typically clarifies the subject when the form arreglaba appears, due to the identical endings for yo and él/ella/usted.

Overall, arreglaba is a common example of how regular -ar verbs form the imperfect in Spanish to express habitual or ongoing past actions.