alcançava

Alcançava is a Portuguese verb form. It is the imperfect indicative third-person singular or first-person singular of the verb alcançar. This verb translates to "to reach," "to achieve," "to attain," or "to catch" in English. Therefore, "alcançava" describes an action of reaching, achieving, or attaining that was happening in the past, was habitual in the past, or was ongoing in the past.

For example, "Ele alcançava o topo da montanha todos os dias" means "He reached the top of the mountain every day," indicating a habitual action in the past. Alternatively, "Eu alcançava a bola quando ela estava prestes a cair" translates to "I was catching the ball when it was about to fall," showing an action that was in progress in the past. The context of the sentence determines the precise nuance of the verb's meaning.

The imperfect tense in Portuguese, as exemplified by "alcançava," is used to describe: continuous actions in the past, habitual actions in the past, descriptions of people, places, or things in the past, and to set the scene for another past event. It contrasts with the preterite tense, which describes completed actions in the past. Understanding the imperfect tense is crucial for comprehending past events and narratives in Portuguese.