compraba

Compraba is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb comprar, meaning to buy. It is used to describe past actions that were habitual or ongoing, rather than completed events. As a conjugated form, it appears in sentences where the buying action was in progress over a period of time or repeated in the past.

Conjugation in the imperfect tense (indicative) includes: yo compraba, tú comprabas, él/ella/usted compraba, nosotros comprábamos, vosotros comprabais, ellos/ellas/ustedes compraban. This tense contrasts with the preterite, which would express a completed purchase, and with the present tense for current purchases.

Usage notes and examples: the imperfect can set background in a narrative, for instance, “Cuando vivía en la ciudad, compraba pan en la tienda de la esquina todos los días.” It can also report habitual actions across a time frame, such as “Antes, mi familia compraba comida a granel.” These uses emphasize repetition or continuity rather than a single act.

Etymology and related forms: comprar comes from Latin comparāre, through old Spanish developments, and denotes the action of acquiring by paying. Related forms include la compra (the purchase), el comprador (the buyer), and the verb comprar in other tenses and moods (compraré, compraba, compraría, etc.).

See also: comprar, compra, comprador, compra-venta.