mantenía

Mantenía is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb mantener. It translates roughly as “he/she was maintaining” or “he/she used to maintain,” and it is used to describe habitual, repeated, or ongoing actions in the past, as well as past states or conditions. The imperfect contrasts with the preterite, which would express a completed action.

Origin and range of meanings: Mantener comes from the Latin manū tenēre, meaning to hold in the hand, and has evolved to cover senses such as to support, to keep, to preserve, or to sustain. In modern Spanish, mantener carries meanings related to physical upkeep, financial support, or keeping a condition, attitude, or relationship. Mantenía can thus refer to sustaining a lifestyle, a habit, a position, or a level of physical or monetary support in the past.

Usage notes: Common collocations include mantener la casa (to keep up the house), mantener una relación (to maintain a relationship), mantener una actitud prudente (to keep up a prudent attitude), or mantener a la familia (to support one’s family). In narrative style, the imperfect form conveys background information or a habitual past action. Be mindful of reflexive constructions; for stay-like senses, español uses mantenerse, not mantener.

Examples: “Cuando era joven, mantenía un horario rígido.” “Durante la crisis, mantenía a su familia con ingresos modestos.” English equivalents depend on context and may be “kept,” “maintained,” or “kept up.”