obtenía

Obtenía is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb obtener, which translates to "to obtain," "to get," or "to acquire." This grammatical tense is used to describe ongoing actions, habitual actions, or states of being in the past. It conveys a sense of continuity or repeated occurrence rather than a single, completed event. For example, "Él obtenía información de fuentes confiables" means "He used to obtain information from reliable sources" or "He was obtaining information from reliable sources." The imperfect tense is crucial for setting the scene or providing background in narratives. It contrasts with the preterite tense, which is used for completed actions in the past. The verb obtener itself is derived from the Latin "obtineō," meaning "to hold fast" or "to possess." Therefore, obtenía signifies a past continuous or habitual act of possessing or acquiring something.