arribaven

In a sentence

• Els ocells arribaven cada primavera al seu niu.

  The birds arrived each spring at their nest.

  In this sentence, 'arribaven' expresses an habitual action in the past indicating when the birds would return.

• Quan mirava per la finestra, arribaven les primeres gotes de pluja.

  When I looked out the window, the first drops of rain arrived.

  Here, 'arribaven' is used to describe simultaneous past actions or events occurring at the same time as another action.

• Arribaven molt emocionats després d'haver completat la carrera.

  They arrived very excited after completing the race.

  In this case, 'arribaven' indicates the state or condition of the subjects upon arriving at the destination.