получал

получал

"Получал" means "received" or "was receiving" in English.

Here, 'получал' is in the imperfective past tense, indicating a repeated or habitual action of receiving letters.

Я часто получал письма от друзей.

I often received letters from friends.

In this context, 'получал' conveys an action that was ongoing or happening at a specific point in the past, typical of the imperfective verb aspect.

Вчера он получал награду за участие.

Yesterday he was receiving an award for participation.

Here, 'получал' describes a state or recurrent action in the past, as part of an ongoing situation.

Когда я был студентом, я получал стипендию.

When I was a student, I received a scholarship.