Se congelaba o se congelaban?

Question

En estas cuatro grandes vasijas doradas de bronce se guardaban agua para proteger al palacio de los incendios. En invierno, estas vasijas se calentaban para evitar que el agua se congelara y fuera utilizable en caso de incendio.

se congelara? I think it´s wrong. I think it´s se congelaban or congelaba? Am I right?

And what does this mean fuera utilizable?

Answer 1

Could you please tell me the reasons?

Answer 2

Agua or water is not plural.

The water didn't keep itself, the waterpots kept the water. - Jack-OBrien, May 7, 2013

Unless you are talking about the waters/las aguas, right? ;) - chileno, May 7, 2013

Answer 3

Zhmelissa:

The water may or may not have frozen, 'se congelara' is subjunctive and imperfect and 'the water' is what this clause is talking about. I think that 'se guardaban' is correct too, so hopefully chileno will correct me.

Answer 4

Guardaba

y

congelara is correct.

Answer 5

I cannot tell you why the subjunctive "congelara" is used.

As to "congeleban" It is referring to water, just the water, Now, say if you had several types of waters then you would use "congelaban".

Muchas gracias. - zhmelissa, May 7, 2013

Answer 6

its correct