aceptó
ah-sep-TOH
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ella aceptó el premio con una sonrisa.
A1She accepted the award with a smile.
Mi jefe aceptó la renuncia de Juan ayer.
A2My boss accepted Juan's resignation yesterday.
Usted aceptó las condiciones antes de firmar el contrato.
B1You (formal) accepted the conditions before signing the contract.
💡 Grammar Points
A Completed Action
This form, 'aceptó,' is the simple past tense (called the preterite). It tells you that the action started and finished at a specific point in the past, like accepting an offer yesterday.
The Accent Mark
The accent mark on the 'ó' is essential! It shows that the stress falls strongly on the last syllable, which is typical for the 'él/ella/usted' form in the simple past tense.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'aceptaba' when you mean 'aceptó'."
Correction: 'Aceptó' means the action finished (e.g., 'She accepted the gift'). 'Aceptaba' means the action was ongoing or habitual in the past (e.g., 'She used to accept all gifts').
⭐ Usage Tips
Identifying the Subject
Since 'aceptó' can mean 'he,' 'she,' or 'you (formal)' accepted, you often need to include the person (like 'mi madre' or 'el presidente') if the context isn't clear.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: aceptó
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'aceptó' to describe a single, finished action in the past?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'aceptó' and 'aceptaba'?
'Aceptó' is the simple past (preterite) and means the action was completed once (e.g., 'She accepted the ring'). 'Aceptaba' is the descriptive past (imperfect) and means the action was ongoing or habitual (e.g., 'She always accepted criticism').
Why does 'aceptó' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is needed to shift the stress to the last syllable (ah-sep-TOH) and distinguish it from the first-person present tense 'acepto' (I accept), where the stress is on the second-to-last syllable.