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A simple storybook illustration showing one child hiding behind a brightly colored curtain, suddenly jumping out to startle a second child who reacts with wide eyes and a visible expression of fear and surprise.

asustaste

ah-soos-TAHS-teh

Conjugated Verb FormA2regular ar
You scared?Simple past tense, referring to 'tú',You frightened?Simple past tense, referring to 'tú'
Also:Did you scare?Used when forming a question about the past

Quick Reference

past Participleasustado (scared)
gerundasustando (scaring)
infinitiveasustar (to scare)

📝 In Action

¿Por qué me asustaste? Pensé que eras un ladrón.

A2

Why did you scare me? I thought you were a thief.

Asustaste a mi perro cuando gritaste de repente.

B1

You frightened my dog when you shouted suddenly.

Cuando entraste, asustaste a todos en la sala.

A2

When you came in, you scared everyone in the room.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • espantaste (you startled/drove away)
  • atemorizaste (you terrified)

Antonyms

  • calmaste (you calmed)
  • tranquilizaste (you reassured)

Common Collocations

  • asustaste a muerte – you scared to death
  • asustaste sin querer – you scared accidentally

💡 Grammar Points

The 'You' We Use

This form, 'asustaste,' specifically refers to the informal 'you' (tú). If you were speaking formally to an elder or a boss, you would use 'usted asustó'.

Past Action Completed

'Asustaste' uses the preterite tense, which is for actions that started and finished at a specific point in the past, like 'yesterday' or 'last night'.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Confusing Past Tenses

Mistake: "Using 'asustabas' (Imperfect tense) instead of 'asustaste'."

Correction: Use 'asustaste' (Preterite) when you mean the scaring happened once and ended. 'Asustabas' means 'you used to scare' or 'you were scaring' repeatedly.

⭐ Usage Tips

Adding Direct Objects

To say who you scared, just add the pronoun before the verb: 'Me asustaste' (You scared me) or 'Lo asustaste' (You scared him).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: asustaste

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence correctly uses 'asustaste'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

asustar(to scare (infinitive)) - verb
asustado(scared) - adjective
el susto(the fright/scare) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'asustaste' used for physical or emotional scaring?

It is used for both! You can use it when someone jumps out at you (physical surprise) or when someone gives you scary news (emotional fright). The result is always a feeling of fear or surprise.

How do I make 'asustaste' reflexive, meaning 'you got scared'?

You need the reflexive verb 'asustarse.' The conjugation would be 'te asustaste' (You got scared/You frightened yourself).