cambió
/kahm-BEE-oh/
changed
When someone cambió (changed) something, they modified it.
cambió(Verb (Past Tense))
changed
?He/She/It/You (formal) modified something
modified
?made an alteration
,replaced
?swapped one thing for another
📝 In Action
Él cambió la rueda pinchada en diez minutos.
A1He changed the flat tire in ten minutes.
La empresa cambió su política de devoluciones el mes pasado.
A2The company changed its return policy last month.
Usted cambió de opinión muy rápido.
A2You (formal) changed your mind very quickly.
💡 Grammar Points
Preterite Tense: Completed Action
"Cambió" is the past tense used to describe an action that started and finished at a specific point in the past, like a single event or a sudden modification.
Verb Form Recognition
When you see 'cambió' (with the accent mark), you know the subject must be 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), 'usted' (formal you), or a singular noun (the government, the weather, the car, etc.).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'cambiaba' (imperfect) when referring to a single, finished change."
Correction: Use 'cambió' (preterite) for one-time, completed actions: 'Ayer cambió la bombilla' (Yesterday he changed the lightbulb).
⭐ Usage Tips
Changing One's Mind
To say someone changed their mind, always use the structure: 'cambió de opinión'.
Cambió (changed) can mean something became different, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.
cambió(Verb (Past Tense))
changed
?It became different
transformed
?underwent a significant change
📝 In Action
La atmósfera de la sala cambió cuando ella entró.
A2The atmosphere of the room changed when she entered.
Su voz cambió después de la pubertad.
B1His voice changed after puberty.
Todo cambió para él después de ese viaje.
A2Everything changed for him after that trip.
💡 Grammar Points
Intransitive Use
In this usage, 'cambió' means the subject itself is what changed, without acting upon another object. (E.g., The weather changed, not: He changed the weather).
⭐ Usage Tips
Impersonal Changes
This form is often used for impersonal subjects like 'el clima' (the climate), 'la situación' (the situation), or 'todo' (everything).
When someone cambió (exchanged) goods, they swapped them.
cambió(Verb (Past Tense))
exchanged
?He/She/It/You (formal) swapped currency or goods
swapped
?traded one item for another
📝 In Action
El turista cambió cien dólares en el aeropuerto.
B1The tourist exchanged one hundred dollars at the airport.
Ella cambió su camisa por una talla más grande.
B1She exchanged her shirt for a bigger size.
¿Quién cambió mi café por té? ¡Fue un error!
B2Who swapped my coffee for tea? It was a mistake!
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'por' for Exchange
When exchanging one item for another, Spanish often uses the preposition 'por' (for): 'cambió A por B' (He exchanged A for B).
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: cambió
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'cambió' to mean 'exchanged money'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'cambió' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'ó' is essential! It tells you that the word is in the simple past tense (preterite) and that the stress falls on the last syllable, confirming it refers to a finished action: 'He/She/It changed.'
What is the difference between 'cambió' and 'cambiaba'?
'Cambió' (preterite) describes a single, completed action in the past (e.g., 'He changed the oil yesterday'). 'Cambiaba' (imperfect) describes habitual actions or ongoing states in the past (e.g., 'He used to change the oil every month').