construyó
/kons-tru-YO/
built
When referring to a completed physical action, "construyó" means "built," like finishing this house.
construyó(verb)
built
?past completed action
,constructed
?past completed action
erected
?formal construction
📝 In Action
El arquitecto construyó la casa en solo seis meses.
A2The architect built the house in only six months.
¿Quién construyó este castillo tan antiguo?
B1Who constructed this very old castle?
Usted construyó una carrera impresionante en la ciudad.
B1You (formal) built an impressive career in the city.
💡 Grammar Points
Past Tense Action
This form ('construyó') is the simple past tense (preterite) used for actions that started and finished completely at a specific point in the past.
The 'Y' Rule
Verbs ending in -uir (like construir) change the 'i' to a 'y' when the 'i' is unstressed and sits between two vowel sounds, which is exactly what happens here: construyó.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting the Accent
Mistake: "Escribir 'construyo' (present tense) when you mean 'construyó' (past tense)."
Correction: The accent mark on the 'ó' is essential to show that this is the past tense form and to put the emphasis on the last syllable.
⭐ Usage Tips
Identifying the Subject
Since this form can mean 'he built,' 'she built,' or 'formal you built,' you often need to include the subject (él, ella, or usted) for clarity, unless the context is obvious.
Used in the context of ideas, "construyó" means "developed," referring to the construction of a theory or argument.
construyó(verb)
developed
?a theory or argument
,established
?a reputation or relationship
formulated
?an idea or plan
📝 In Action
Ella construyó un argumento irrefutable en el debate.
B2She developed an irrefutable argument in the debate.
El director construyó su reputación con años de éxito.
C1The director established his reputation with years of success.
💡 Grammar Points
Abstract Use
Just like in English, 'to build' can refer to creating something non-physical, such as trust, a career, or a concept. 'Construyó' handles this meaning perfectly in the past.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: construyó
Question 1 of 2
Which subject CANNOT be used with the verb form 'construyó'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'construyó' have a 'y' instead of an 'i'?
This is a special spelling rule for verbs like 'construir' (those ending in -uir). When the letter 'i' is unstressed and appears between two vowel sounds (like in 'constru-i-ó'), it changes to a 'y' to make the pronunciation smoother and easier to say.
Is 'construyó' a regular or irregular verb?
It is considered irregular because the 'i' changes to a 'y' in certain forms, like 'construyó' (preterite) and 'construye' (present tense). Regular verbs never change their stem or vowel spelling.