entraste
/en-TRAS-teh/
you entered
When you moved physically from one place to another, you entered (entraste).
entraste(verb)
you entered
?physical movement
,you went in
?physical movement
you came in
?physical movement, implies coming toward the speaker
📝 In Action
¿A qué hora entraste a la reunión?
A1What time did you enter the meeting?
Tú entraste a la casa sin tocar la puerta.
A2You came into the house without knocking on the door.
Cuando entraste al cine, ya había empezado la película.
B1When you went into the movie theater, the film had already started.
💡 Grammar Points
Focus on the Past
Entraste is the past action of 'entrar' (to enter). It describes a completed action that happened at a specific time in the past.
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Use 'entraste' (preterite) when the entering was a sudden, finished event. Use 'entrabas' (imperfect) if you were describing the scene while the action was happening.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'a' unnecessarily
Mistake: "Tú entraste a la habitación."
Correction: Tú entraste en la habitación (or just la habitación). While 'entrar a' is common in some regions, 'entrar en' or using no preposition is often preferred when referring to the place itself.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use 'tú' or omit it
Since 'entraste' already tells us 'you' did the action, you don't need to say 'Tú entraste' unless you want to emphasize who did it.
When you became a member of the organization, you joined (entraste).
entraste(verb)
you joined
?joining a group or organization
,you started
?starting a job or field of study
you took part in
?participating in an event
📝 In Action
¿Cuándo entraste a trabajar en esa empresa?
B1When did you start working at that company?
Dicen que entraste en la universidad el año pasado.
B1They say that you joined the university last year.
Tú entraste a la conversación justo a tiempo para escuchar la noticia.
B2You entered the conversation just in time to hear the news.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'En'
When 'entrar' means 'to join' or 'to start' a field, it often uses the preposition 'en' (in/into): Entraste en el equipo (You joined the team).
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal vs. Informal
Remember 'entraste' is only for 'tú' (informal you). If you were speaking formally to an adult or stranger, you would use 'entró' (usted entró).
When the object was the right size for the space, it fit (entraste, in terms of capacity).
entraste(verb)
you fit
?capacity or size, usually in a negative context
you squeezed in
?implies difficulty fitting
📝 In Action
Intentaste llevar la maleta, pero no entraste en el coche.
B2You tried to take the suitcase, but it didn't fit in the car. (The suitcase did not fit.)
Por suerte, entraste en el pantalón después de lavar la ropa.
C1Luckily, you fit into the pants after washing the clothes.
💡 Grammar Points
Capacity vs. Movement
When 'entrar' means 'to fit,' the subject is usually the thing trying to be contained (like a suitcase or a person), not always the one doing the physical entering.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: entraste
Question 1 of 1
Which English phrase correctly captures the meaning of 'Entraste a la universidad con una beca'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'entraste' mean 'you entered' and not 'I entered' or 'he entered'?
'Entraste' is specifically the verb form for 'tú' (informal singular 'you'). The '-aste' ending is a clear signal that the action ('entrar') was done by 'you' in the simple past (preterite) tense. 'I entered' would be 'entré,' and 'he/she/it entered' would be 'entró.'
Is 'entraste' formal or informal?
'Entraste' is informal because it uses the 'tú' form. If you need to be formal or polite, you should use 'usted entró' (you entered, formal).