entró
/en-TROH/
entered
The image visually represents the physical action of someone who 'entered' (entró) a place.
entró(Verb (Simple Past Tense))
entered
?physical movement
,went in
?movement toward the speaker
came in
?movement toward the speaker
📝 In Action
Ella no dijo nada, solo entró y cerró la puerta.
A1She didn't say anything, she just entered and closed the door.
El perro entró corriendo a la casa después de la lluvia.
A2The dog ran into the house after the rain.
¿Vio cuando usted entró? Estaba muy oscuro.
A2Did he see when you (formal) went in? It was very dark.
💡 Grammar Points
Using 'Entrar en' or 'Entrar a'
When talking about physical entry, you can use either 'entrar en' or 'entrar a' before the location, but 'en' is generally more common and always correct.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Simple Past Forms
Mistake: "Using 'entró' when talking about myself: 'Yo entró al cine.'"
Correction: The correct form for 'I' is 'Yo entré al cine.' Remember the accent mark on 'entró' makes it past tense for 'he/she/it.'
⭐ Usage Tips
Past Action, Completed
'Entró' is used for actions that happened quickly and finished completely at a specific point in the past (the simple past/preterite). Think of it as a single, definite event.
This illustration represents how 'entró' can mean 'started,' signifying the beginning of an activity or state.
entró(Verb (Simple Past Tense))
started
?beginning an activity or state
,joined
?group or institution
began
?non-physical initiation
📝 In Action
Ella entró en pánico cuando vio la araña.
B1She entered into a panic when she saw the spider.
El nuevo jefe entró a trabajar el lunes pasado.
B1The new boss started working last Monday.
La ley entró en vigor inmediatamente después de la votación.
B2The law went into effect immediately after the vote.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Prepositions
For states and processes, 'entró en' is often used, mimicking English phrases like 'entered into a contract' or 'fell into a state of panic'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Transitions
Use 'entró' when describing the single, definitive moment a transition happened, whether it’s a law starting or a person starting a new emotional state.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: entró
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'entró' in its figurative meaning?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'entró' have an accent mark?
The accent mark on the 'o' (entró) is necessary to show that the stress falls on the last syllable, which is typical for the simple past (preterite) form of regular '-ar' verbs in the third person singular. Without it, the word would be stressed on the 'e' and sound incorrect.
How is 'entró' different from 'entraba'?
'Entró' is the simple past (preterite) and means the action was a single, completed event ('She entered'). 'Entraba' is the descriptive past (imperfect) and means the action was habitual or ongoing in the past ('She used to enter' or 'She was entering').