escribiste
ess-cree-BEE-steh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿Tú escribiste esa carta anoche?
A1Did you write that letter last night?
Escribiste un mensaje muy bonito por mi cumpleaños.
A2You wrote a very nice message for my birthday.
No escribiste los apuntes, así que no tienes la información.
A2You didn't write the notes, so you don't have the information.
💡 Grammar Points
The Past Tense for Completed Actions
"Escribiste" uses the Preterite tense, which is used to describe actions that started and finished completely at a specific point in the past (like saying 'yesterday' or 'last week').
The 'Tú' Form
This form is used when talking directly to one person whom you know well (a friend, family member, or child). It corresponds exactly to 'you' in English.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Preterite and Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'escribías' (imperfect) when you mean 'escribiste' (preterite)."
Correction: Use 'escribiste' for one specific, finished action ('You wrote the report yesterday'). Use 'escribías' for habitual actions or descriptions in the past ('You used to write poems').
⭐ Usage Tips
Regular -IR Verb Pattern
The '-iste' ending is completely regular for the 'tú' preterite form of all -ER and -IR verbs (like comiste or viviste). If you know this pattern, you know hundreds of verbs!
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: escribiste
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase correctly translates 'escribiste'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'escribiste' used in all Spanish-speaking countries?
Yes, 'escribiste' is the standard past tense for 'tú' (you, informal) everywhere. However, in some parts of Latin America, they might use 'vos' instead of 'tú,' which would result in the form 'escribisteis' (though this is less common than 'escribiste').
Why does the 'tú' form end in -iste?
The '-iste' ending is the standard marker for the informal 'you' in the simple past tense (Preterite) for all verbs ending in -er and -ir. It signals that the action was finished and performed by the person you are speaking to.