escribí
es-kree-BEE
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ayer escribí una carta a mi abuela.
A1Yesterday I wrote a letter to my grandmother.
Escribí el informe en menos de una hora.
A2I wrote the report in less than an hour.
Cuando escribí ese mensaje, no sabía la verdad.
B1When I wrote that message, I didn't know the truth.
💡 Grammar Points
Tense: Simple Past (Preterite)
This form tells you that the action of writing was completed at a specific moment in the past. It's a finished action, like 'I wrote it and it's done.'
The Crucial Accent Mark
The accent on the 'í' (escribí) is mandatory! It tells you that the person doing the action is 'yo' (I). Without it (escribi), the word is incorrect.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'escribía' when referring to a single, completed past action."
Correction: Use 'escribí' (I wrote) for a specific event (e.g., 'Ayer escribí'). Use 'escribía' (I used to write/I was writing) for ongoing or habitual past actions.
⭐ Usage Tips
Identifying the 'I' form
In Spanish -IR and -ER verbs, the 'yo' form in the simple past often ends in an accented 'í' (e.g., viví, comí, escribí). This is a strong pattern to remember.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: escribí
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'escribí' to describe a single, finished action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'escribí' need the accent mark?
Yes, absolutely! The accent mark on the 'i' (í) is essential. It tells Spanish speakers that the stress is on the last syllable, which is how we know this is the 'I' form (yo) in the simple past tense.
How is 'escribí' different from 'escribimos'?
'Escribí' means 'I wrote' (one person, in the past). 'Escribimos' means 'we wrote.' Be careful, though: 'escribimos' is also the 'we' form for the present tense ('we write'), but the context usually makes the time clear.