llevé
/yeh-VAY/
I carried
I carried (llevé) the heavy box across the room.
llevé(verb)
I carried
?transporting an object
,I took
?moving an object to another location
I brought
?when the speaker is at the destination
📝 In Action
Llevé mi maleta al coche esta mañana.
A1I carried my suitcase to the car this morning.
¿Qué llevé de la tienda? Solo pan y leche.
A2What did I take/bring from the store? Only bread and milk.
💡 Grammar Points
The Simple Past (Preterite)
The form 'llevé' tells you that the action of carrying or taking started and finished completely at a specific moment in the past. It’s a single, completed event.
Llevar vs. Traer
Think of 'llevar' as 'to take away from here' (like 'go and carry') and 'traer' as 'to bring to here' (like 'come and carry'). The choice depends on where the speaker is.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Llevar and Tomar
Mistake: "Usar 'tomé' para decir 'I carried the book'."
Correction: Use 'llevé' for carrying or transporting physical objects. 'Tomar' means 'to take' in the sense of grasping or drinking.
⭐ Usage Tips
Remember the Accent
The accent on the 'é' is essential! Without it ('llevé'), it would be 'lleve,' which is the special form (subjunctive) used for wishes or commands.
I took (llevé) my little brother to school this morning.
📝 In Action
Llevé a mi hijo a la escuela antes de trabajar.
A2I took my son to school before working.
Si no tenías coche, ¿quién te llevó a la fiesta?
B1If you didn't have a car, who took you to the party?
💡 Grammar Points
The Personal 'A'
When 'llevé' is followed by a person who is the destination of the trip, you must use the word 'a' right before the person: 'Llevé a María al cine.'
I wore (llevé) my favorite red scarf yesterday because it was cold.
📝 In Action
Llevé mis gafas de sol todo el día.
B1I wore my sunglasses all day.
Cuando te conocí, llevé una camisa roja.
B1When I met you, I was wearing a red shirt.
💡 Grammar Points
Wearing vs. Dressing
'Llevar' is used to talk about the specific items of clothing or accessories you have on. 'Vestir' means the action of getting dressed or putting clothes on.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preterite vs. Imperfect for Clothing
Mistake: "Using 'llevé' when describing what you *used to* wear habitually."
Correction: Use 'llevaba' (imperfect) for habits, and 'llevé' (preterite) for describing what you wore on one specific, finished occasion.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: llevé
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation is correct for the sentence: 'Llevé la cuenta por diez años'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Does 'llevé' always mean 'I carried'?
No. While 'I carried' or 'I took' is the primary physical meaning, 'llevé' (from 'llevar') is also used for 'I wore' (clothing) and in common phrases like 'I managed' or 'I handled' a situation.
How do I know if the word is 'llevé' or 'llevaste'?
'Llevé' is used when *you* (I, or 'Yo') did the action. 'Llevaste' is used when *the person you are talking to* (Tú) did the action. The accent on 'é' is the clue that it's the 'I' form in the simple past.