perdiste
pehr-DEES-teh
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿Dónde pusiste el dinero? ¡Creo que lo perdiste!
A1Where did you put the money? I think you lost it!
Perdiste el autobús por cinco minutos.
A2You missed the bus by five minutes.
Te esforzaste mucho, pero perdiste el partido.
A2You tried very hard, but you lost the game.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preterite Tense
This form ('perdiste') is used for actions that started and finished completely at a specific point in the past. Think of it like a quick, completed snapshot.
Using 'Tú'
'Perdiste' is the informal way to say 'you lost' when talking to a friend, child, or someone you know well.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Present and Past Stems
Mistake: "Using 'pierdiste' instead of 'perdiste'."
Correction: The verb 'perder' changes its vowel (e to ie) only in the Present tense (like 'pierdo'). In the Preterite past tense, the stem goes back to 'perd-' (perdiste). You lost the stem change!
⭐ Usage Tips
When to use 'Perdiste' vs. 'Perdías'
Use 'perdiste' (Preterite) when you lost something once (e.g., the keys yesterday). Use 'perdías' (Imperfect) if you were losing something repeatedly or if you were in the process of losing.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: perdiste
Question 1 of 2
Which English sentence correctly uses the meaning of 'perdiste'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'perdiste' used for losing weight?
Yes, absolutely! You can say 'Perdiste cinco kilos' (You lost five kilos). It covers physical objects, abstract things (like control), and measurements (like weight).
Why is the present tense 'pierdes' but the past tense is 'perdiste'?
That's a classic stem-changing rule! In the present tense, the 'e' changes to 'ie' (pierdes) to make it flow better. But in the simple past tense (preterite), the verb goes back to its original 'perd-' root, so it becomes 'perdiste'.