preguntaste
pray-goon-TAHS-tay
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
¿Qué le preguntaste a tu jefe sobre las vacaciones?
A1What did you ask your boss about the vacation?
No preguntaste por el precio, solo lo compraste.
A2You didn't ask for the price, you just bought it.
Me dijiste que preguntaste en la recepción, ¿es verdad?
B1You told me you asked at the reception desk, is that true?
💡 Grammar Points
The Simple Past (Preterite)
This form is used for a single, completed action that happened at a specific point in the past. Think of it like a lightning bolt—quick and finished.
Identifying the 'You'
The '-aste' ending always tells you the subject is 'tú' (the informal 'you'). If you were talking to someone formally, you would use 'preguntó' (usted asked).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'preguntabas' (imperfect) instead of 'preguntaste' (preterite)."
Correction: Use 'preguntaste' when you mean 'you asked once and finished.' Use 'preguntabas' when you mean 'you used to ask' or 'you were asking' over a period of time.
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with Time Markers
This verb form pairs perfectly with specific time expressions like 'ayer' (yesterday), 'la semana pasada' (last week), or 'hace dos días' (two days ago).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: preguntaste
Question 1 of 1
Which English phrase best describes the action in 'Tú preguntaste ayer'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If I am speaking formally, how do I say 'You asked'?
If you are using the formal 'usted,' the conjugation changes to 'usted preguntó.' The '-aste' ending is strictly for the informal 'tú'.
Does 'preguntaste' mean 'you were asking'?
No, 'preguntaste' means 'you asked' (a completed event). To say 'you were asking' (an ongoing event in the past), you would use the imperfect tense: 'preguntabas'.