prometió
/proh-meh-TEE-oh/
promised
When someone 'promised' or 'made a commitment,' we use the Spanish word "prometió."
prometió(verb)
promised
?made a commitment (he/she/it/you formal)
vowed
?made a solemn promise
📝 In Action
Mi jefe prometió que me daría el día libre.
A2My boss promised that he would give me the day off.
Ella prometió guardar el secreto, pero no lo hizo.
B1She promised to keep the secret, but she didn't.
Usted prometió terminar el trabajo antes de las cinco.
B1You (formal) promised to finish the work before five.
💡 Grammar Points
The Preterite Tense
The form 'prometió' is used when the action of promising happened once and finished completely in the past, like a sealed deal. It focuses on the specific moment the promise was made.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'prometía' when referring to a single, completed promise: 'Ayer prometía llamarme.'"
Correction: Use 'prometió': 'Ayer prometió llamarme.' (Yesterday, he promised to call me.) 'Prometía' would mean he was habitually promising or promising over a long period.
⭐ Usage Tips
Using the 'That' Clause
Often, the promise leads to a 'que' (that) clause, which is often followed by the future or conditional tense in Spanish: 'Prometió que iría mañana' (He promised that he would go tomorrow).
"Prometió" can also mean that something 'showed promise' or indicated great potential for the future.
prometió(verb)
showed promise
?indicated potential (he/she/it/you formal)
looked promising
?suggested a good outcome
📝 In Action
Esa nueva tecnología prometió revolucionar la industria.
B2That new technology showed promise of revolutionizing the industry.
El clima de la mañana prometió un día soleado, pero llovió.
C1The morning weather looked promising for a sunny day, but it rained.
💡 Grammar Points
Figurative Use
When used figuratively, 'prometió' often refers to an object or situation, not a person. It means the situation or item carried a strong suggestion of a particular outcome.
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on Potential
This meaning emphasizes the potential at a specific past moment. If you wanted to describe a long-term potential, you might use the imperfect tense ('prometía').
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: prometió
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'prometió' to mean 'showed potential'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'prometió' and 'prometía'?
'Prometió' (Preterite) describes a single, completed action in the past: 'He promised once.' 'Prometía' (Imperfect) describes a past habit or an ongoing state: 'He used to promise' or 'He was promising' (when something else happened).
Does 'prometió' require the subjunctive in the next part of the sentence?
No. 'Prometer' is a verb of communication or certainty, so the 'que' clause that follows usually takes the indicative (normal) verb form, often the future or conditional tense: 'Prometió que lo haría' (He promised he would do it).