recibí
reh-see-BEE
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Recibí una carta de mi abuela la semana pasada.
A1I received a letter from my grandmother last week.
Cuando llegué, recibí una gran sorpresa.
A2When I arrived, I got a big surprise.
Recibí el paquete justo a tiempo para la fiesta.
A2I received the package just in time for the party.
💡 Grammar Points
Action Completed in the Past
This form, 'recibí', tells you that the action of receiving started and finished completely at a specific point in the past (like 'yesterday' or 'last week').
Accent Mark Matters
The accent mark on the 'í' is essential! Without it ('recibi'), the word would be meaningless or pronounced incorrectly. It tells you where to stress the sound.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'yo recibía' when talking about a single, finished event."
Correction: 'Recibía' means 'I used to receive' or 'I was receiving' (ongoing past action). Use 'recibí' for single, completed events: 'Ayer recibí un email' (Yesterday I received an email).
⭐ Usage Tips
Quick Past Tense Check
If you could add the phrase 'and then it stopped' after the action, you probably need the preterite tense ('recibí').
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: recibí
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'recibí' to describe a single action finished yesterday?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'recibí' and 'recibía'?
'Recibí' (preterite) is used for actions you did once and finished, like 'I received a text message.' 'Recibía' (imperfect) is used for ongoing, habitual, or descriptive actions in the past, like 'I used to receive gifts every Christmas.'
Does 'recibí' always mean 'I received'?
Yes, 'recibí' specifically means 'I received' or 'I got.' It is the 'yo' (I) form of the verb 'recibir' in the simple past tense.