rompiste
/rrohm-PEES-teh/
you broke
Visualizing the physical action of 'you broke' something in the past.
rompiste(Verb)
you broke
?past action, completed
you smashed
?fragile object
,you tore
?paper or fabric
📝 In Action
Dime la verdad, ¿tú rompiste el jarrón?
A1Tell me the truth, did you break the vase?
Dijeron que rompiste la ventana con la pelota.
A2They said that you broke the window with the ball.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Tú' Past Tense
'Rompiste' is the 'tú' form of the past tense, used when talking directly to a friend or someone you know well about a single action they finished in the past.
Preterite Tense
This tense (called the preterite) is used for actions that had a clear beginning and end, like 'I broke it yesterday' or 'They broke it at 3 PM.'
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing Past Tenses
Mistake: "Using 'rompías' (imperfect) instead of 'rompiste' (preterite)."
Correction: 'Rompiste' means 'you broke (once)'; 'rompías' means 'you used to break' or 'you were breaking' (ongoing action).
⭐ Usage Tips
Using 'Se'
Often, Spanish speakers use 'se' to describe an accidental breaking, like 'Se te rompió el plato' (The plate broke on you/You accidentally broke the plate).
Illustrating the concept of 'you broke' a rule or agreement.
rompiste(Verb)
you broke
?a rule or promise
you violated
?a law or agreement
,you breached
?a contract
📝 In Action
Ella me preguntó si rompiste tu promesa.
B1She asked me if you broke your promise.
El árbitro dijo que rompiste las reglas del juego.
B2The referee said that you broke the rules of the game.
💡 Grammar Points
Abstract Actions
Even when 'romper' refers to abstract things like promises or silence, it still uses the same 'rompiste' form to show the action was completed in the past.
Showing 'you broke up' a relationship.
rompiste(Verb)
you broke up
?a relationship (often used with 'con')
you ended things
?a commitment
📝 In Action
¿Es cierto que rompiste con tu novio la semana pasada?
B2Is it true that you broke up with your boyfriend last week?
Lloraste mucho después de que rompiste esa amistad.
C1You cried a lot after you ended that friendship.
💡 Grammar Points
Required Preposition
When talking about ending a relationship, you almost always need the word 'con' (with) right after the verb: 'romper con alguien'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: rompiste
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'rompiste' to talk about a completed action?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
If 'rompiste' is regular, why is the past participle 'roto' and not 'rompido'?
This is a great observation! 'Romper' is regular in most of its simple tenses (like 'rompiste' in the preterite), but it has an irregular past participle: 'roto' (broken). This is a remnant of its Latin origin, making it one of the common verbs you just have to memorize.
What is the difference between 'rompiste' and 'rompías'?
'Rompiste' (preterite) means 'you broke' once, a completed action. 'Rompías' (imperfect) means 'you were breaking' or 'you used to break'—it describes an ongoing or habitual action in the past.