siguió
/see-GYOH/
followed
The dog followed the child closely.
siguió(verb)
followed
?physically tracking or moving behind someone/something
kept going
?continuing along a path or direction
📝 In Action
El perro siguió a su dueño hasta el parque.
A1The dog followed its owner to the park.
¿Viste la señal? Sí, él siguió el camino correcto.
A2Did you see the sign? Yes, he followed the correct path.
Usted siguió mis instrucciones perfectamente.
A2You (formal) followed my instructions perfectly.
💡 Grammar Points
Past Action, Single Event
The form 'siguió' uses the preterite tense, which means the action started and finished completely in the past. It was one specific moment of 'following'.
Irregularity (E to I)
The base verb 'seguir' is tricky! Notice how the 'e' in 'seguió' changed to an 'i'. This 'e→i' change happens in the past tense for 'he/she/it' and 'they'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up Preterite and Imperfect
Mistake: "Usar 'seguía' para una acción puntual: 'Ayer, de repente, él seguía al ladrón.'"
Correction: Use 'siguió' for a sudden, completed action: 'Ayer, de repente, él siguió al ladrón.' ('Seguía' means he was continually following.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Focus on the Result
Use 'siguió' when the result of the following is important (e.g., 'siguió el mapa y llegó' — he followed the map and arrived).
The runner continued down the path without stopping.
siguió(verb)
continued
?to keep doing something
went on
?to persist in an activity
📝 In Action
A pesar del ruido, ella siguió estudiando hasta tarde.
B1Despite the noise, she continued studying late.
Después de la pausa, el orador siguió hablando de política.
B1After the break, the speaker went on talking about politics.
Él se cayó, pero se levantó y siguió corriendo.
B2He fell down, but he got up and continued running.
💡 Grammar Points
Seguir + Doing Something
When 'siguió' is used to mean 'continued doing something,' it must be followed by the '-ando' or '-iendo' form of the second verb (the gerund). For example: 'siguió leyendo' (he continued reading).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Infinitive
Mistake: "Decir 'Él siguió leer el libro.'"
Correction: Use the '-iendo' form: 'Él siguió leyendo el libro.' (This is different from English, where we often use 'to' + verb.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Emphasis on Persistence
This meaning emphasizes persistence. It shows that the person didn't stop, even when faced with a challenge (like noise, tiredness, or a break).
She kept to the routine, carefully following every step.
siguió(verb)
kept to
?adhering to rules or a routine
obeyed
?following an order or command
📝 In Action
Ella siguió una dieta estricta durante el verano.
B2She kept to a strict diet during the summer.
El director siguió las reglas al pie de la letra.
C1The director followed the rules to the letter.
Usted no siguió mi consejo, y ahora tiene problemas.
B2You (formal) didn't follow my advice, and now you have problems.
💡 Grammar Points
Following Abstract Things
In this context, 'siguió' describes adherence to abstract concepts like rules, advice, or routines, treating them as if they were a physical path you must stay on.
⭐ Usage Tips
Formal Contexts
This meaning is often used in formal reports or discussions about responsibility, compliance, and health (e.g., following a treatment plan).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: siguió
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'siguió' to mean 'continued doing something'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'siguió' and 'seguía'?
'Siguió' (preterite) describes a single, completed action in the past, like 'He followed the car once.' 'Seguía' (imperfect) describes an ongoing or habitual action, like 'He was following the car' or 'He used to follow the car.'
Why does 'seguir' change spelling in the past tense?
'Seguir' is an irregular verb. In the third-person past tense ('siguió' and 'siguieron'), the 'e' in the stem changes to an 'i' to match older Spanish sound patterns. You just have to memorize this change for these specific forms!