solía
/so-LEE-ah/
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
De niño, yo solía jugar en este parque todos los días.
A2As a child, I used to play in this park every day.
Mi abuela solía contarnos cuentos antes de dormir.
A2My grandmother used to tell us stories before bed.
Antes, la gente solía escribir cartas, pero ahora usan el correo electrónico.
B1Before, people used to write letters, but now they use email.
💡 Grammar Points
Talking About 'Used To'
'Solía' comes from the verb 'soler' and is your go-to word for talking about things that happened repeatedly or were true for a long time in the past. It's the Spanish way of saying 'I used to' or 'he/she used to'.
Always Followed by Another Verb
After 'solía', you always add the basic '-ar', '-er', or '-ir' form of another verb. For example, 'solía comer' (used to eat), 'solía jugar' (used to play).
A 'Defective' Verb
The verb 'soler' is special because people don't use it in every tense. You'll almost always see it in the present ('suelo') or the past imperfect ('solía'). Other forms, like the preterite or future, are very rare.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up Past Tenses
Mistake: "Ayer solía comer pizza."
Correction: Ayer comí pizza. 'Solía' describes a habit over time, not a single action that happened yesterday. For one-time past events, use a different past tense like 'comí'.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Storytelling Word
Use 'solía' to set the scene when telling a story about your past. It paints a picture of how things were over a period of time, not just a single moment.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: solía
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses 'solía' to describe a past habit?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'solía' and 'iba'?
Both can describe past habits. For example, 'solía ir a la playa' and 'iba a la playa' can both mean 'I used to go to the beach'. 'Solía' specifically emphasizes that it was a custom or habit, while 'iba' (from the verb 'ir') just describes the repeated action.
Can 'solía' mean 'I used to' and 'he/she used to'?
Yes! 'Solía' is the form for 'yo' (I), 'él' (he), 'ella' (she), and 'usted' (you, formal). If it's not clear who you're talking about, you can add the person, like 'yo solía' or 'ella solía'.