tomé
/toh-MÉH/
I took
Tomé: I took (physical grabbing or obtaining).
tomé(verb)
I took
?physical grabbing or obtaining
,I grabbed
?quick physical action
I received
?receiving something, like a gift or instruction
📝 In Action
Tomé mi billetera antes de salir de casa.
A1I took my wallet before leaving the house.
Tomé las llaves que estaban sobre la mesa.
A1I grabbed the keys that were on the table.
💡 Grammar Points
Preterite vs. Imperfect
'Tomé' describes a single, finished action (I took the book). 'Tomaba' (I used to take/I was taking) describes habits or ongoing actions in the past.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'yo' and 'él/ella' forms
Mistake: "Using 'tomé' when referring to 'he/she took' ('él tomó')."
Correction: Remember the accent mark: 'tomé' is I, 'tomó' is he/she/it.
⭐ Usage Tips
Physical actions
Use 'tomé' for simple actions like picking up your keys, accepting a call ('tomé la llamada'), or finding your seat ('tomé asiento').
Tomé: I drank.
tomé(verb)
I drank
?beverages
,I had
?referring to having a drink or small meal
I consumed
?general consumption
📝 In Action
Tomé un café y luego salí a trabajar.
A1I drank a coffee and then left for work.
Tomé mucha agua después de correr la maratón.
A2I drank a lot of water after running the marathon.
En México, tomé un poco de tequila.
B1In Mexico, I had a little tequila.
Tomé: I took (transportation).
tomé(verb)
I took
?transportation
,I caught
?transportation, usually a bus/train
I took
?photograph or decision
,I measured
?taking a measurement like temperature
📝 In Action
Para ir al centro, tomé el autobús número 12.
A2To go downtown, I took bus number 12.
Tomé varias fotos del atardecer en la playa.
B1I took several photos of the sunset on the beach.
Finalmente, tomé la decisión de renunciar al trabajo.
B2Finally, I made the decision to quit the job.
⭐ Usage Tips
Taking Transportation
Unlike English, where you might 'catch' or 'get' a bus, in Spanish, you almost always 'tomar' (take) the transportation.
Making Choices
For formal decisions, 'tomé una decisión' is the standard phrase, meaning 'I made a decision.' You also 'tomar medidas' (take measures).
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: tomé
Question 1 of 2
Which English translation is NOT appropriate for the sentence: 'Tomé un taxi y tomé un vaso de jugo.'
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'tomé' have an accent mark?
The accent mark is essential because it shows you are using the past tense (preterite) and not the present tense. It also helps distinguish 'tomé' (I took) from 'tome' (the subjunctive form used for commands or wishes).
Is 'tomé' interchangeable with 'bebí' (I drank)?
Yes, often. You can say 'Tomé agua' or 'Bebí agua.' However, 'tomé' is much broader and covers taking objects, transportation, and photos, while 'bebí' only means to drink.