How to Say "i helped" in Spanish
The Spanish word for “i helped” is “ayudé” — A1 level. This is a very common word in everyday Spanish.
Examples
Ayer, yo ayudé a mi vecino con sus cajas pesadas.
Yesterday, I helped my neighbor with his heavy boxes.
Cuando me llamaste, ya había ayudé a mi hermano a estudiar.
When you called me, I had already helped my brother study.
Con un poco de esfuerzo, ayudé a que el proyecto terminara a tiempo.
With a bit of effort, I helped the project finish on time.
The Accent Mark is Key
The accent on the 'é' in 'ayudé' tells you immediately that this action happened and finished in the past, and that the speaker ('I') did it. Without the accent, the word doesn't exist in this form.
Using 'A' Before People
When you help a person, you must put the word 'a' right before their name or title. For example: 'Ayudé a mi padre' (I helped my father).
Mixing Past Tenses
Mistake: “Using 'ayudaba' when describing a single, completed action, like 'Ayer ayudaba a mi amigo.'”
Correction: Use 'ayudé' (the preterite tense) for actions that have a clear beginning and end in the past: 'Ayer *ayudé* a mi amigo.' (Yesterday, I helped my friend, and the helping is finished.)
Related Translations
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