The preterite of asustarse is used to express a specific instance of getting scared in the past, for example Me asusté cuando vi la araña (I got scared when I saw the spider). This reflexive verb emphasizes the completed action of becoming frightened at a particular moment.
This is a regular -ar verb used reflexively, meaning you need to include the appropriate reflexive pronoun with each conjugation. The verb itself follows the standard preterite pattern for -ar verbs.
Conjugations
Conjugations of Asustarse (to get scared) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish):
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| Yo | me asusté |
| Tú | te asustaste |
| Él / Ella / Usted | se asustó |
| Nosotros / Nosotras | nos asustamos |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes | se asustaron |
Boost Your Memorization with Audio!
We’ve included audio recordings of the the conjugations of Asustarse (to get scared) in the Preterite (Past) Tense to help you learn faster.
Pro Tip: Play the audio on a loop as you study the chart. This repetition will solidify the correct conjugations in your memory.
Usage of Asustarse in the Preterite (Past) Tense
The preterite of asustarse expresses a completed action of becoming frightened in the past.
To get scared: Describes experiencing sudden fear, for example Me asusté cuando oí el ruido (I got scared when I heard the noise) or Se asustó al ver la araña (He/she got frightened upon seeing the spider).
To be startled: Used for sudden fright reactions, for example Me asusté cuando apareció de repente (I was startled when he/she appeared suddenly).
Examples
Examples of Asustarse in the Preterite (Past) Tense
Me asusté cuando vi una araña. (I got scared when I saw a spider.)
Te asustaste con el trueno. (You got scared by the thunder.)
El gato se asustó con el ruido. (The cat got scared by the noise.)
Nos asustamos durante la película de terror. (We got scared during the horror movie.)
Los niños se asustaron en la casa embrujada. (The children got scared in the haunted house.)
Me asusté cuando se fue la luz. (I got scared when the power went out.)
Te asustaste al ver el accidente. (You got scared when you saw the accident.)
Mi hermano se asustó con la máscara. (My brother got scared by the mask.)
Nos asustamos con el perro que ladraba. (We got scared by the barking dog.)
Los pájaros se asustaron con el fuego artificial. (The birds got scared by the firework.)
Me asusté al oír las noticias. (I got scared when I heard the news.)
Te asustaste con la historia de fantasmas. (You got scared by the ghost story.)
El bebé se asustó con el payaso. (The baby got scared of the clown.)
Nos asustamos cuando tembló la tierra. (We got scared when the earth shook.)
Los caballos se asustaron con el relámpago. (The horses got scared by the lightning.)
Conjugations with English Translations
Conjugations of Asustarse (to get scared) in the Preterite (Past) Tense tense (Latin American Spanish) with English Translations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Yo me asusté | I got scared |
| Tú te asustaste | You got scared |
| Él / Ella / Usted se asustó | He / She / You got scared |
| Nosotros / Nosotras nos asustamos | We got scared |
| Ellos / Ellas / Ustedes se asustaron | They / You all got scared |
This post covers Latin American Spanish. For Castilian Spanish, click here
Synonyms
The Preterite tense is also known as the Simple Past, Past Simple, Definite Past, Absolute Past, or Past Tense Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Perfecto Simple, Pretérito Indefinido, Pretérito Simple, Pasado Simple, or Pretérito de Indicativo in Spanish.