Utilizaste

Utilizaste is the second-person singular preterite form of the Spanish verb utilizar. It translates to "you used" or "you utilized" in English and is used to describe a completed action in the past with the subject tú.

Origin and form: utilizar comes from the Latin utilis and is formed in Spanish as a regular -ar verb with the stem utiliz-. The preterite tú form is utilizaste, following the standard -aste ending for regular -ar verbs. Other forms include yo utilicé, él utilizó, nosotros utilizamos, vosotros utilizasteis, ellos utilizaron. The yo form utilicé reflects Spanish orthography rules that affect ending changes before certain vowels.

Usage and nuance: utilizar is somewhat more formal or technical than usar. While both verbs mean “to use,” utilizar is common in professional, academic, or formal contexts, and subjet areas such as technology, procedures, or tools. In everyday speech, usar is frequently preferred, especially in casual conversations. Regional variation exists: both verbs are understood across Spanish-speaking countries, but preferences for one over the other can vary by region and register.

Examples:

- Ayer utilizaste la herramienta correcta para completar la tarea.

- ¿Utilizaste el plan que propusiste?

Related forms and notes: utilizar shares its meaning with synonyms like usar and emplear. Understanding utilizaste helps with recognizing other preterite forms of regular -ar verbs and with distinguishing tense and subject in spoken or written Spanish.