começaste

Começaste is the second-person singular preterite indicative form of the Portuguese verb começar. O verbo começar translates to "to begin" or "to start" in English. Therefore, "começaste" specifically means "you began" or "you started." This verb conjugation is used when referring to an action that was initiated in the past by a single person addressed directly, using the informal "tu" form. For example, "Tu começaste o teu trabalho cedo" translates to "You started your work early." The preterite tense in Portuguese is used for completed actions in the past, and the second-person singular conjugation indicates the subject of the verb. This form is distinct from other conjugations, such as the first-person singular "comecei" (I began) or the third-person singular "começou" (he/she/it began). Understanding verb conjugations like "começaste" is fundamental to speaking and understanding Portuguese accurately, as it conveys specific information about the subject and the timing of the action.