demostraste

Demostraste is the second-person singular preterite form of the Spanish verb demostrar, meaning you demonstrated or you showed. It is used with the informal subject pronoun tú and appears in narrative, dialogue, and written text to recount a past instance of showing or proving something.

Etymology and form. The verb demostrar comes from Latin demonstrare, itself derived from demonstr- “to show” and related to monstrare “to point out, to show.” In modern Spanish, demostraste follows the regular -ar verb preterite pattern for tú: de mos tras te. The form is contrasted with other person forms such as demostraste (tú), demostró (él/ella/Ud.), demostramos (nosotros), demostrasteis (vosotros), and demostraron (ellos/ellas/Uds.).

Usage and nuances. Demostraste is used to describe a specific past action carried out by the person addressed. It often accompanies a clause introduced by que or other content that explains what was demonstrated: “Tú demostraste que tenías razón” (You showed that you were right). It carries a sense of proving or illustrating something through evidence, experience, or argument, and is typically contrasted with mostrar, which is a broader term meaning simply to show.

Regional and stylistic notes. The tú-form demostraste is common in Spain and many Latin American varieties where tú is used, though in some countries usted may be preferred in formal contexts (demostró). The vosotros form is demostrasteis, used primarily in Spain. Like other preterite forms, demostraste appears mainly in past-tense narration and informal speech.

See also. demostrar, mostrar, demostración, conjugation of demostrar.