Spanish Phrase
Ayer trabajé.
Meaning
This phrase indicates a completed action that took place in the past. It uses the preterite tense of the verb 'trabajar' to show that the work session is finished. It is a simple and direct way to report one's activity from the previous day.
When to use
Use this phrase when answering questions about your previous day's activities or explaining why you couldn't attend an event. It is appropriate for both professional and casual settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ayertrabajé
Ayer
An adverb of time meaning 'yesterday' that typically requires a past tense verb.
Trabajé
The first-person singular preterite form of the verb 'trabajar'. The accent on the 'é' is crucial to indicate the past tense.
🗨In Conversation
¿Qué hiciste ayer por la tarde?
What did you do yesterday afternoon?
Ayer trabajé hasta muy tarde.
Yesterday I worked until very late.
✕Common Mistakes
Ayer trabajaba.
Use the preterite 'trabajé' for a completed action; 'trabajaba' is the imperfect and implies an ongoing or habitual action.
Ayer yo trabajo.
Do not use the present tense 'trabajo' with the time marker 'ayer'.
↔Alternatives
Estuve trabajando ayer.
I was working yesterday.
Tuve que trabajar ayer.
I had to work yesterday.
Cultural Tip
In Spanish, the preterite tense is the standard choice for specific past events like working yesterday. In some regions of Spain, you might hear the present perfect 'he trabajado' for recent events, but 'trabajé' is universally understood and preferred in Latin America for 'ayer'.