Verbs That Change Meaning in the Preterite and the Imperfect

Verbs That Change in Meaning from Preterite to Imperfect Tenses A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses: A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses: SABER SABER CONOCER CONOCER QUERER QUERER NO QUERER NO QUERER PODER PODER TENER TENER

Verbs That Change in Meaning from Preterite to Imperfect Tenses Use the imperfect if you want to maintain the original meaning of the verb. The preterite conjugations of the aforementioned verbs change the meaning of the verb entirely.

SABER Imperfect – knew Imperfect – knew ¿Sabías que el concierto empezaba tarde? ¿Sabías que el concierto empezaba tarde? Did you know that the concert began late? Did you know that the concert began late? Preterite – found out, learned Preterite – found out, learned Sí, supe ayer que empezaba tarde. Sí, supe ayer que empezaba tarde. Yes, I found out that it began late. Yes, I found out that it began late.

CONOCER Imperfect – knew (somebody) Imperfect – knew (somebody) Pedro conocía muy bien a esa actriz. Pedro conocía muy bien a esa actriz. Pedro knew that actress very well. Pedro knew that actress very well. Preterite – met (somebody) for the first time Preterite – met (somebody) for the first time Luis la conoció el año pasado. Luis la conoció el año pasado. Luis met her last year. Luis met her last year.

QUERER Imperfect – wanted to Imperfect – wanted to Luis quería comprar las entradas hoy. Luis quería comprar las entradas hoy. Luis wanted to buy the tickets today. Luis wanted to buy the tickets today. Preterite – tried to, attempted to Preterite – tried to, attempted to Yo quise comprarlas, pero me enfermé. Yo quise comprarlas, pero me enfermé. I tried to buy them but I got sick. I tried to buy them but I got sick.

NO QUERER Imperfect – didnt want to Imperfect – didnt want to No querían ver esa película. No querían ver esa película. They didnt want to see that movie. They didnt want to see that movie. Preterite – refused to Preterite – refused to No quisieron ver esa película. No quisieron ver esa película. They refused to see that movie. They refused to see that movie.

PODER Imperfect – was able to, could Imperfect – was able to, could Ella podía ir al concierto con sus amigas Ella podía ir al concierto con sus amigas She was able to go to the concert with her friends. She was able to go to the concert with her friends. Preterite – managed to, succeeded in Preterite – managed to, succeeded in Ella pudo aprender a tocar la canción. Ella pudo aprender a tocar la canción. She succeeded in learning how to play the song. She succeeded in learning how to play the song.

TENER Imperfect – had Imperfect – had Nosotros teníamos un coche rojo. Nosotros teníamos un coche rojo. We used to have a red car. We used to have a red car. Preterite – received Preterite – received María tuvo una carta de su mamá. María tuvo una carta de su mamá. María received a letter from her mom. María received a letter from her mom.