Verbs That Change Meaning in the Preterite and the Imperfect Page 90 – Chapter 2 Realidades 3

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

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 obra de teatro. No querían ver esa obra de teatro. They didnt want to see that play. They didnt want to see that play. Preterite – refused to Preterite – refused to No quisieron ver esa obra de teatro. No quisieron ver esa obra de teatro. They refused to see that play. They refused to see that play.

PODER Imperfect – was able to, could Imperfect – was able to, could Ella podía aprender la letra de la canción. Ella podía aprender la letra de la canción. She was able to learn the letter of the song. She was able to learn the letter of the song. Preterite – managed to, succeeded in Preterite – managed to, succeeded in Ella pudo aprender la letra de esa canción. Ella pudo aprender la letra de esa canción. She succeeded in learning the letter of that song. She succeeded in learning the letter of that song.