Special Verbs - Poder and Querer

Question 1

Why are poder and querer special?

Answer 1

poder and querer are the other two verbs that can change meaning when they are used in the preterit (along with saber and conocer).

Question 2

What does poder mean in the present?

Answer 2

“to be able to” and “can” in the present,

Question 3

What does poder mean in the preterit?

Answer 3

it more commonly means “to manage, to succeed” ie in addition to “be able to” and “can”

Question 4

What does querer mean in the present?

Answer 4

“to want, to love” in the present

Question 5

What does querer mean in the preterit?

Answer 5

it more commonly means “to try” in the preterit.

Question 6

conjugate poder in the present

Answer 6

puedo, puedes, puede, podemos, podéis, pueden

Question 7

Tú puedes hacer lo que quieras y yo también.

Answer 7

You can do anything you want and so can I.

Question 8

Juntos podemos.

Answer 8

Together we can.

Question 9

¿Podéis terminarlo para mañana?

Answer 9

Will you guys be able to finish it by tomorrow?

Question 10

Creo que no pueden venir esta noche.

Answer 10

I think they aren’t able to come over tonight.

Question 11

¿Sabes qué puedes hacer?

Answer 11

Do you know what you can do?

Question 12

Conjugate poder in the preterit

Answer 12

pude, pudiste, pudo, pudimos, pudisteis, pudiero

Question 13

Pudimos terminar el proyecto a tiempo.

Answer 13

We managed to finish the project on time.

Question 14

¿Pudiste ahorrar suficiente dinero para el viaje?

Answer 14

Did you manage to save enough money for the trip?

Question 15

Por fin pude entenderlo.

Answer 15

Finally, I managed to understand it.

Question 16

No pude cruzar la línea de meta.

Answer 16

I failed to cross the finish line.

Question 17

No pudieron encontrar una solución.

Answer 17

They failed to find a solution.

Question 18

No pudo perder más peso.

Answer 18

He failed to lose more weight.

Question 19

conjugate querer in the present tense

Answer 19

quiero, quieres, quiere, queremos, queréis, quieren

Question 20

Quiero que me quieras.

Answer 20

I want you to love me

Question 21

¿Me quieres?

Answer 21

Do you love me?

Question 22

¡Me quiere, no me quiere!

Answer 22

He loves me, he loves me not!

Question 23

¿Qué queréis de postre?

Answer 23

What do you guys want for dessert?

Question 24

Queremos saber por qué nos mentiste.

Answer 24

We want to know why you lied to us.

Question 25

conjugate querer in the preterit

Answer 25

quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisisteis, quisieron

Question 26

Quiso impresionarme con sus amplios conocimientos, pero a mí no me interesan las enciclopedias.

Answer 26

He tried to impress me with his wide knowledge, but I am not interested in encyclopedias.

Question 27

Quisieron comprar nuestro silencio, pero no estaba en venta.

Answer 27

They tried to buy our silence, but it was not for sale.

Question 28

Quise ser escritor, pero el destino tenía otros planes.

Answer 28

I tried to become a writer, but destiny had other plans.

Question 29

No quise firmar el contrato.

Answer 29

I refused to sign the contract.

Question 30

No quiso prestarme el dinero.

Answer 30

She refused to loan me the money.

Question 31

¿Por qué no quisisteis escuchar mi nueva canción?

Answer 31

Why did you guys refused to listen to my new song?

Question 32

Point to remember

Answer 32

Please, keep in mind that poder/no poder and querer/no querer can be used in a wide variety of different contexts in the preterite, other than the ones provided in this lesson, and for each one a different verb or expression will be required for an accurate translation in English.