Verbs with different meanings in the preterito and imperfecto tenses

Question 1

A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses.

saber

Answer 1

IMPERFECT - knew
Sabias que el concierto empezaba tarde?
Did you know that the concert started late?

PRETERITE - found out; learned
Si, supe ayer que empezaba tarde.
Yes, I know yesterday that it started late.

Question 2

A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses.

conocer

Answer 2

IMPERFECT - knew (somebody)
Pedro conocia muy bien a esa actriz.
Pedro know well that actress.

PRETERITE - met (somebody) for the fist time
Luis la conocio el ano pasado.
Luis met her last year.

Question 3

A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses.

querer

Answer 3

IMPERFECT - wanted to
Luis queria comprar las entradas hoy.
Luis wanted to buy the tickets today.

PRETERITE - tried to
Yo quise comprarlas, pero me enferme.
I tried to buy them but I became sick.

Question 4

A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses.

no querer

Answer 4

IMPERFECT - didn’t want to
No querian ver esa obra de teatro.
They didn’t want to see that theatrical play.

PRETERITE - refused to
No quisieron ver esa obra de teatro.
They refused to see that theatrical play.

Question 5

A few Spanish verbs have different meanings in the imperfect and the preterite tenses.

poder

Answer 5

IMPERFECT - was able to, could
Ella podia aprender la letra de la cancion.
She was able to learn the words of the song.

PRETERITE - managed to, succeeded in
Ella pudo aprender la letra de esa cancion.
She managed to learn the words of that song.