Changes in meaning in the past

• The preterit is used to talk about completed actions/events.

• Some verbs describe “states” of being which are associated with the imperfect tense.

• If used in the preterit, it has to be an action/event, something that is visible.

• Another way to think about these verbs in the preterit is that they are the start of an ongoing event in the past.

Changes in meaning in the past

• Querer= to want• Typically used in the imperfect to imply a state

of mind…”wanted.” Not visible and ongoing.• If used in the preterit it means “tried to” this

is something that is visible to others and an action that it is completed.

I tried to quis her.

Changes in meaning in the past

• No querer= to not want• Typically used in the imperfect to imply a state

of mind…”didn’t want.” Not visible and ongoing.

• If used in the preterit it means “refused to” this is something that is visible to others and an action that it is completed.

He refused to eat quiso blanco.

Changes in meaning in the past

• Poder= to be able• Typically used in the imperfect to imply a state

of being…”was able.” Not visible or no beginning or end.

• If used in the preterit it means “managed or succeeded” this is something that is visible to others and an action that it is completed.

He managed to eat the pud-ding.

Changes in meaning in the past

• No Poder= to not be able• Typically used in the imperfect to imply a state

of being…”was not able.” Not visible or no beginning or end.

• If used in the preterit it means “failed to” this is something that is visible to others and an action that it is completed.

She failed to eat the pud-ding.

Changes in meaning in the past• Saber= to know factual info• Typically used in the imperfect to imply a state

of being…”knew.” Not visible or no beginning or end/ongoing.

• If used in the preterit it means “found out/learned” this is something that is visible to others and an action that it is completed. It is the start of knowing something.

He found out was-sup.

Changes in meaning in the past• Conocer = to know person/place/thing• Typically used in the imperfect to imply a state

of being…”acquainted with.” Not visible or no beginning or end/ongoing.

• If used in the preterit it means “met” this is something that is visible to others and an action that it is completed. It is the start of knowing someone/thing.

He met Conocí, a chick from France, for the first time.

Changes in meaning in the past• Tener = to have• Typically used in the imperfect to imply a

state of being…”used to have.” Not visible or no beginning or end/ongoing.

• If used in the preterit it means “received/got” this is something that is visible to others and an action that it is completed. It is the start of having something.

He got a tuv of toothpaste

CONOCER

He met Conocí, a chick from France, for the first time.

TENER

He got a tuv of toothpaste

QUERER

I tried to quis her.

PODER

He managed to eat the pud-ding.

NO PODER

She failed to eat the pud-ding.

SABER

He found out was-sup.

NO QUERER

He refused to eat quiso blanco.