The Preterite vs. The Imperfect

expressing actions/states viewed by the speaker as completed

preterite

expressing the beginning or end of a past action

preterite

narrating a series of past actions

preterite

describing an ongoing past action without reference to beginning or end

imperfect

expressing habitual past actions

imperfect

describing mental, physical, and emotional states or conditions

imperfect

telling time

imperfect

querer meaning (imperfect)

wanted

querer meaning (preterite)

tried (but failed)

no querer meaning (preterite)

refused

poder meaning (imperfect)

could

poder meaning (preterite)

succeeded in

no poder meaning (preterite)

could not

saber meaning (imperfect)

knew

saber meaning (preterite)

discovered

conocer meaning (imperfect)

already knew

conocer meaning (preterite)

met

tener meaning (imperfect)

had

tener meaning (preterite)

got