Verbs that change meaning in the preterite

Conocer present vs preterite definitions

present — to know/be familiar with (people, places, things)

preterite — to meet

Conocer preterite conjugations

conocí, conociste, conoció, conocimos, conocieron

Saber present vs preterite definitions

present — to know facts/information

preterite — to find out/learn

Saber preterite conjugations

supe, supiste, supo, supimos, supieron

poder present vs preterite definitions

present — to be able to; can

preterite — to manage, could and did

Poder preterite conjugations

pude, pudiste pudo, pudimos, pudieron

Querer present vs preterite definitions

present — to want

preterite — to try/love

Querer preterite conjugations

quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisieron

What is special about poder and querer?

in the preterite they have different meanings depending on whether they are used in affirmative or negative sentences

Affirmative:

• Poder — succeeded

  • ex: yo pude —> I succeeded

• Querer — tried (to)

  • ex: yo quise —> I tried to

Negative:

• No poder — failed

  • ex: yo no pude —> I failed (to)

• No querer — refused (to)

  • ex: Yo no quise —> I refused (to)