Verbs that Change Meaning in the Preterite

Introduction

Some Spanish verbs, such as conocer, have different meanings depending on whether they are in the past tense (el pretérito) or the imperfect tense (el imperfecto).

All about Aspect

Some Spanish verbs have different meanings depending on whether they are perfective or imperfective.

  • Perfective is just a fancy way of saying that a verb describes an action that is considered complete at or by a certain time. Put another way, the perfective aspect is used in tenses that describe singular events that occur (initiate and/or terminate) at the temporal reference point in the sentence. These tenses include the preterite tense and all perfect tenses.
  • Imperfective is just an equally fancy way of saying that a verb describes an action that is considered incomplete or ongoing in the time referenced in the sentence. Tenses in the imperfective aspect describe events that are ongoing or habitual in relation to the temporal reference point. These tenses include the simple present tense, the imperfect tense, progressive tenses, the conditional tense, and the future tense.

When it comes down to it, the inherent meaning of the verb (from the perspective of a Spanish speaker) does not change with a change in aspect.

Instead what is effected is the durative nature of the event being described.

This difference comes up a lot when looking at differences between the preterite and and imperfect tenses. Let's take a look!

Change of Pace

Verbs that Change

Here is a list of verbs that change meaning according to the perfective/imperfective relationship described above.

Infinitive Imperfective Translation Perfective Translation
conocer to know to meet
estar to be to become/to get
poder to be able to to manage
querer to want to try
no querer to not want to to refuse
saber to know to find out
tener to have to receive

Now, let's take a closer look at examples of a few of the above verbs in the different tenses mentioned earlier.

Saber

Aspect Tense Spanish English
Imperfective Simple Present Sabe la verdad. I know the truth
Imperfective Imperfect Sabía la verdad. I knew the truth
Perfective Preterite Supe la verdad. I found out the truth
Perfective Present Perfect He sabido la verdad. I have found out the truth

Tener

Aspect Tense Spanish English
Imperfective Simple Present Tiene una carta. He has a letter
Imperfective Imperfect Tenía una carta. He had a letter
Perfective Preterite Tuvo una carta. He received a letter
Perfective Present Perfect Ha tenido una carta. He has received a letter

Querer

Aspect Tense Spanish English
Imperfective Simple Present No quieres la invitación. You don't want the invitation.
Imperfective Imperfect No querías la invitación. You didn’t want the invitation.
Perfective Preterite No quisiste la invitación. You refused the invitation.
Perfective Present Perfect No has querido la invitación. You have refused the invitation.

Poder

Aspect Tense Spanish English
Imperfective Simple Present Pueden hacerlo. They are able to do it.
Imperfective Imperfect Podían hacerlo. They were able to do it.
Perfective Preterite Pudieron hacerlo. They managed to do it.
Perfective Present Perfect Han podido hacerlo. They have managed to do it.