9.2: Verbs that change meaning in the preterite

Question 1

In the present and the preterite:

Conocer

Answer 1

Present: to know; to be acquainted with
Conozco a esa pareja. :: I know that couple.

Preterite: to meet
Conocí a esa pareja ayer. :: I met that couple yesterday.

conozco conocí
conoces conociste
conoce conoció

Question 2

In the present and the preterite:

Saber

Answer 2

Present: to know information; to know how to do something
Sabemos la verdad. :: We know the truth.

Preterite: to find out; to learn
Supimos la verde anoche. :: We found out (learned) the truth last night.

sabo			supe
sabes		supiste
sabe			supo
sabemos		supimos
sabeis		supisteis
saben		supieron

Question 3

In the present and the preterite:

Poder

Answer 3

Present: to be able; can
Podemos hacerlo. :: We can do it.

Preterite, affirmative sentence: to manage (to); to succeed (could and did)
Pudimos hacerlo ayer. :: We managed to do it yesterday.

Preterite, negative sentence: to fail (to)

Question 4

In the present and the preterite:

Querer

Answer 4

Present: to want; to love
Quiero ir pero tengo que trabajar. :: I want to go but I have to work.

Preterite, affirmative sentence: to try (to)
Quise evitarlo pero fue imposible. :: I tried to avoid it, but it was impossible.

Preterite, negative sentence: to refuse (to)
No quise poderlo. :: I refused to try it.

Question 5

In the preterite, the verbs poder and querer have different meanings, depending on whether they are used in _________ or _________ sentences.

Answer 5

affirmative; negative

Question 6

Translate “pude.”

Answer 6

I succeeded

Question 7

Translate “no pude.”

Answer 7

I failed (to)

Question 8

Translate “quise.”

Answer 8

I tried (to)

Question 9

Translate “no quise.”

Answer 9

I refused (to).