9.8: Irregular Preterite Verbs, Part 4
- Page ID
- 44599
Finally, there are several verbs that change meaning when they are used in el pretérito. Here are some of the more commonly used meaning-changers:
Poder
We know poder to mean “to be able to/ to can.” However, when used in el pretérito, it means “to manage to” in the sense of having tried to do something, and ultimately being able to do it.
No poder
When you make poder negative in el pretérito, it means to fail after attempting to do something.
Querer
We know querer to mean “to want/ to love.” However, when used in el pretérito, it means “tried to.”
No querer
When negative in el pretérito, querer means “to refuse.”
Saber
We know saber to mean “to know” (learned knowledge). However, when used in el pretérito, it means “to find out/ to discover.” If negative, it means to have never found out about something.
Conocer
We know conocer to mean “to know” (experiential knowledge). However, when used in el pretérito, it means “to meet for the first time.”
Actividad 28
Los verbos que cambian de significado. Give the Spanish equivalent of each sentence below.
1. Raúl failed to do all of his homework last night. ________
2. Laura tried to buy a ticket to Madrid yesterday. ________
3. I managed to wash all of my clothing last weekend. ________
4. My son refused to eat his vegetables this evening. ________
5. My friends and I found out that Melissa is pregnant last week. ________
6. Did you meet your wife in college? ________
Actividad 29
1. El/ la profesor(a) no ________ comer cuy cuando fue a Perú.
Cierto Falso
2. El/ la profesor(a) no ________ calificar toda la tarea de sus alumnos el fin de semana pasado.
Cierto Falso
3. El/ la profesor(a) ________ a su futur@ espos@ en un bar de karaoke.
Cierto Falso
4. El/ la profesor(a) ________ que su ex-espos@ tenía otr@ espos@ y dos hijos en California.
Cierto Falso
5. El/ la profesor(a) ________ lavar, doblar, y ordenar toda su ropa sucia ayer.
Cierto Falso