Practice Makes Perfect Spanish Verb Tenses, Second ... - Ktooba.com

Verbs that change meaning in the preterite
Because the preterite tense implies that an action occurred either at a specifi c time or over a specifi
c period of time, certain verbs change meaning in this tense. Note that the action of the following
verbs is more mental or emotional than physical.
EJERCICIO
132 practice makes perfect Spanish Verb Tenses
PRESENT PRETERITE
conocer to know (a person/place) to meet
Conocí a Juan la semana pasada.
I met John last week.
poder to be able (to do something) to manage (to do something)
Ella pudo encontrarlo.
She managed to fi nd it.
no poder not to be able (to do something) to fail (to do something)
No pudimos encontrarlo.
We couldn’t fi nd it. or We failed to fi nd it.
querer to want to try
Quise salir.
I tried to leave.
no querer not to want to refuse
Él no quiso comer.
He refused to eat.
saber to know (a fact/information) to fi nd out, learn about
¿Cuándo lo supiste?
When did you fi nd (it) out? or
When did you learn about it?
sentir to feel to regret, be sorry
Sentí llamarla.
I regretted calling her. or
I was sorry I called her.
tener to have to have (at a certain time)
Ella tuvo un bebé ayer.
She had a baby yesterday.
Para ti, ¿cuál es verdadero o falso?
1. No pude dormir anoche.
2. Conocí a mi mejor amigo/amiga hace más de cinco años.
3. Tuve un accidente de coche el año pasado.
4. Pude pagar los impuestos el año pasado antes del quince de abril.
5. Leí el periódico esta mañana y supe mucho de los dilemas políticos.
6. En mi cumpleaños pasado no quise comer nada.