Preterite vs. Imperfect Quizzes - Reflexive Verbs

reflexive verbs 1
reflexive verbs 2
reflexive verbs 3
reflexive verbs 4

Preterite vs. Imperfect Quizzes

Ser & Estar

estar
ser vs. estar 1
ser vs. estar 2

Other Verbs

conocer vs. saber
creia que - ir & ser 1
creia que - ir & ser 2

Meaning Changing Verbs

The preterite and imperfect can affect the meaning/translation of certain verbs markedly.

Verb Preterite [Act completed/attempted] - - Imperfect [State or potential]

conocer

Conocimos a Elena ayer. - - Conocíamos a Elena ya.
'We met Elena yesterday.' - - 'We knew Elena already.'

saber
Supimos la verdad. - - Sabíamos la verdad ya.
'We found out the truth.' - - 'We knew the truth already.'

tener
María tuvo una idea. - - María tenía una idea.
'Mary got an idea.' - - 'Mary had (possessed) an idea.'

María tuvo una carta. - - María tenía una carta.
'Mary got/received a letter.' - - 'Mary had (possessed) a letter.'

poder

Pudieron hacerlo. - - Podían hacerlo.
'They managed to do it.' - - 'They were capable of doing it.'
[succeeded in doing it] - - [may have done nothing]

querer

Quisimos abrir la ventana. - - Queríamos abrir la ventana. 'We tried/attempted to open the window.' - - 'We wanted to open the window.'
[but may have done nothing]

No quise estudiar. - - No quería estudiar.
'I refused to study.' 'I didn't want to study.'
[but may have studied anyway]

The preterite form implies an act or at least an attempt to act in each of the cases above.

The imperfect implies noting more than a state of affairs or an intention.