【英文版西语语法】Verbs that Change Meaning in the Preterite

 Overview

 

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

 

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

 

Verbs that Change

 

Infinitive Imperfective Translation Perfective Translation

conocer

 

to know to meet

estar

 

to become/to get to be

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.

Remember that the meanings of the verbs above don't really change. What's going on is that an action in the perfective aspect is viewed as a single event or completed action, wheras an action in the imperfective aspect is considered ongoing.