Question

Create one sentence for each of the following verbs using the tense given in parentheses.

1. conocer (preterite)

2. querer (imperfect)

3. saber (preterite)

4. poder (imperfect)

5. no querer (imperfect)

Answer 1

First of all, what do those words mean?? :)

And then, after I found out what they mean, I will write sentences that I need help translating. :)

Unless you can please help me form SIMPLE spanish sentences using those given words and tenses? Thanks!! :)

Answer 2

Is this what those 5 words mean?
1) to know

2) to want

3) to know

4) to be able

5) to not want

??? I am not quite sure.. please check if that's right?? And I will post my sentences after :)

Answer 3

Yes those r right

Answer 4

okay, so im a bit confused.. can u pls give me examples of the preterite and imperfect tenses?

Answer 5

*confused about the tenses haha :P

Answer 6

Ha im not good at tenses even in English... well for the first one, You know.. so it wuld be present tense. idk, sorry if that aint help.

Answer 7

oh okay, thanks :)

Answer 8

haha :P idk maybe someone else knows what they are? idk :/

Answer 9

Yeahh :)

Answer 10

Hi! I could go over your sentences with you, if you like.

The words that you've translated are correct.

Before we start, you've probably seen that "conocer" and "saber" both mean "to know."

Do you already know the difference between "conocer" and "saber"?

Answer 11

no i do not :( could u pls explain it to me?

And also, do u know the difference between preterite and imperfect tenses??

And would u be able to help me translate sentences I create? :)

Answer 12

Yes, to all of your questions. lol

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's start with the difference between "conocer" and "saber."

We use CONOCER when we're talking about something we're FAMILIAR with,
or SOMEONE who we know.

For example,
"Yo conozco Nuevo York" means "I know New York." (As in I'm FAMILIAR with New York.)

"Yo conozco el parque" means "I know the park," as in I'm FAMILIAR with the park.

We also use "conocer" to say that we know SOMEONE.

"Yo conozco a Maria," means "I know Maria."

"Yo conozco a Miguel" means "I know Miguel."

So, once again, we use CONOCER for two things:

1. When we're familiar with something.
2. When we know a person.

(Just remember, when we say that we know someone, we need to use the "a" in the sentence. Like this...."Yo conozco a Maria.")

~~~~~~~~~~~

Now let's talk about SABER.

We use saber for two things:

1. To say that we know how to DO something.
2. To say that we know a FACT.

For example:
"Yo sé nadar" means "I know how to swim."
"Ella sabe leer" means "She knows how to read."

You see?

And we also use "saber" to talk about knowing facts.

For example:
"Yo sé que estás aquí" means "I know that you are here."
"Yo sé que vas a caminar," means "I know that you are going to walk."

So again, we use "saber" for two things:

1. To say that we know how to do something.
2. To talk about a fact that we know.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let's talk about the PRETERITE and the IMPERFECT.

The preterite and the imperfect are the two types of past tense, in Spanish.

I'll explain the PRETERITE first.

We use the PRETERITE when we're talking about past actions that only happened one time,
or actions that did not go on, for an extended period of time.

For example:
"Yo fue al cine," means "I went to the movie theater."

"Fue" is the preterite form of "ir."
And I used the preterite, because I'm only trying to talk about that ONE TIME that I went to the movie theater.

Another example:
"Yo hablé con ella" means "I spoke with her."

"Hablé" is a preterite verb, again.
And I used the preterite, because I'm only trying to talk about the ONE specific time that I spoke with her.

So, again, we use the PRETERITE when we're talking about past actions that were short, one-time, and we not on-going.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let me explain the IMPERFECT now.

We use the imperfect when we're talking about past actions that happened CONSISTENTLY.

I'll tell you something. When I was a kid, I used to go to the mall with my mom, a lot.
We used to do it on a REGUALR BASIS.

So, to say that, in Spanish, I would say...
"Cuando yo era niño, yo iba al centro comercial con mi mamá."

It means, "When I was little boy, I went to the mall with my mom."

"Iba" is the imperfect form of "ir."
And I used the imperfect, because I'm trying to say that I went to the mall with my mom, OFTEN, and on a REGULAR BASIS.
It was an ONGOING action.
It wasn't just one time.

You see?

I'll give you another example:

"Cuando yo era niño, yo jugaba con mis amigos todos los fines de semana."

It means "When I was a little boy, I played with my friends every weekend."

"Jugaba" is the imperfect form of "jugar."
And I used the imperfect, because I'm trying to say that I played with my friends, on a REGULAR BASIS. I played with them every weekend.
I didn't just play with them one time.

You see?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have any questions about any of this stuff, please ask.

And I'll wait for your sentences, so that I can proof-read them for you.

Answer 13

Okay, thanks! I think i get it now. :)

CAn we please do one sentence at a time? :)

Answer 14

Of course. That'd probably be easier for both of us.

Answer 15

okay great!!
so #1 is conocer (preterite)--to know... right??
so you said preterite is actions that happened right?
so would this be a sentence that contains conocer that is in preterite tense? (English first!)

1) I know how to play the piano.

?? or would this be better? 1) I know my neighbors.

???

Answer 16

"I know my neighbors" is where we would use "conocer."

In the present tense. Not the past.

~~~~~~~~

If we wanted to say "I know how to play the piano,"

we would say, "Yo sé tocar el piano."

Because we use "saber" when we wanna say that we know how to do something.

You get it?

Answer 17

okay... so how do you translate "I know my neighbors." for #1?

yo conocer mi ____ .

??? idk how to say neighbors in espanol :p

Answer 18

is neighbors "vecinos" ?? or is it something else?

Answer 19

"Vecinos" are neighbors.

So we would say "Yo conozco a mis vecinos."

Answer 20

why conozco ?

Answer 21

is it cuz the preterite change??

Answer 22

Conozco is the present tense of "conocer."

We wanna say "I know my neighbors,"

and to say that, we would have to use the present tense.

Answer 23

oh okay so number one is this right?
1) Yo conozco a mis vecinos.

?? :O

Answer 24

Yep!

Answer 25

okay !! yay!! so now we are on #2 querer (imperfect)--to want right?

Answer 26

Oh sorry, ONE thing I wanna correct:

Let's take out the "a."

So, just "Yo conozco mis vecinos."

Sorry about that!

Answer 27

so just 1) Yo conozco mis vecinos.
right?

Answer 28

Yes, that's right.

Answer 29

okay so now we are on #2 querer (imperfect)--to want-- right?

Answer 30

I have a question though.

Answer 31

okay :)

Answer 32

In the first sentence, you said something about.....

"conocer" (preterite.)

"Conocer" is actually an infinitive verb. Not a preterite.

Did you actually want to make a sentence with "conocer" in the preterite tense?

Answer 33

yes... :) they have to be sentences with the word and the type of tense in parentheses :) so is the one we just did not right then?

Answer 34

Oh no no, our sentence was totally correct.

It was just in the present tense,
and not in the preterite.

"Preterite" is "past" tense.

Is it okay for you to have a present tense sentence?

Answer 35

okay :)

and no, it HAS to be in the tense given in the parentheses... so it has to be preterite... how do we fix that then?

Answer 36

Ohhhhh boy. Okay, now I get what it means.

Okay. Let me explain one thing...

"Conocer" usually means "to know."

BUT when we use it in the preterite tense, it actually changes meaning.

In the preterite tense, it means "met."

So, for example....

"Yo conocí a mis vecinos," means "I MET my neighbors."

Answer 37

If you have to use "conocer" in the preterite tense, you can use that example that I just gave.

"Yo conocí a mis vecinos."

It means "I met my neighbors."

Answer 38

so i get this?
1) Yo conocí a mis vecinos.

instead of conozco right?? and i need the "a" in this sentence??

and it is 100% right?? according to the word and tense given?

Answer 39

Yes.

Answer 40

oaky!! great!! so #2?

Answer 41

Okay.

#2.

We have to use "querer," in the imperfect tense, yes?

Answer 42

yeah :) so can this be a sentence?

2) I played the piano every day since I was 10 years old.

Answer 43

Now, let me go over the Imperfect tense, again.

We use the imperfect tense, whenever we're talking about a past action, that was ONGOING.

It happened CONSISTENTLY, and on a REGULAR BASIS.

For example,
"Yo jugaba con mis amigos," means "I played with my friends (on a regular basis)."

You see?

Answer 44

yes :)so can the sentence i gave you qualify?

Answer 45

How about we say... "When I was 10 years old, I played piano everyday"?

Answer 46

okay sounds good :)

Answer 47

how do i translate that?

Answer 48

Okay. So, can you show me what you think that would look like, in Spanish?

Answer 49

okay ummm idk really tho :/

2) Cuando tenía diez años, me tocó el piano los días.

idk tho :( is that right??

Answer 50

It's half right.

"Cuando yo tenía diez años" --- When I was 10 years old....

yo TOCABA el piano todos los días.

Answer 51

Question though...

I thought you wanted to use "querer."

Answer 52

oh yeah huh? nvm my bad haha :P

so can my sentence be

2) When I was ten years old, I wanted to play with my friends.

and it has querer in it right? and it is imperfect??

Answer 53

Yes. It would be imperfect.

Do you know the imperfect Yo form of "querer"?

Answer 54

Would it be queria?

if so, would this be my sentence?

2) Cuando tenía diez años, quería jugar con mis amigos.

Answer 55

Yes. It is "quería."

That's great.

Answer 56

so my sentence is right?? :)

Answer 57

Yes.

Answer 58

Great!! :)

Answer 59

so next is #3 saber (preterite)--to know--right?

Answer 60

so could a sentence be

3) I knew she was lying.

?? would that work?

Answer 61

Yes. To know.

Here's something we need to know:

Whenever we use saber in the preterite tense,
it means "found out," or "discovered."

For example....

"Yo supe que el examen es el lunes,"
means "I found out that the exam is on Monday."

Answer 62

Your sentence would actually mean "I found out that she lied."

Answer 63

okay so i can use that sentence?

and which version am i using?

i found out? or i knew?

Answer 64

You wanna use the preterite of saber, right?

When we use the preterite of saber, it means "found out."
Not "knew."

Answer 65

okay :) yea i do :)
so i need to translate this

3) I found out she was lying.

idk how to translate that at all :(

Answer 66

Do you know the preterite of "saber," in the Yo form?

Answer 67

no :(

lemme guess tho :P

sabi??

Answer 68

Saber is actually irregular, when we conjugate it in the preterite.

Good guess though!

Let me show you:

(Yo) Supe

(Tu) Supiste

(El/Ella/Usted) Supo

(Nosotros) Supimos

(Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes) Supieron

Answer 69

haha thanks :)

so i use "supe" then right??

and idk how to translate the rest either... idk this one ;(

Answer 70

We would say...

"Yo supe que ella estaba mintiendo."
"I found out that she was lying."

Answer 71

oh oaky so
3) Yo supe que ella estaba mintiendo.

100% sure?

Answer 72

Yes. That's how we would say "I found out that she was lying."

If you compare the Spanish and the English, side by side, you can see exactly how they translate.

Answer 73

Are you taking Spanish as an online class?

Answer 74

okay :)

so #4 now :) poder (imperfect)--to be able to-- right??

Answer 75

Yes.

So, if we have "poder" in the imperfect tense,
do you know what it would mean, in English?

Answer 76

idk to be able to?? haha :P

Answer 77

Yep, it would mean "was able to."

Answer 78

Okay. So, can you give me a Spanish sentence? Try it.

Answer 79

okay :)

umm would this work for poder in imperfect tense?

4) I was able to swim everyday when I was younger.

would that work?

Answer 80

Yes, it would.

Answer 81

oaky so would this be a translation of it?

4) Pude nadar todos los días cuando era más joven.

idk tho :/

Answer 82

ist that right?? PUDE is the yo form of PODER????

Answer 83

Pude is preterite.

We want the imperfect.

Answer 84

The problem with online translators, you know, is that they can't always tell the difference between preterite and imperfect.

Answer 85

ohhh whats the preterite then?? idk :/

Answer 86

and yeah i know :(

Answer 87

Let me show you how to conjugate poder in the imperfect.

Yo podía

Tu podías

El/Ella/Usted podía

Nosotros podíamos

Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes podían

Answer 88

okay so i use podia right?

Answer 89

Yep!

Answer 90

okay so my sentence is this?

4) Podia nadar todos los días cuando era más joven.

?? is that right?

Answer 91

Yep! Perfect.

Just start the sentence with "Yo."

You've probably noticed that the imperfect for "yo" and "el" are both the same.

So, let's just start the sentence with "yo," so that we can tell the difference.

Answer 92

okay so i have this right?

4) Yo podia nadar todos los días cuando era más joven.

Answer 93

Perfect!

Answer 94

so last one!!

#5 is no querer (imperfect)--to not want-- right?

Answer 95

Yes. That's right.

Answer 96

okay so would this be a sentence that has no querer and is imperfect?

5) I did not want to wash the dishes.

is that right?? or should it be i DO not want to wash the dishes? idk

Answer 97

"Do not want" would be present tense, you see?

We would say "Did not want."

Answer 98

yes so i am translating this then right?


5) I did not want to wash the dishes.

and that sentence works for no querer aND imperfect tense??