Some verbs have changes in meaning when they are conjugated in the Preterite vs. the Present Tense.
This is because the Preterite Past Tense handles completed actions only. Therefore, it has to somehow make the verb's present tense meaning into an event.
For example, Querer means "to Want". "Wanting" is a description of a state we are in. Wanting or liking something is a feeling. So when we make that "wanting" into action, it becomes "tried". See some of the other feelings changed into action below:
Verb |
Present tense |
Preterite tense |
| Querer | Quiero "I want.." | Quise "I tried to.." |
| No Querer | No quiero "I don't want.." | No quise "I refused to.." |
| Conocer | Conozco "I know someone /some place" |
Conocí "I met someone (first time)" |
| Saber | Sé "I know a fact.." | Supe "I found out.., discovered" |
| Poder | Puedo "I can, am able to" | Pude "I succeeded to, managed to.." |
| No Poder | No puedo "I can't, I'm not able..." | No pude "I failed to.." |