Hardest Spanish Verbs

Question

Hello guys.

Since I know that many of you are experts in Spanish vocabulary, I present the following challenge. Can you list as many difficult Spanish verbs as possible? False cognates will do pretty well and verb phrases are also accepted. Feel free to use various idioms that contain the verbs.

I may use these verbs that you posted for future references... and maybe a surprise. Who knows?

Enjoy the challenge!

Answer 1

How about the fact that the meaning changes between the imperfect past and the preterite past for some of the irregular verbs?

Infinitive	Imperfect/Preterite	Contrasted Meanings
saber	sabía	I knew (a fact, how to)
	supe	I found out, I learned
no saber	no sabía	I didn’t know (a fact, how to)
	no supe	I never knew
conocer	conocía	I knew, I was acquainted with
	conocí	I met
no conocer	no conocía	I never knew, I was never acquainted with
	no conocí	I never met
querer	quería	I wanted (outcome undetermined)
	quise	I wanted (and tried)
no querer	no quería	I didn’t want (outcome undetermined)
	no quise	I refused
poder	podía	I was capable (outcome undetermined)
	pude	I succeeded
no poder	no podía	I wasn’t capable (outcome undetermined)
	no pude	I tried and couldn’t
tener	tenía	I had (in my possession)
	tuve	I got, I received
no tener	no tenía	I didn’t have (in my possession)
	no tuve	I didn’t get, I didn’t receive
tener que	tenía que	I was supposed to
	tuve que	I had to (and did)
no tener que	no tenía que	I wasn’t supposed to
	no tuve que	I didn’t have to (and didn’t )
costar	costaba	it was priced
	costó	it cost (and was purchased)

Whoops! I didn´t realize that this is an old post. Oh, well. - brian5764, MAR 13, 2013

Answer 2

For me, it's the irregular verbs such as:

ir

ser

venir

caer

dar

decir

haber

hacer

poder

poner

saber

Hello neighbor. - brian5764, MAR 13, 2013

Answer 3

Well for me, conjugating "hacer" is a killer. It's the bane of my existence! I just can't remember all the tenses! I'm thinking of making a printout and looking at it everyday so it sinks into my head.

Big dry erase board. Write and go nuts. Switch to your 501 Spanish Verbs book. Verify. Re-write those you got wrong to reinforce. They say that writing something is the key to really getting it to sink in and stay put. It helped me a ton! - brian5764, MAR 13, 2013

Answer 4

For me: Oír Leer Decir Hacer

Answer 5