How to use these preterite verb conocer and saber

Question

I have an assignment that needs to be complete the verb using conocer, saber, poder and querer. please help me to understand how to use these verbs.

Answer 1

The preterite is used in these situations: To tell of something that happened once, to tell of something that has happened a certain number of times, to tell of a chain of events, or to tell of something that indicates a beginning or end.

Remember the difference between conocer and saber. Both mean to know. However, "saber" means to know facts or information, whereas "conocer" means to be familiar with a person or place.

Here are some sentences in the preterite using these verbs.

Conocimos la chica a la tiendo esta mañana.

Ella supo la respuesta a la pregunta durante la clase la semana pasada.

No pude hablar con ella ayer.

Quisiste ayudarme con mi tarea ayer.

Conocer verb charts

Saber verb charts

Poder verb charts

Querer verb charts

Saber - to know facts/information. Conocer - to know a place/person. Poder - to be able to [can]. Querer - to want or to love. - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 19, 2011

Excelente! - 00a4c226, Jun 19, 2011

Gracias, coffee :) !! Usted es muy simpática :D - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 19, 2011

¡ Qué buena repuesta ! - TejanoViejo, Jun 19, 2011

Gracias :D - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 19, 2011

Gracias, Tejano for pointing out a mistake! I accidentally put "tiendo" instead of "tienda". I'm very sorry about that :) Just so you know, tienda should be used to mean "store/shop". Sorry, again, for that typo! - SonrisaDelSol, Jun 19, 2011

Answer 2

It must not be a coincidence that the lesson was about those 4 particular verbs and the preterite tense.

4 verbs that change meaning in the preterite tense: querer, saber, conocer, poder

When the primary meanings of these four verbs are needed: being able, wanting, knowing (information) or knowing (people), the imperfect must be used.

Since I don't know grammar, would you care in expanding that? It does not sound correct...because context will dictate the usage, right? - chileno, Jun 19, 2011

Did you read the article? We have threads here discussing saber in the preterite meaning to find out, no quiso=refute, etc. I was hoping the author would verify that this is what his lesson was about. Why is he only asking about these verbs in the - 0074b507, Jun 20, 2011

preterite. I'm pretty sure that this is what he wants to ask about. Read threads like this one: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/129583/preterite-vs.-imperfect-and-the-change-in-meanings. This is common knowledge, not any arcane usage. - 0074b507, Jun 20, 2011

Answer 3

Go here and enter one verb at a time and get the tense you're interested in.

http://www.spanishdict.com/conjugation