Did you remember that or do you remember that?

Question

Did you remember that or do you remember that? Cual es la diferencia entre did y do?

Answer 1

Wow, this question is really making me think.

Usually when we ask "Did you remember...?" it has something to with consequences of some sort.

Por ejemplo:

Did you remember to take out the trash?

Did you remember how to spell your vocabulary words?

Did you remember to pay the bill?

Of course, using the word "did" lets us know that we are discussing the past. But it is usually the recent past.

When we are asking "Do you remember...?" It usually is more about curiosity than consequences. It often is an opener for what the person really wants to discuss:

Por ejemplo:

Do you remember that restaurant we used to go to in New York City?( Well, it just closed.)

Do you remember how crazy our old neighbor was? (Well, you won't believe what he did now!)

Do you remember what Tony said he wanted for Christmas? (I would like to buy his gift when I go to the store tonight.)

I'm sure there is a better way of explaining this. I feel totally inadequate in explaining this now, but will keep thinking about it and hopefully come up with a better answer.

Answer 2

Otra cosa....

Si haces preguntas, es necesario usar do/does/did. Pero en declaraciones, si usas do/does/did, pone enfasis en el verbo.

.

Ejemplos del presente...

Do you remember that? = ¿Te acuerdas eso?

You remember that. = Te acuerdas eso.

Yo do remember that. = Sí te acuerdas eso.

.

Ejemplos del pasado...

Did you remember that? = ¿Te acordaste/acordabas eso?

You remembered that. = Te acordaste/acordabas eso.

You did remember that. = Sí te acordaste/acordabas eso.

Good points, Web:) - FELIZ77, Dec 7, 2011

Answer 3

Did you remember...asks if you remembered in the past something.

We are presently riding in the car on our way to the restaurant. Did you remember to lock the door when we left home? It is asking if you remembered something (the something may not be in the past.)

Did you remember that Paul is graduating next month when you bought that? (the remembering is in the past; not what is being remembered)

Do you remember....asks if you remember something right now (at the present) even though what you remember may have happened in the past.

Do you remember (now, still, at this moment) when we first met? (past)

This is a better explanation. The fact that did/do represent the past and present respectively is easy to explain. But what is tripping me up is trying to convey how the idea that what is presently being remembered occurred in the past or what you - Nicole-B, Dec 7, 2011

remembered in the past (the fact that "Paul is graduating") has not yet occurred. - Nicole-B, Dec 7, 2011

I'm probably just over thinking this. :) - Nicole-B, Dec 7, 2011

Very clear and accurate Q Great response :) - FELIZ77, Dec 7, 2011

Answer 4

La diferencia principal es que did está en el tiempo pasado y do y does están en el tiempo presente.

Ejemplos:

(Does) Does the boy remember that? = ¿El niño se acuerda eso?

(Do) Do you remember that? = ¿Te acuerdas eso?

(Did) Did you remember that? = ¿Te acordabas eso? o ¿Te acordaste eso?

Answer 5

Gracias!!! :D

Answer 6

Thank you Nicole!

Your welcome. I appreciate that you chose this as the "Best Answer", but if you un-select it, you will probably get more answers. And hopefully answers that make more sense. :) - Nicole-B, Dec 7, 2011

Nicole, I think that the correct term is de-select :) - FELIZ77, Dec 7, 2011

Jajaja, Feliz! - MLucie, Dec 7, 2011

Answer 7

Welcome to the SpanishDict forum Zursole

Explanation: Do you remember that? Is referring to an action of remembering or recalling something that you did/or that took place in the past. The act of remembering is happening now but you are remembering something that has already happened either recently or long ago.

Grammar: present indicative tense (En español: presente indicativo): Do you remember.when.......etc...? (Now!) ¿Te acuerdas cuando........?

Example/s: Imagine that you are talking to some friends now and asking them ''Do you remember going shopping last week and buying that beautiful dress?'' You are asking them to remember. now what happened some time ago. You can also use this verb form to refer to an action/event that has just taken place, For example: Do you remember what Sarah said two minutes ago?

Explanation: Did you remember that time when ? is referring to a past action (Before)

Grammar; simple past (En español: preterito) ¿Te acordaste esta vez cuando....?

Example: Did you remember what we were talking about when we met three months ago in Capacino's restaurant?

I hope this helps