Preterite for success and imperfect for failure?

Question

I have read many explanations of when to use the preterite and when to use the imperfect, but I have just come across a book that says, among other things, "El pretérito implica resultado positivo" and "El pretérito imperfecto implica intención frustrada." The idea seems to be that "El jefe quiso que Pepa le entregara los fotos" suggests that Pepa delivered the photos, whereas "El jefe quería que Pepa le entregara las fotos" suggests that she did not.

There is no further explanation in this book. Does the distinction make sense?

Welcome to the forum! - rac1, Feb 18, 2015

I hope for a good answer, I don't know the answer- but it makes sense- he wanted and that wanting ended (because it was fulfilled?), quería- he was wanting, and that wanting is not stated as ending (because it was not fulfilled?). :) - bosquederoble, Feb 18, 2015

Answer 1

Also not a native speaker but I was taught that querer was one of those verbs that changes meaning in the preterite. Thus the imperfect is normally used to express "want" in the past.

I have heard that in the preterite it means to try or to refuse. This still confuses me so I just avoid the preterite of querer.

Answer 2

PapoPaz could be correct in his interpretation of "quizo" or it could just mean that he made a effort to get Pepa to hand over the pictures - perhaps unsuccessfully.

I agree with PapoPaz's interpretation of the second sentence.

Here are some notes of mine from Mexican usage of the preterite in the following verbs:

conocer in preterite met someone

poder in preterite negative failed to

poder in preterite affirmative managed to

querer In preterite negative refused

querer In preterite affirmative tried, wanted much

saber In preterite found out, learned about

sentir in preterite regretted, was sorry

The book also has examples like "Tú preferías que él manejara, pero no tenía licencia" versus "Tú preferías que él manejara, y el lo hizo." - jtaniel, Feb 19, 2015

The idea is not that a verb like querer has a different meaning in the preterite, it's that the tense of the verb gives us a clue whether the subject of the verb had success or failure. - jtaniel, Feb 19, 2015

Answer 3

No soy hispanohablante nativo pero te lo trato de explicar tan bien como posible. Creo que depende del contexto. La primera significa que el jefe tuvo éxito de convencerle a Pepa entregar las fotos. Si agregaras una negación hacia la primera frase entonces significaría "He wasn't successful or he refused to ask her."

La segunda implica que el jefe le estaba queriendo convencer a Pepa que las entregara pero en este momento él no está seguro si sea posible.

Espero que tenga sentido.

So PapoPaz is confirming that in general, the preterite (in the absence of a disclaimer) implies success and the imperfect implies failure? If so, why is this not in all the books? - jtaniel, Feb 19, 2015

jtaniel.. the imperfect suggest an incomplete action and the preterite suggests a completed action. I'm not sure why books don't specify. - PapoPaz, Feb 20, 2015