Preterite or Imperfect? "Pensar/Querer/Creer"
Are states of mind (creer/pensar/querer) ALWAYS in the imperfect unless time is stated?
For example:
"I thought it was Monday." = "Pensaba/Pensé que era lunes."
"I thought she said yes..." = "Pensaba/Pensé que ella dijo que sí."
"Yesterday I wanted to go to the movies." = "Ayer quería/quise ir al cine."
Do some of these situations depend on perspective, so either one could be used?
1 Answer
Pensaba and creía, which are almost synonymous, in many cases, can be used either in the preterite or imperfect. You use the preterite to state the "fact" and the imperfect to create more of a description, or use it to mean "used " or "was ---ing"
I was thinking that I was going to earn a lot of money. "Creía/pensaba" que iba a ganar mucho dinero. " Or "I used to think."
With "querer" the rules are more rigid.
If I say "quise" resolver el problema, it means, "I tried" to solve the problem."
"Queria resolver el problema" means, "I wanted to solve the problem. "
"No quise hacer la tarea.," means, "I refused to do the assignment."
There is a little more to this but this will get you started.
Here is a link to an article I wrote on this for further information.
