Grammatically Speaking Spanish Study Sheet Page 3
ADVERTISEMENT
1
2
3
4Spanish 3 Patterns Semester 2 Unit 1 Lesson 8
Independent Study: Grammatically Speaking
Study Sheet
•
The imperfect does not focus on a definite beginning or ending, but rather on
the having something over an indefinite period of time.
The following table summarizes the "meaning changes" for modal auxiliary verbs of
state in the preterit and imperfect tenses.
V
S
I
P
I
ERBS OF
TATE
NFINITE
RETERIT
MPERFECT
to know; to be familiar
met and began knowing
knew (a place or an
conocer
with
acquaintance)
to know (about); to be
saber
found out; learned
knew (something)
aware of
had the ability to do
Managed to do
something and did it;
something; was/were
poder
to be able; can
succeeded in
able to do something
wanted to do something
and tried to do it
querer
to want; to wish
wanted to do something
didn't want to do
did not want to do
something and refused
no querer
to not want; to not wish
something
to do it
got or received
Possessed something;
something and began
used to have something
tener
to have
having it
Practice Questions
To check your understanding of the "meaning changes" between the preterit and
imperfect tenses for modal auxiliary verbs of state, do the following exercises.
A. Sentence Completion: Preterite vs. Imperfect
Fill in the blanks in the following sentences using the correct form of the preterit or
imperfect. You will need to read and figure out from the context whether the verb
should be in the preterit or imperfect.
1. Anoche yo __________ (saber) el nombre del muchacho guapo que está en mi clase
de cálculo.
2. Hacía mucho tiempo que mi profesor __________ (saber) hablar español.
3. Hace dos días que mi hermana __________ (tener) una invitación a una fiesta.
4. Cuando tú __________ (tener) quince años saliste en tu primera cita social.
5. Ellos__________ (querer) hablar con el director de la escuela ayer pero no pudieron.
6. Mis primos siempre ______________ (querer) ser jugadores profesionales de fútbol.
7. Hace diez años que el señor Ramírez __________ (conocer) a su esposa en un baile.
8. Uds. ya __________ (conocer) a Josefina desde antes.
9. La semana pasada Pablo no __________ (querer) asistir a su clase de historia.
10. El martes pasado por la tarde __________ (haber) un accidente en esta esquina.
ADVERTISEMENT
0 votes
Related Articles
Related forms
Related Categories
Parent category: Education