A to Z Challenge: Preterite Meaning Changes

[livingdeb]

We have now learned two forms of past tense in Spanish. The imperfect is used for descriptions and ongoing or habitual actions. I like to think of it as setting the stage. It is used for sentences like these:
* Once upon a time, there were three bears.
* It was a dark and stormy night.
* When I was working, I used to take the bus.
* She had green hair.

The preterite is used to describe things with specific starting or ending points. I like to think of it as advancing the plot. It is used for sentences like these:
* Suddenly, all eyes were on her.
* She said it was not her fault.
* The porridge was too hot.

(Most sentences could be said both ways, but with different meanings. For example: "As usual, the porridge was too hot" would be the other kind of past tense.)

We had one small lesson where we were taught four words whose meanings are so different in the preterite that we tend to use different words in English:
* conocer - to know (people)
* saber - to know (facts, ideas)
* poder - to be able to
* querer - to want

In the preterite, the action is not ongoing or habitual:
* conocer - met
* saber - found out
* poder - managed, succeeded (could and did)
* querer - tried (not only wanted, but actually tried)

Interesting.