Saber: Imperfect Vs. Preterit (2023)

In my Spanish classes and several textbooks, it’s noted that some verbs have different meanings in imperfect versus preterite. Past forms of saber for instance means “knew” or “was knowing” in imperfect and “found out” in preterite. ForumLanguage seems to have it otherwise, only accepting “supiste” and not “sabías” for “you knew”, seemingly restricting “sabías” to “you used to know.” I think “querer” and “poder” are likely similar.

Forum>Topic: Spanish>Saber: imperfect vs. preterit

Saber: imperfect vs. preterittdawson48Plus1898In my Spanish classes and several textbooks, it’s noted that some verbs have different meanings in imperfect versus preterite. Past forms of saber for instance means “knew” or “was knowing” in imperfect and “found out” in preterite. Duolingo seems to have it otherwise, only accepting “supiste” and not “sabías” for “you knew”, seemingly restricting “sabías” to “you used to know.” I think “querer” and “poder” are likely similar. February 27, 2021

tdawson48Plus1898

tdawson48Plus1898

In my Spanish classes and several textbooks, it’s noted that some verbs have different meanings in imperfect versus preterite. Past forms of saber for instance means “knew” or “was knowing” in imperfect and “found out” in preterite. Duolingo seems to have it otherwise, only accepting “supiste” and not “sabías” for “you knew”, seemingly restricting “sabías” to “you used to know.” I think “querer” and “poder” are likely similar.

February 27, 2021

10 CommentsKenHighThe notion that the preterite of saber means (or must be translated as ” found out” instead of “knew” is widely overstated. Look at the following link where supiste is used in whole sentence.
did you know – 1009 instances
you knew – 336
did you find out – 58
etc.
https://context.reverso.net/translation/spanish-english/supiste
Duo does tend to overuse the ” used to ” translation when simple past would often be preferable. February 27, 2021…..ChloePlus764Edit: Thank you! I finally get it.February 27, 2021ignatznkrazy2720Textbooks oversimplify complex rules. Perhaps it works in the beginning, but in the long run students end up confused. The idea that some verbs have different meanings in preterite and imperfect is one of those oversimplifications.
I read a great paper about it here: http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/sirveobras/35761630101354941976613/p0000004.htm#22
I don’t know if the link still works, but the gist is that textbooks teach a lot of unnecessary rules about preterite and imperfect in an attempt to clarify, but the result is usually confusion. The article states the only rules for past tense in Spanish should be:

1) The imperfect is used for
a) actions and states in progress at some focused point in the past,
b) habitual past actions,
c) repetitious past actions,
d) anticipated/planned past actions.
2) The preterite is used to focus on
a) the completion of past actions or states,
b) the beginning of past actions or states.
February 27, 2021ChilotinI had trouble understanding rules for preterite and imperfect until a friend said the keyword: imperfect. All uses of imperfect are imperfect (incomplete) and all uses of preterite are perfect (complete). Sometimes you can use any depending on your attitude or a different focus.February 27, 2021tdawson48Plus1898Exactly, which is why I think Duo should accept either lacking a clear context. “Did you know at 8:00 PM?” seems preterite, but “Did you know about X?” seems ambiguous, or more likely imperfect, since we can’t define the completeness, beginning or end. February 27, 2021KenHighDid you know (something) at 8 can easily be either preterite or imperfect.
With imperfect it means did you know is already at the time (you knew it beforehand)
With preterite the meaning is ” did you find out / learn about it” know it initially at 8. February 27, 2021DutchGirl960831Thanks for this great summary!February 27, 2021KenHighYes, that link isn’t working.
Here is a good wordreference article that discusses it though.
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/preterite-imperfect-half-truths.538543/February 27, 2021DutchGirl960831Link? :)February 27, 2021KenHighSorry, I have added the link now.February 27, 2021

10 Comments

KenHighThe notion that the preterite of saber means (or must be translated as ” found out” instead of “knew” is widely overstated. Look at the following link where supiste is used in whole sentence.
did you know – 1009 instances
you knew – 336
did you find out – 58
etc.
https://context.reverso.net/translation/spanish-english/supiste
Duo does tend to overuse the ” used to ” translation when simple past would often be preferable. February 27, 2021…..ChloePlus764Edit: Thank you! I finally get it.February 27, 2021ignatznkrazy2720Textbooks oversimplify complex rules. Perhaps it works in the beginning, but in the long run students end up confused. The idea that some verbs have different meanings in preterite and imperfect is one of those oversimplifications.
I read a great paper about it here: http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/sirveobras/35761630101354941976613/p0000004.htm#22
I don’t know if the link still works, but the gist is that textbooks teach a lot of unnecessary rules about preterite and imperfect in an attempt to clarify, but the result is usually confusion. The article states the only rules for past tense in Spanish should be:

1) The imperfect is used for
a) actions and states in progress at some focused point in the past,
b) habitual past actions,
c) repetitious past actions,
d) anticipated/planned past actions.
2) The preterite is used to focus on
a) the completion of past actions or states,
b) the beginning of past actions or states.
February 27, 2021ChilotinI had trouble understanding rules for preterite and imperfect until a friend said the keyword: imperfect. All uses of imperfect are imperfect (incomplete) and all uses of preterite are perfect (complete). Sometimes you can use any depending on your attitude or a different focus.February 27, 2021tdawson48Plus1898Exactly, which is why I think Duo should accept either lacking a clear context. “Did you know at 8:00 PM?” seems preterite, but “Did you know about X?” seems ambiguous, or more likely imperfect, since we can’t define the completeness, beginning or end. February 27, 2021KenHighDid you know (something) at 8 can easily be either preterite or imperfect.
With imperfect it means did you know is already at the time (you knew it beforehand)
With preterite the meaning is ” did you find out / learn about it” know it initially at 8. February 27, 2021DutchGirl960831Thanks for this great summary!February 27, 2021KenHighYes, that link isn’t working.
Here is a good wordreference article that discusses it though.
https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/preterite-imperfect-half-truths.538543/February 27, 2021DutchGirl960831Link? :)February 27, 2021KenHighSorry, I have added the link now.February 27, 2021

KenHighThe notion that the preterite of saber means (or must be translated as ” found out” instead of “knew” is widely overstated. Look at the following link where supiste is used in whole sentence.
did you know – 1009 instances
you knew – 336
did you find out – 58
etc.
https://context.reverso.net/translation/spanish-english/supiste
Duo does tend to overuse the ” used to ” translation when simple past would often be preferable. February 27, 2021

KenHigh

The notion that the preterite of saber means (or must be translated as ” found out” instead of “knew” is widely overstated. Look at the following link where supiste is used in whole sentence.
did you know – 1009 instances
you knew – 336
did you find out – 58
etc.
https://context.reverso.net/translation/spanish-english/supiste
Duo does tend to overuse the ” used to ” translation when simple past would often be preferable. February 27, 2021

The notion that the preterite of saber means (or must be translated as ” found out” instead of “knew” is widely overstated. Look at the following link where supiste is used in whole sentence.
did you know – 1009 instances
you knew – 336
did you find out – 58
etc.
https://context.reverso.net/translation/spanish-english/supiste
Duo does tend to overuse the ” used to ” translation when simple past would often be preferable.

February 27, 2021

February 27, 2021

…..ChloePlus764Edit: Thank you! I finally get it.February 27, 2021

Edit: Thank you! I finally get it.

February 27, 2021

February 27, 2021

ignatznkrazy2720Textbooks oversimplify complex rules. Perhaps it works in the beginning, but in the long run students end up confused. The idea that some verbs have different meanings in preterite and imperfect is one of those oversimplifications.
I read a great paper about it here: http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/sirveobras/35761630101354941976613/p0000004.htm#22
I don’t know if the link still works, but the gist is that textbooks teach a lot of unnecessary rules about preterite and imperfect in an attempt to clarify, but the result is usually confusion. The article states the only rules for past tense in Spanish should be:

1) The imperfect is used for
a) actions and states in progress at some focused point in the past,
b) habitual past actions,
c) repetitious past actions,
d) anticipated/planned past actions.
2) The preterite is used to focus on
a) the completion of past actions or states,
b) the beginning of past actions or states.
February 27, 2021

Textbooks oversimplify complex rules. Perhaps it works in the beginning, but in the long run students end up confused. The idea that some verbs have different meanings in preterite and imperfect is one of those oversimplifications.
I read a great paper about it here: http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/sirveobras/35761630101354941976613/p0000004.htm#22
I don’t know if the link still works, but the gist is that textbooks teach a lot of unnecessary rules about preterite and imperfect in an attempt to clarify, but the result is usually confusion. The article states the only rules for past tense in Spanish should be:

1) The imperfect is used for
a) actions and states in progress at some focused point in the past,
b) habitual past actions,
c) repetitious past actions,
d) anticipated/planned past actions.
2) The preterite is used to focus on
a) the completion of past actions or states,
b) the beginning of past actions or states.

February 27, 2021

February 27, 2021

ChilotinI had trouble understanding rules for preterite and imperfect until a friend said the keyword: imperfect. All uses of imperfect are imperfect (incomplete) and all uses of preterite are perfect (complete). Sometimes you can use any depending on your attitude or a different focus.February 27, 2021

I had trouble understanding rules for preterite and imperfect until a friend said the keyword: imperfect. All uses of imperfect are imperfect (incomplete) and all uses of preterite are perfect (complete). Sometimes you can use any depending on your attitude or a different focus.

February 27, 2021

February 27, 2021

tdawson48Plus1898Exactly, which is why I think Duo should accept either lacking a clear context. “Did you know at 8:00 PM?” seems preterite, but “Did you know about X?” seems ambiguous, or more likely imperfect, since we can’t define the completeness, beginning or end. February 27, 2021

Exactly, which is why I think Duo should accept either lacking a clear context. “Did you know at 8:00 PM?” seems preterite, but “Did you know about X?” seems ambiguous, or more likely imperfect, since we can’t define the completeness, beginning or end.

February 27, 2021

February 27, 2021

KenHighDid you know (something) at 8 can easily be either preterite or imperfect.
With imperfect it means did you know is already at the time (you knew it beforehand)
With preterite the meaning is ” did you find out / learn about it” know it initially at 8. February 27, 2021

Did you know (something) at 8 can easily be either preterite or imperfect.
With imperfect it means did you know is already at the time (you knew it beforehand)
With preterite the meaning is ” did you find out / learn about it” know it initially at 8.

February 27, 2021

February 27, 2021

DutchGirl960831Thanks for this great summary!February 27, 2021

Thanks for this great summary!

February 27, 2021