1. ¡ Change of meaning ! Some verbs actually change meaning, depending upon whether they are used in the preterit or the imperfect. This is not surprising, since the difference in meaning can be traced back to the different way in which these two past tenses are used.

2. ConocerConocer Pretérito: (met) Conocí a Juan. I met Juan. (completed action) Imperfecto: (knew) Conocía a Juan. I knew (used to know) Juan. (no definite beginning or end)

3. QuererQuerer Pretérito: (wanted/tried) María quiso comprar la casa. Maria wanted/tried to buy the house. (completed action) Imperfecto: (wanted) María quería comprar la casa. María wanted to buy the house. (no definite beginning or end)

4. No querer Pretérito: (didnt want/refused) Juan no quiso comprar la casa. Juan didnt want to/refused to buy the house. (completed action) Imperfecto: ( didnt want) Juan no quería comprar la casa. Juan did not want to buy the house. (no definite beginning or end)

5. SaberSaber Pretérito: (found out) María supo la verdad. Maria found out the truth. (completed action) Imperfecto: ( knew) María sabía la verdad. María knew the truth. (no definite beginning or end)

6. PoderPoder Pretérito: (was able to/succeeded) María pudo levantar la mesa. Maria was able to/succeeded in lifting the table. (completed action) Imperfecto: ( was able) Juan podía levantar la mesa. Juan was able to lift the table. (no definite beginning or end)

7. TenerTener Pretérito: (received) María tuvo una carta de su mamá. Maria received a letter from her mom. (completed action) Imperfecto: ( had) Juan tenía un coche nuevo. Juan used to have a new car. (no definite beginning or end)