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Conjugation Chart

“Querer” (to want) in the Imperfect Tense

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Understanding the Imperfect Tense of “Querer”

The Imperfect Tense of Querer is used to express ongoing, repeated or habitual actions in the past, for example, Yo quería aprender español cuando era joven. (I wanted to learn Spanish when I was young.)

Querer is a regular -er verb, so its conjugations in the Imperfect Tense follow the regular pattern for this verb type.

How to Use Querer in the Imperfect Tense

The imperfect tense of querer is used to describe ongoing or repeated actions in the past, as well as descriptions and states of being.

To want or desire something: For example, Cuando era niño, quería ser bombero. (When I was a child, I wanted to be a firefighter.)

To like or love something: For example, Mis abuelos querían mucho a sus nietos. (My grandparents loved their grandchildren very much.)

To be about to do something: For example, El equipo quería ganar el partido. (The team was about to win the game.)

To try or attempt something: For example, Quería abrir la puerta, pero estaba cerrada. (I tried to open the door, but it was closed.)

To mean or intend something: For example, No quería ofenderte. (I didn’t mean to offend you.)

Colloquial usage: ¿Qué querías? (What did you want?) can be used to ask someone what they meant or intended in a slightly rude or impatient way.

Real Life Examples of Querer in the Imperfect Tense

Yo quería ir al cine, pero no tenía dinero. (I wanted to go to the movies, but I didn’t have money.)

Ellos querían comer pizza, pero ya era muy tarde. (They wanted to eat pizza, but it was already too late.)

Nosotros queríamos viajar a la playa, pero el clima no estaba bueno. (We wanted to travel to the beach, but the weather wasn’t good.)

Tú querías comprar ese vestido, pero no te quedaba bien. (You wanted to buy that dress, but it didn’t fit you well.)

Ella quería aprender a tocar la guitarra, pero no tenía tiempo. (She wanted to learn to play the guitar, but she didn’t have time.)

Ustedes querían ir al parque, pero estaba lloviendo. (You all wanted to go to the park, but it was raining.)

Él quería conseguir un nuevo trabajo, pero no tenía experiencia. (He wanted to get a new job, but he didn’t have experience.)

Vosotros queríais ir de fiesta, pero vuestros padres no os dejaban. (You all wanted to go to a party, but your parents wouldn’t let you.)

Yo quería comer sano, pero la comida chatarra era tan tentadora. (I wanted to eat healthy, but junk food was so tempting.)

Ellas querían ir de compras, pero no tenían dinero. (They wanted to go shopping, but they didn’t have money.)

Nosotros queríamos ver la película, pero las entradas se agotaron. (We wanted to see the movie, but the tickets sold out.)

Tú querías aprender a bailar, pero te daba vergüenza. (You wanted to learn to dance, but you were embarrassed.)

Él quería mudarse a otra ciudad, pero no encontraba trabajo allí. (He wanted to move to another city, but he couldn’t find a job there.)

Ustedes querían ir de vacaciones, pero no tenían tiempo libre. (You all wanted to go on vacation, but you didn’t have time off.)

Vosotros queríais aprender un nuevo idioma, pero os resultaba difícil. (You all wanted to learn a new language, but it was difficult for you.)

Conjugation Chart with English Translations

Conjugations of Querer (to want) in the Imperfect Tense (Castilian Spanish) with English Translations:

This post covers Castilian Spanish. For Latin American Spanish, click here

Synonyms

The Imperfect tense is also known as the Past Imperfect, Descriptive Past, Past Progressive, or Imperfect Indicative in English, and as Pretérito Imperfecto, Copretérito, Imperfecto de Indicativo, or Pasado Descriptivo in Spanish.