Polite Imperfect
The imperfect (copretérito) can make a present request sound softer: Quería pedirlle un favor (I wanted to ask you a favour), Quería saber se teñen mesa libre (I wanted to know if you have a free table).
How It Works
Where you hear it
- In shops and bars: Quería unha barra de pan. Buscaba unhas botas de monte.
- On the phone and in offices: Chamaba para confirmar a reserva. Desculpe, quería falar coa directora.
- Asking a favour: Quería pedirche un favor.
Forms
These are the ordinary imperfect forms (see -ar verbs and -er and -ir verbs): quería, querías, quería, queriamos, queriades, querían; chamaba, chamabamos. The nós and vós forms have no written accent: queriamos, buscabamos.
Why not quixen?
The preterite presents a wish as finished, often one that did not work out: Quixen chamarte, pero non puiden (I wanted to call you, but I couldn't). It cannot soften a request that is happening now.
Other polite options
- The conditional: Querería, Gustaríame, Podería axudarme? (see polite requests with the conditional).
- The traditional -ra form in fixed phrases: Quixera un café (see the -ra and -se forms).
With vostede, use lle for to you: Quería pedirlle un favor (see ti and vostede).
Examples (6)
- Quería pedirlle un favor.
I wanted to ask you a favour.
Lle addresses a person as vostede.
- Boas tardes, quería saber se teñen mesa libre.
Good afternoon, I wanted to know if you have a free table.
- Queriamos unha mesa para catro, por favor.
We would like a table for four, please.
The nós form of the imperfect has no written accent.
- Chamaba para confirmar a reserva.
I’m calling to confirm the booking.
Chamaba refers to the call happening now.
- Buscaba unhas botas de monte.
I’m looking for some hiking boots.
- Desculpe, quería falar coa directora.
Excuse me, I would like to speak to the director.
Con + a contracts to coa.
Common Mistakes
Using the preterite for a polite request.
Quixen unha barra de pan, por favor.Quería unha barra de pan, por favor.Por favor shows that you are asking right now. Quixen reports a wish at a finished moment in the past, so it cannot make a request. Use the imperfect quería.
Writing an accent on the nós form.
Queríamos unha mesa para catro.Queriamos unha mesa para catro.Standard Galician stresses the imperfect nós and vós forms on the ending (queriamos, falabamos), so they have no written accent.
How It Connects
Learn This First
An imperfect form can soften a present request without referring to a past event.
Related Patterns
- Imperfect of -ar Verbs
The imperfect forms of -ar verbs, such as chamaba and buscaba.
Level 2 - Polite Requests With the Conditional
The conditional, another way to make a request polite.
Level 3 - cantara / cantaseThe -ra and -se Forms
Explains the traditional -ra form in fixed polite phrases like Quixera un café.
Level 5 - ti / vostedeInformal Ti and Formal Vostede
Choosing between ti and vostede, which decides between pedirche and pedirlle.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Polite Imperfect in Bubblegum
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