Preterite of poder, querer and saber

Level 2

The past forms puiden (I could), quixen (I wanted) and souben (I found out) are irregular: Non puiden durmir (I could not sleep).

How It Works

poder: puiden, puideches, puido, puidemos, puidestes, puideron
querer: quixen, quixeches, quixo, quixemos, quixestes, quixeron
saber: souben, soubeches, soubo, soubemos, soubestes, souberon

Standard stems: the written standard uses puid-. You will also hear puden in speech, but the standard form is puiden. The stems sup- and quis- come from Spanish.

A single event: Puidemos ver o concerto means we managed to see it. Non quixeron vir means they refused to come. Souben a noticia onte means I found out the news yesterday.

Knew versus found out: for knowledge that was already there, use the copretérito sabía: Xa o sabía (I already knew). See preterite versus imperfect and saber versus coñecer.

Examples (6)

  1. Non puiden durmir.

    I could not sleep.

    Word by Word: Not could-I sleep.

    poder → puiden: I tried and did not manage.

  2. Quixo axudar, pero non puido.

    She wanted to help, but she could not.

    Word by Word: Wanted-she help, but not could.

    Both quixo and puido are el/ela forms.

  3. Souben a noticia onte.

    I heard the news yesterday.

    Word by Word: Knew-I the news yesterday.

    In the preterite, saber means found out.

  4. Puidemos ver o concerto desde a primeira fila.

    We got to see the concert from the front row.

    Word by Word: Could-we see the concert from the first row.

    puidemos: we managed to.

  5. Non quixeron vir.

    They refused to come.

    Word by Word: Not wanted-they come.

    Non quixeron describes a refusal.

  6. Como soubeches iso?

    How did you find that out?

    Word by Word: How knew-you that?

    saber → soubeches for ti.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Spanish stem sup- for saber.

    Supen a noticia onte.
    Souben a noticia onte.

    The Galician preterite stem of saber is soub-.

  • Using the Spanish form quiso.

    Quiso axudar.
    Quixo axudar.

    The Galician el/ela form of querer is quixo, with x.

  • Using sabía when you mean found out.

    Onte sabía a verdade.
    Onte souben a verdade.

    To say you found out the truth yesterday, use souben. Onte sabía a verdade is correct Galician, but it means you already knew the truth yesterday.

How It Connects

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Preterite of poder, querer and saberLevel 2

Learn This First

Poder, querer and saber have irregular preterite stems and event readings.

Words in This Pattern

poderquerer