Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


Help with some preterite verbs!

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old June 07, 2009, 09:04 PM
laughingwithfee's Avatar
laughingwithfee laughingwithfee is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: los EEUU
Posts: 33
Native Language: English
laughingwithfee is on a distinguished road
Help with some preterite verbs!

My teacher taught me some mnemonic devices to help me remember the stems for some verbs in the preterite: querer, poner, saber, poder.

poder - “He could eat pud-ding.”
saber - “He found out was-sup.” (saber also means to find out in the preterite tense)
poner - “He put the pus on the bus.” (slightly disgusting, but it works)
querer - “First you ‘quer’ and then you ‘kiss’.” (pronounce 'kiss' like 'quis' [kees] and pronounce 'quer' like 'care')

If anyone has any more mnemonics for preterite verbs, just let me know!

Last edited by laughingwithfee; June 08, 2009 at 07:34 PM.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old June 07, 2009, 09:23 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is online now
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,299
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Very useful mnemonics!
First you ‘quer’ and then you ‘quis’ (wouldn't need explaining)
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old June 07, 2009, 09:31 PM
laughingwithfee's Avatar
laughingwithfee laughingwithfee is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: los EEUU
Posts: 33
Native Language: English
laughingwithfee is on a distinguished road
You're welcome!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
Very useful mnemonics!
First you ‘quer’ and then you ‘quis’ (wouldn't need explaining)
You're welcome!

My spanish teacher is a genius when it comes to teaching things that are hard to remember. She gives us mnemonics, hand gestures, even a few chants. ("Adjectives must agree-e-e-e-e... in gender and in number-r-r-r-r-r") I swear, we sound like a cult half the time, but it sure works!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old June 08, 2009, 03:10 AM
bobjenkins's Avatar
bobjenkins bobjenkins is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: España próximamente??
Posts: 2,923
Native Language: Inglés
bobjenkins is on a distinguished road
Me gusta, los verbos del preterite son muy difícil
__________________
"There´s always money in the banana stand michael!"
--george bluthe sir
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old June 09, 2009, 01:55 PM
brute's Avatar
brute brute is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: en el norte de Inglaterra
Posts: 526
Native Language: British English
brute is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by bobjenkins View Post
Me gusta, los verbos del preterite son muy difícil
I think of a preterite verb as being a nasty (an aste) verb, because I find them nasty things to use and conjugate.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old June 09, 2009, 03:34 PM
Jessica's Avatar
Jessica Jessica is offline
...
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: PA
Posts: 8,187
Native Language: English, Chinese
Jessica is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by laughingwithfee View Post
My teacher taught me some mnemonic devices to help me remember the stems for some verbs in the preterite: querer, poner, saber, poder.

poder - “He could eat pud-ding.”
saber - “He found out was-sup.” (saber also means to find out in the preterite tense)
poner - “He put the pus on the bus.” (slightly disgusting, but it works)
querer - “First you ‘quer’ and then you ‘kiss’.” (pronounce 'kiss' like 'quis' [kees] and pronounce 'quer' like 'care')

If anyone has any more mnemonics for preterite verbs, just let me know!
is your Spanish class harder than mine? I don't think I learned these before, just verbs in the preterite tense
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old June 09, 2009, 04:42 PM
CrOtALiTo's Avatar
CrOtALiTo CrOtALiTo is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Mérida, Yucatán
Posts: 11,686
Native Language: I can understand Spanish and English
CrOtALiTo is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by jchen View Post
is your Spanish class harder than mine? I don't think I learned these before, just verbs in the preterite tense
Don't worry, I don't believe that his Spanish be harder than your Spanish, I believe that each who has the opportunity to learn the essential in the school, for example you have one grade to learning in Spanish because you have more experience in the thread, I have seen your endeavor these las few months, even although you have much questions or doubts in some words, sometimes you don't grasp the whole sentences in Spanish because you don't have experience even in Spanish, you need to speak or to talk for telephone with someone of course if you have the chance, but it does not matter.

Keep with your improving your English.
__________________
We are building the most important dare for my life and my family feature now we are installing new services in telecoms.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old June 10, 2009, 03:06 PM
laughingwithfee's Avatar
laughingwithfee laughingwithfee is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: los EEUU
Posts: 33
Native Language: English
laughingwithfee is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by jchen View Post
is your Spanish class harder than mine? I don't think I learned these before, just verbs in the preterite tense
I skipped freshman Spanish. My mom speaks Spanish almost natively, so I had a basic understanding of freshman-level Spanish. I just had my final today... wow...
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old June 10, 2009, 03:07 PM
laughingwithfee's Avatar
laughingwithfee laughingwithfee is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: los EEUU
Posts: 33
Native Language: English
laughingwithfee is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by brute View Post
I think of a preterite verb as being a nasty (an aste) verb, because I find them nasty things to use and conjugate.
They are hard to conjugate, but it gets WAAAY easier. My Spanish teacher is a genius at getting sleepy teenagers to remember things. The irregular preterite verbs are a nightmare to try and remember, though.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old June 17, 2009, 12:48 PM
satchrocks satchrocks is offline
Ruby
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 59
Native Language: English/Ingles
satchrocks is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by laughingwithfee View Post
My teacher taught me some mnemonic devices to help me remember the stems for some verbs in the preterite: querer, poner, saber, poder.

poder - “He could eat pud-ding.”
saber - “He found out was-sup.” (saber also means to find out in the preterite tense)
poner - “He put the pus on the bus.” (slightly disgusting, but it works)
querer - “First you ‘quer’ and then you ‘kiss’.” (pronounce 'kiss' like 'quis' [kees] and pronounce 'quer' like 'care')

If anyone has any more mnemonics for preterite verbs, just let me know!
Muchos gracias, muy benificioso!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
mnemonics, poder, poner, preterit, preterite, querer, saber

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Preterite of -er, -ir verbs & indirect pronouns Jessica Practice & Homework 6 March 09, 2009 07:43 PM
Preterite of ver & Indirect Object Pronoun Jessica Practice & Homework 4 February 08, 2009 06:29 PM
Spanish preterite / imperfect BlueOcean Practice & Homework 5 January 20, 2009 04:16 PM
Gerund and preterite... hola Grammar 17 October 16, 2008 07:50 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:28 PM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X