Spanish grammar · Intermediate
Preterite of Querer: Conjugation and How to Use It
The preterite of querer is irregular i-stem: quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisisteis, quisieron. Meaning shift: quise often means I TRIED to (active attempt). No quise = I refused.
Quise verte ayer.
I tried to see you yesterday.
What it is
The preterite of querer is irregular with an i-stem: quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisisteis, quisieron. Big meaning shifts: quise + infinitive usually means I TRIED to (active attempt). No quise = I refused. Quería (imperfect) is the neutral I wanted.
Quise verte ayer (I tried to see you yesterday, active attempt) vs. Quería verte (I wanted to see you, ongoing wish).
How to spot it
Look for quis- + endings (-e, -iste, -o, -imos, -isteis, -ieron). No accents.
- Quise llamarte. — I tried to call you.
- No quiso venir. — He refused to come.
- Quisimos ayudar. — We tried to help.
Same family as preterite of venir (vine) and decir (dije), i-stems with shared endings.
Preterite of Querer Quick Reference
Preterite of querer, irregular i-stem
| Person | Form | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| yo | quise | I wanted / tried |
| tú | quisiste | you wanted / tried |
| él/ella/Ud. | quiso | he/she/it wanted / tried |
| nosotros | quisimos | we wanted / tried |
| vosotros | quisisteis | you all wanted / tried (Spain) |
| ellos/ellas/Uds. | quisieron | they wanted / tried |
Common Preterite of Querer Examples in Spanish
Preterite of querer in real Spanish contexts:
Tried To (Active Attempt)
- Quise llamarte, pero no contestaste.
- I tried to call you, but you didn't answer.
- Quisimos ayudar, pero llegamos tarde.
- We tried to help, but we arrived late.
Quise + infinitive often implies an unsuccessful attempt. Followed by a pero (but) clause showing the obstacle.
No Quise = Refused
- No quise ir a la fiesta.
- I refused to go to the party.
- No quisieron escucharme.
- They refused to listen to me.
Negative preterite of querer = active refusal, deliberate choice not to do something.
Loved (Romantic Past)
- Quise mucho a María.
- I loved María a lot (in the past).
- Te quisimos siempre.
- We always loved you.
Querer + person can mean to love. In preterite, often bounded past affection, sometimes implying it's no longer the case.
Don't Confuse with Quería (Imperfect)
- Quería verte. (wanted, ongoing)
- I wanted to see you.
- Quise verte. (tried to, active attempt)
- I tried to see you.
Quería = neutral past want. Quise = active attempt (often unsuccessful).
How to Use the Preterite of Querer
Memorize the I-Stem Forms
Querer uses quis- + irregular endings. Same endings as venir (vine), hacer (hice).
Quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisisteis, quisieron.
I wanted / tried...
No accents anywhere. -e, -iste, -o, -imos, -isteis, -ieron.
Quise = Active Attempt (Often Failed)
Preterite of querer + infinitive often implies an attempt that may or may not have succeeded, but the focus is on the trying.
Quise hablar con él. (I tried to talk with him)
I tried to speak with him.
Often paired with pero (but) clause showing the obstacle or outcome.
No Quise = Refused
Negative preterite expresses active refusal, a deliberate choice not to do something.
No quise ir. = I refused to go.
I refused to go.
Stronger than no quería (didn't want to). No quise = made an active decision not to.
Quería = Neutral Past Want
Imperfect quería is the neutral I wanted, ongoing past desire without focus on attempt or outcome.
Quería verte. = I wanted to see you.
I wanted to see you.
Use quería for background past desires. Use quise for specific attempts.
Common Mistakes with Preterite of Querer
Incorrect: Yo querí verte. — I tried to see you.
Correct: Yo quise verte. — I tried to see you.
Querer is irregular in preterite, use quis- stem. Don't apply regular -er endings (querí).
Incorrect: Quise un café cuando llegué. (probably meant quería) — I wanted a coffee when I arrived.
Correct: Quería un café cuando llegué. — I wanted a coffee when I arrived.
For ongoing past desires (background), use imperfect quería. Quise un café would oddly suggest an active attempt to get one.
Incorrect: Translating no quise as didn't want. — Didn't want vs. refused.
Correct: No quise = refused (active decision). — Refused.
Negative preterite of querer carries the stronger meaning of refused. For neutral past dislike, use no quería.
Meaning Shift: Quise = Tried; No Quise = Refused
Quise = Tried (Active Attempt)
Affirmative preterite implies active attempt, often paired with the result (pero clause).
- Quise convencerlo, pero no escuchó.
- I tried to convince him, but he didn't listen.
- Quisimos llamar, pero la línea estaba ocupada.
- We tried to call, but the line was busy.
Implication: effort was made, regardless of outcome. The contrast verb often appears next.
No Quise = Refused
Negative preterite expresses an active refusal, a deliberate decision NOT to act.
- No quise ir.
- I refused to go.
- No quisieron pagarnos.
- They refused to pay us.
Stronger than no quería (didn't want to). Implies a moment of decision.
Preterite of Querer FAQs
- What is the preterite of querer in Spanish?
- Quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisisteis, quisieron. Irregular i-stem. Carries strong meaning shifts: quise = tried to, no quise = refused. Quería (imperfect) is the neutral I wanted.
- What's the difference between quise and quería?
- Quise (preterite) = active attempt or refused (with negation). Quería (imperfect) = neutral past want. Quise llamarte (I tried to call you) vs. Quería llamarte (I wanted to call you).
- Why does no quise mean refused?
- Negative preterite of querer implies an active choice not to do something, a deliberate refusal. Different from no quería (didn't want, neutral). Spanish preterite often bounds the action and gives it a sharper meaning.
- Can quise mean loved someone?
- Yes. Querer + a + person can mean to love. In preterite, quise a María can mean I loved María, often implying the love was bounded (in the past, finished).
- How can I master the preterite of querer?
- Memorize the i-stem (quis-) with shared irregular endings. Practice the meaning shifts (quise = tried, no quise = refused). Native input cements how Spanish speakers naturally use the preterite to imply attempt or refusal.