conocer Imperfect Conjugation
conocer — to know
The imperfect of conocer (conocía) describes ongoing familiarity or 'knowing' someone in the past.
conocer Imperfect Forms
When to Use the Imperfect
Use this for 'I used to know' or 'I was acquainted with'. Unlike the preterite, this doesn't mean 'met'; it describes a state of being.
Notes on conocer in the Imperfect
Conocer is regular in the imperfect. All -er verbs use the -ía, -ías, -ía endings.
Example Sentences
Yo ya conocía esa historia.
I already knew that story.
yo
Antes no conocíamos a nadie en el barrio.
Before, we didn't know anyone in the neighborhood.
nosotros
Ella conocía muy bien el camino.
She knew the path very well.
él/ella/usted
Common Mistakes
Mistake: Using 'conocí' when you mean 'I was already familiar with'.
Correct: Use 'conocía'.
Why: Conocí means 'I met' (an event), while conocía means 'I knew' (a state).
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Related Tenses
Present
yo: conozco
The present tense of conocer is irregular only in the 'yo' form: conozco.
Preterite
yo: conocí
In the preterite, conocer changes meaning from 'to know' to 'to meet' someone for the first time.
Future
yo: conoceré
The future tense of conocer is regular: conoceré, conocerás, conocerá, etc.
Conditional
yo: conocería
The conditional form of conocer expresses what you 'would know' or 'would meet' under certain conditions.
Present Subjunctive
yo: conozca
The present subjunctive uses the 'conozc-' stem for all forms.
Imperfect Subjunctive
yo: conociera
The imperfect subjunctive of conocer (conociera) is used for past doubts or 'if' scenarios.
Affirmative Imperative
yo: conoce
The imperative of conocer is used to tell someone to 'get to know' or 'meet' someone.
Negative Imperative
yo: no conozcas
Negative commands for conocer always use the 'zc' stem (no conozcas).