conocían
ko-no-SEE-ahn
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Ellos no conocían la ciudad antes del viaje.
A2They didn't know the city before the trip.
Mis padres ya conocían a tu familia.
A2My parents already knew your family.
¿Ustedes no conocían este restaurante?
B1You all didn't know about this restaurant?
💡 Grammar Points
People and Places vs. Facts
Use 'conocían' when they were familiar with a person or a place. If they knew a fact or a piece of information, use 'sabían' instead.
The 'Background' Past Tense
This specific form (the imperfect) is used to describe a state of 'knowing' that lasted for an indefinite time in the past, rather than a single moment of meeting someone.
❌ Common Pitfalls
The Missing 'A'
Mistake: "Ellos conocían María."
Correction: Ellos conocían a María.
⭐ Usage Tips
Meeting for the first time
If you want to say they 'met' someone for the first time at a specific moment, use 'conocieron' (the preterite) instead of 'conocían'.
🔄 Conjugations
subjunctive
imperfect
present
indicative
preterite
imperfect
present
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: conocían
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence means 'They knew my cousin'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'conocían' and 'conocieron'?
'Conocían' describes an ongoing state (they knew him for a long time), while 'conocieron' usually means the moment they met him for the first time.
Can I use 'conocían' for facts?
No. For facts, information, or how to do something, use 'sabían'.