querías
/keh-REE-ahs/
you wanted
Depicting a past desire or wish: 'you wanted' (to have that toy).
querías(Verb)
you wanted
?desire or wish in the past
you were wanting
?ongoing desire in the past
,you used to want
?a habitual desire in the past
📝 In Action
Me dijiste que querías ir al cine.
A2You told me that you wanted to go to the movies.
Cuando eras pequeño, querías un perro, ¿verdad?
B1When you were little, you wanted a dog, right?
💡 Grammar Points
Describing Past Wants
Querías is used for describing a state of wanting in the past, like setting the scene in a story. It doesn't focus on a specific moment but rather the general feeling over a period of time.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'querías' vs. 'quisiste'
Mistake: "Using `querías` when you mean you tried to do something or made a decision at a specific moment."
Correction: `Quisiste` is for a completed action (you wanted and decided/tried). `Querías` is for the background feeling. `Ayer quisiste llamarme` (You tried to call me yesterday). `Cuando vivías en México, querías aprender a cocinar` (When you lived in Mexico, you wanted to learn to cook - it was an ongoing desire).
Depicting past affection for a pet: 'you loved' (your dog).
querías(Verb)
you loved
?affection for a person, family member, or pet
you were fond of
?less intense affection
,you cared for
?expressing care
📝 In Action
Sé que querías mucho a tu perro.
A2I know that you loved your dog very much.
Siempre me tratabas bien porque me querías de verdad.
B1You always treated me well because you truly cared for me.
💡 Grammar Points
Love for People vs. Things
When querer means 'to love', it's almost always about a person or a pet. To say 'you loved' a thing (like a car), you'd usually use a different verb, like te encantaba.
⭐ Usage Tips
'Querer' vs. 'Amar'
Querer is the most common word for love between family and friends. Amar is often saved for very deep, romantic love, or love for God. Saying Te quiero is very normal; Te amo is much stronger.
Illustrating the polite request, often used in shops and cafes: 'would you like' (anything else)?
querías(Verb)
would you like
?polite offer or request in the present
I was wondering if you wanted
?softening a question
📝 In Action
Perdona, ¿querías algo más?
B1Excuse me, would you like anything else?
Hola, buenas. Quería dos cafés para llevar, por favor.
A2Hi, good morning. I would like two coffees to go, please.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Polite' Past Tense
Spanish often uses this past form (quería, querías) to make requests in the present sound softer and less demanding. It's a clever way to be polite without having to say 'please' every time.
⭐ Usage Tips
Perfect for Shops and Cafes
This is your go-to phrase for ordering. Instead of Quiero un café (I want a coffee), which can sound a bit blunt, saying Quería un café is much more natural and polite.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
preterite
imperfect
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: querías
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence uses 'querías' to make a polite request in the present?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
So if 'querías' is a past tense, why do people use it to order a coffee now?
Think of it as a cultural trick for being polite. By using a past tense, you're creating a little distance and making your request sound less like a direct demand. It's like saying in English, 'I was wondering if I could get a coffee...' instead of 'I want a coffee.' It's very common and sounds natural to native speakers.
What's the difference between `querías` and `quisiste`?
`Querías` describes a state of wanting in the past, like a background feeling ('As a kid, you wanted to be a pilot'). `Quisiste` refers to a specific moment or a completed action of wanting or trying ('Yesterday, you wanted/tried to go to the party, but you couldn't').