Quería

Quería is the imperfect indicative form of the Spanish verb querer. It expresses past desires or habitual states, and can also be used to soften requests. The form aligns with different subjects: yo quería, tú querías, él/ella/usted quería, nosotros queríamos, vosotros queríais, ellos querían. In contemporary use, it often appears in polite or tentative statements such as “Quería preguntarle algo” (I would like to ask you something) or “Quería saber si…” (I wanted to know if…).

Etymology and meaning: Querer comes from Latin quaerere, meaning to seek or desire. In Spanish, it covers both the senses of wanting something and loving someone, depending on context.

Usage notes: The imperfect tense describes actions or states without specifying their beginning or end, contrasting with the preterite "quise," which can imply a completed act or an attempted action. For example, “Cuando era niño, quería ser arquitecto” expresses a past, ongoing wish, whereas “Quise ser arquitecto” suggests a particular moment of decision or attempt in the past.

Common uses: "Quería un café" (I wanted a coffee / He wanted a coffee); "Quería decir" (I meant to say / I wanted to say); "Quería pedirte un favor" (I would like to ask you for a favor). The form is frequent in narration and dialogue, especially to set background information or to frame polite inquiries in the past.

See also: Querencia, querer, pretérito imperfecto, contrast with “quise” for nuance in past actions.