The Verb 'Querer' in the Past (quis): Tried vs. Wanted
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In the past tense, 'quis' means 'tried' (or 'refused' in the negative), while 'queria' means 'wanted'.
- Use 'quis' for a specific attempt: 'Eu quis abrir a porta' (I tried to open the door).
- Use 'queria' for a state of mind or desire: 'Eu queria um café' (I wanted a coffee).
- Use 'não quis' to mean 'refused': 'Ele não quis ir' (He refused to go).
Overview
The verb querer (to want) is fundamental, but its past tense usage reveals a critical distinction that separates intermediate speakers from advanced ones. In the Pretérito Perfeito (Preterite), querer transforms into the irregular form quis. This change is more than just spelling; it's a semantic shift.
While its counterpart, the Pretérito Imperfeito queria, describes a continuous state of wanting in the past, quis frames the desire as a singular, completed event. This framing forces a new meaning: you didn't just want, you acted on that want.
Consequently, quis rarely translates to a simple "I wanted." Instead, it conveys a decisive moment of volition. It means you tried to, decided to, or, in its most common negative form (não quis), you refused to. This concept, rooted in grammatical aspect (a single point in time vs.
an ongoing state), is the key to unlocking precise expression. Misusing quis can make you sound unintentionally abrupt or imply a failed effort, whereas mastering it allows you to narrate past decisions and actions with clarity and nuance.
This is not an isolated quirk. Other Portuguese stative verbs, like saber (to know) and poder (to be able to), also change meaning in the Preterite to soube (found out) and pude (managed to). Understanding the logic behind quis provides a framework for mastering this entire category of verbs.
Conjugation Table
| Person | Brazilian Portuguese | European Portuguese | English Translation (Context is Key) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | ||
| Eu | Eu quis |
Eu quis |
I tried / I decided / I refused | ||
| Tu | N/A (use Você quis) |
Tu quiseste |
You (sing. inf.) tried / decided / refused | ||
| Você / Ele / Ela | Você / Ele / Ela quis |
Você / Ele / Ela quis |
You / He / She tried / decided / refused | ||
| Nós | Nós quisemos |
Nós quisemos |
We tried / decided / refused | ||
| Vós | N/A (Archaic) | Vós quisestes |
You (pl. formal) tried / decided / refused | ||
| Vocês / Eles / Elas | Vocês / Eles / Elas quiseram |
Vocês / Eles / Elas quiseram |
You (pl.) / They tried / decided / refused |
How This Grammar Works
queria) has an imperfective aspect, presenting a past state as ongoing, open-ended, or descriptive.quis) has a perfective aspect, framing the action as a single, completed, bounded event—a snapshot.querer - to want) and force it into a perfective snapshot, the meaning has to adapt. The state of 'wanting' itself isn't a single event. However, the decision to act on that want is.Quis represents that moment of decision or action. It's the point where the desire manifested as a concrete attempt or choice.Eu queria ir à festa.(I wanted to go to the party.) This describes your general feeling or desire over a period in the past. It sets a scene. We don't know if you went or not. It's purely descriptive.Eu quis ir à festa, mas não consegui.(I tried to go to the party, but I couldn't.) Here,quissignifies the attempt. You didn't just want to go; you made a move, you took a step. The 'want' became a 'try'.
quis often appears with a contrasting clause explaining the outcome. The use of quis implies an action was taken, and the listener naturally expects to hear the result of that action. The most common use, however, is in the negative.Não quis is a firm refusal. It's not "I didn't feel like it"; it's "I made the decision not to do it."Ela não queria falar sobre o assunto.(She didn't want to talk about the subject.) This describes her ongoing feeling. Maybe she was uncomfortable.Ela não quis falar sobre o assunto.(She refused to talk about the subject.) This reports her decisive action. She was asked or prompted, and she actively declined.
Formation Pattern
querer belongs to a family of highly irregular verbs in the Preterite that share a similar structural pattern, even though their stems are unique. They use a reduced set of endings attached to a new, strong stem. For querer, the stem becomes quis-.
quis- stem |
quis |
quiseste |
quis |
quisemos |
quisestes |
quiseram |
eu and ele/ela forms are identical. Context is your only guide to differentiate Eu quis from Ele quis. This pattern of a strong stem change and these specific endings is a hallmark of some of the most common irregular verbs. Recognizing this group helps with memorization.
diss- | Eu disse |
fiz- | Eu fiz |
troux- | Eu trouxe |
pud- | Eu pude |
pus- | Eu pus |
vi(e)- | Eu vim |
quis, quiseste, quis..., you are internalizing the structure for all these other critical verbs. The core challenge is memorizing the new stem for each one.
When To Use It
quis in specific narrative contexts where you are reporting a past action, not describing a past state of mind. It signals a moment of will being exerted.quis means "I tried to." It implies you took a concrete step to realize your desire. This usage almost always requires a follow-up clause, typically introduced by mas (but), that explains why the attempt failed.Eu quis comprar os ingressos, mas já estavam esgotados.(I tried to buy the tickets, but they were already sold out.)Nós quisemos ajudar, só que ninguém aceitou nossa oferta.(We tried to help, but nobody accepted our offer.)Ele quis abrir a porta, mas a chave estava errada.(He tried to open the door, but it was the wrong key.)
queria would change the meaning to simply describing the desire without implying any action was taken.não quis)quis. The negative não quis does not mean "I didn't want to"; it means "I refused." It communicates a conscious and firm decision to decline or not do something. It's much stronger than não queria.- Boss:
Você pode ficar até mais tarde hoje?(Can you stay later today?) - You (reporting later):
Eu não quis ficar, porque tinha um compromisso.(I refused to stay because I had an appointment.)
Eu não queria ficar, which means "I didn't want to stay"—implying you might have stayed anyway despite your feelings.As crianças não quiseram comer os vegetais.(The children refused to eat the vegetables.)Ela foi convidada para a festa, mas não quis ir.(She was invited to the party, but she refused to go.)
quis can mark the exact moment a desire was formed, almost like a sudden impulse. This is more literary but appears in storytelling. It emphasizes the birth of the volition as an event in itself.Naquele momento, eu olhei para a montanha e quis escalá-la.(In that moment, I looked at the mountain and decided I wanted to climb it.)Quando a música começou, de repente todos quiseram dançar.(When the music started, suddenly everyone wanted to dance.)
Common Mistakes
quis when they intend to describe a past desire, leading to confusing or unintentionally blunt statements. Here are the most common pitfalls.quis to describe a past desire or preference.queria.- Wrong:
Quando eu era criança, eu quis ser astronauta.This sounds like you tried to become an astronaut as a child and failed, or you made one firm decision and then changed your mind. It's an awkward event, not a continuous dream. - Correct:
Quando eu era criança, eu queria ser astronauta.(When I was a child, I wanted to be an astronaut.) This correctly describes a continuous state of desire during your childhood.
- Wrong:
Eu estava com fome e quis uma pizza.This sounds like you decisively tried to get a pizza at that moment. It's too strong for a simple feeling. - Correct:
Eu estava com fome e queria uma pizza.(I was hungry and I wanted a pizza.) This describes your state of being hungry and wanting pizza.
não queria for a firm refusal.não queria can understate the strength of a refusal. It makes you sound hesitant rather than decisive.- Situation: Your friend offers you a drink you dislike.
- Weak/Ambiguous:
Obrigado, mas eu não queria.(Thanks, but I didn't want it.) This is soft. It might invite them to insist. - Clear/Firm:
Obrigado, mas eu não quis.(Thanks, but I refused / I decided not to.) This is a clear, polite, but firm rejection of the offer. It closes the subject.
quis to mean "tried," the sentence often feels incomplete without explaining the outcome.- Incomplete:
Eu quis falar com você ontem.(I tried to talk to you yesterday.) The listener is left hanging. Why are you telling me you tried? What happened? - Complete:
Eu quis falar com você ontem, mas seu telefone estava desligado.(I tried to talk to you yesterday, but your phone was off.) This completes the narrative.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
quis becomes easier when you contrast it with other verbs that operate in the same semantic space: queria (wanted), tentei (tried), and pude (managed to).quis vs. queria (The Core Distinction)quis (Preterite) | queria (Imperfect) |Eu quis sair. (I tried to leave.) | Eu queria sair. (I wanted to leave.) |quis vs. tentei (Tried vs. Tried)Tentar (eu tentei) is the most direct translation for "to try." While quis can mean "tried," there's a subtle difference in focus.Eu tentei ligar para você.(I tried to call you.) The focus is on the action of trying itself. The effort is the main point.Eu quis ligar para você, mas...(I wanted/intended to call you, but...) The focus is more on the intention or will that initiated the action.Quisframes the attempt as the result of a desire.
tentei is more neutral and direct. Quis adds a layer of volition and is more common when the attempt is a direct consequence of a strong desire or decision.quis vs. pude (Tried vs. Managed to)Poder (to be able to) in the preterite, pude, means "I was able to" or "I managed to." It focuses on the successful outcome of an effort. In the negative, não pude means "I couldn't" or "was not able to," focusing on the lack of ability or opportunity. This contrasts with quis (the will) and não quis (the refusal).Eu quis ir, mas não pude.(I tried to go, but I couldn't.) This is a perfect sentence showing the contrast.quis= the will/attempt;não pude= the lack of ability/opportunity.Eu não quis ir.(I refused to go.) You had the ability, but you made the decision not to.Eu não pude ir.(I couldn't go.) You may have wanted to go, but circumstances prevented you.
Real Conversations
Here’s how you’ll see quis and queria used in natural, everyday communication.
1. WhatsApp/Texting
- Person A: E aí, foi na academia ontem? (Hey, did you go to the gym yesterday?)
- Person B: Pô, eu quis ir, mas cheguei muito tarde do trabalho. (Man, I tried to go, but I got home too late from work.)
- Analysis: quis shows the intention and attempt. queria would just be a weak excuse.
2. Casual Conversation
- A gente se encontrou no café e eu quis pagar a conta, mas ela insistiu e não deixou.
- (We met at the café and I tried to pay the bill, but she insisted and didn't let me.)
- Analysis: quis pagar marks the specific moment of the attempt to pay. queria pagar would sound like a general, unacted-upon desire.
3. Social Media Comment
- Post: A photo of a friend's trip to Japan.
- Comment: Que legal! Eu sempre quis conhecer o Japão. (So cool! I always wanted to visit Japan.)
- Analysis: Hold on, this looks like a contradiction! But it's not. Here, quis is being used idiomatically in the phrase sempre quis to mean a long-held, strong desire, almost like a life goal. It's a set phrase that blurs the line, but it's an exception rather than the rule. A more standard descriptive choice would be sempre queria.
4. Reporting a refusal
- O chefe pediu pra eu fazer um relatório no sábado. Obviamente eu não quis.
- (The boss asked me to do a report on Saturday. Obviously, I refused.)
- Analysis: This is the classic, strong não quis. It's concise and clearly communicates a firm decision. Não queria would sound like complaining, not acting.
Progressive Practice
Test your understanding by translating the intent behind these sentences. Choose between a form of quis or queria.
Exercise 1: Description vs. Action
As a child, she (wanted) to be a vet. (queria)
I offered him coffee, but he (refused). (não quis)
We (tried to) warn them about the traffic, but they didn't listen. (quisemos)
It was cold, so I (wanted) to stay home. (queria)
Exercise 2: Create a full sentence
Combine the intention with a plausible reason.
Intention: I tried to call you. Reason: My battery died.
- Answer: Eu quis te ligar, mas minha bateria acabou.
Intention: They refused to cooperate. Reason: They disagreed with the plan.
- Answer: Eles não quiseram cooperar porque não concordavam com o plano.
Intention: I wanted to travel more last year. Reason: (Implied description of a general wish).
- Answer: Eu queria ter viajado mais no ano passado.
Quick FAQ
quis ever just mean "I wanted"?sempre quis (I always wanted), which emphasizes a long-held, strong ambition. For general past desires, queria is the safe and correct choice.não quis rude?Infelizmente, não quis aceitar a proposta (Unfortunately, I/he/she refused to accept the proposal). It's much clearer than the more passive não queria.Eu quis abrir a porta e abri, you would just say Eu abri a porta (I opened the door) or Eu consegui abrir a porta (I managed to open the door). Quis is most useful for explaining the attempt, especially when it fails or is met with resistance.Conjugation of 'Querer' in Pretérito Perfeito
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
|
Eu
|
quis
|
|
Você/Ele/Ela
|
quis
|
|
Nós
|
quisemos
|
|
Vocês/Eles/Elas
|
quiseram
|
Meanings
The verb 'querer' changes meaning in the past tense based on the aspect of the action.
Attempt
To make an effort or attempt to do something.
“Eu quis falar com ele.”
“Nós quisemos ajudar.”
Refusal
When used in the negative, it implies a refusal.
“Ela não quis comer.”
“Eles não quiseram ouvir.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subject + quis + Verb
|
Eu quis estudar.
|
|
Negative
|
Subject + não + quis + Verb
|
Eu não quis estudar.
|
|
Question
|
Quis + Subject + Verb?
|
Você quis estudar?
|
|
Refusal
|
Subject + não + quis + Noun
|
Ele não quis o bolo.
|
|
Plural
|
Eles + quiseram + Verb
|
Eles quiseram sair.
|
|
First Person Plural
|
Nós + quisemos + Verb
|
Nós quisemos ajudar.
|
Formality Spectrum
Tentei contatá-lo. (Phone call)
Eu quis ligar para você. (Phone call)
Quis te ligar. (Phone call)
Tentei te dar um toque. (Phone call)
The Querer Shift
Pretérito Perfeito
- quis tried
Pretérito Imperfeito
- queria wanted
Examples by Level
Eu quis comer.
I tried to eat.
Ele quis falar.
He tried to speak.
Nós quisemos ir.
We tried to go.
Eles quiseram ver.
They tried to see.
Eu não quis o presente.
I refused the gift.
Você quis ajudar?
Did you try to help?
Ela não quis sair.
She refused to go out.
Nós não quisemos dormir.
We refused to sleep.
Eu quis ligar, mas o telefone estava sem bateria.
I tried to call, but the phone was out of battery.
Eles quiseram resolver o problema sozinhos.
They tried to solve the problem by themselves.
Você quis dizer que não vem?
Did you mean (try to say) that you aren't coming?
Ele não quis aceitar a oferta de emprego.
He refused to accept the job offer.
Por mais que eu quisesse, não pude ir.
As much as I wanted to, I couldn't go.
O motor não quis pegar de jeito nenhum.
The engine refused to start at all.
Ela quis demonstrar sua gratidão com um presente.
She tried to demonstrate her gratitude with a gift.
Não quisemos incomodar, por isso saímos cedo.
We didn't want to bother, so we left early.
Ele quis impor sua vontade sobre o grupo.
He tried to impose his will on the group.
Apesar de todos os esforços, o sistema não quis funcionar.
Despite all efforts, the system refused to work.
Ela quis ser clara em suas intenções.
She tried to be clear in her intentions.
Eles quiseram reescrever a história.
They tried to rewrite history.
O destino não quis que nos encontrássemos.
Fate did not want us to meet.
Ele quis, por um momento, esquecer o passado.
He tried, for a moment, to forget the past.
Não quisemos senão o melhor para eles.
We wanted nothing but the best for them.
A natureza não quis cooperar com os planos.
Nature refused to cooperate with the plans.
Easily Confused
Both mean 'tried', but 'tentei' is the literal verb for 'to try'.
Both are past forms of 'querer'.
Both are negative past forms.
Common Mistakes
Eu quis um café.
Eu queria um café.
Eu querii.
Eu quis.
Ele não queria ir.
Ele não quis ir.
Nós quisemos um carro.
Nós queríamos um carro.
Eu quis estar feliz.
Eu queria estar feliz.
Eles quisiram.
Eles quiseram.
Você quis um abraço?
Você queria um abraço?
Eu quis saber a verdade.
Eu queria saber a verdade.
O computador não quis funcionar.
O computador não funcionou.
Ele quis que eu fosse.
Ele queria que eu fosse.
Eu quis amar ela.
Eu queria amá-la.
Ele quis ser rico.
Ele queria ser rico.
Nós quisemos entender.
Nós queríamos entender.
Sentence Patterns
Eu quis ___ mas não consegui.
Ele não quis ___ o presente.
Nós quisemos ___ a verdade.
Eles quiseram ___ o projeto.
Real World Usage
Não quis te incomodar.
Eu quis aprimorar minhas habilidades.
O entregador não quis subir.
Eu quis comprar a passagem, mas estava esgotada.
Não quis postar a foto.
O atendente não quis resolver o problema.
The 'Try' Rule
Avoid 'Quis' for Feelings
Negative = Refusal
Politeness
Smart Tips
Use 'quis' + infinitive.
Use 'não quis'.
Use 'queria'.
Ask yourself: was it a specific moment or a state?
Pronunciation
Quis
Pronounced like 'keesh'.
Quisemos
The 'e' is open.
Statement
Eu quis. ↘
Finality.
Question
Você quis? ↗
Inquiry.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Quis is a 'Quick' attempt. Queria is a 'Continuous' desire.
Visual Association
Imagine a person trying to push a heavy door (Quis - a specific, hard effort) vs. someone sitting in a chair dreaming of a vacation (Queria - a long, ongoing feeling).
Rhyme
Quis is the try, Queria is the sigh.
Story
Yesterday, I wanted (queria) to bake a cake. I tried (quis) to mix the flour, but it was too hard. The oven refused (não quis) to turn on. I gave up.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about things you tried to do yesterday using 'quis'.
Cultural Notes
In Brazil, 'quis' is very direct. Using 'queria' is often preferred to sound more polite.
The distinction is very sharp. 'Quis' is used strictly for completed attempts.
Refusing with 'não quis' is considered direct but polite enough.
Comes from Latin 'quaerere' (to seek/ask).
Conversation Starters
O que você quis dizer com isso?
Você quis ir à festa ontem?
Por que você não quis comer?
Eles quiseram mudar o plano?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Eu ___ falar com você ontem, mas você não estava.
Which sentence implies a refusal?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu quis um sorvete.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
They tried to help.
Answer starts with: Ele...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Nós ___ (querer) sair.
A: Você foi à festa? B: Não, eu não ___.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEu ___ falar com você ontem, mas você não estava.
Which sentence implies a refusal?
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu quis um sorvete.
não / quis / ir / ele
They tried to help.
Match 'quis' and 'queria'.
Nós ___ (querer) sair.
A: Você foi à festa? B: Não, eu não ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
8 exercisesThey wanted (tried) to call you.
ontem / não / falar / Ele / quis / comigo
Você ___ ver o filme ou desistiu?
Match them up:
Fui à praia porque ___ ver o pôr do sol.
O aluno não quereu fazer o dever.
Tu ___ ir à festa?
Eu ___ dizer que você está certo.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
It follows the historical Latin perfect stem, which is common for high-frequency verbs.
No, 'queria' is for states. Use 'quis' for attempts.
Yes, it is standard in both European and Brazilian Portuguese.
If it was a specific time, use 'quis'.
Use 'Eu não quis' for refusal or 'Eu não queria' for lack of desire.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in formal contexts.
Yes, 'poder' (pude vs podia) follows a similar pattern.
'Tentei' is 'I tried'. 'Quis' is 'I wanted/tried'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Quise
Very similar, but check for regional nuances.
J'ai voulu
French doesn't have a direct equivalent to the Imperfeito/Perfeito split for this verb.
Ich wollte
German lacks the aspectual distinction in the verb itself.
〜ようとした
Japanese uses a construction rather than a single verb conjugation.
أردت
Arabic relies on context to distinguish between 'wanted' and 'tried'.
想 (xiǎng)
Chinese does not conjugate verbs for tense.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Learn These First
Verb Querer: Expressing Desire & Ordering (quer, querem)
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Portuguese Past Tense: Regular -ar Verbs (Pretérito Perfeito)
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