Breakdown of Quise esconder el veneno cuando supe de la traición.
de
from / of
querer
to want
saber
to know (facts) / to hear from (someone)
esconder
to hide
cuando
when (statement)
la traición
the treason
el veneno
the poison
Questions & Answers about Quise esconder el veneno cuando supe de la traición.
Why does quise translate to "I tried" instead of "I wanted"?
The verb querer usually means "to want." When you use it in the imperfect tense (quería), it describes an ongoing state or desire ("I wanted"). However, when you use it in the preterite tense (quise), it implies an action that you actually initiated or attempted at a specific moment. Because you took action, quise esconder translates best as "I tried to hide" rather than just having the desire to do it.
Doesn't saber mean "to know"? Why does supe mean "I found out"?
Yes, saber means "to know" as a state of mind, which is why it is almost always used in the imperfect tense (sabía = "I knew"). Putting it in the preterite (supe) pinpoints the exact beginning of that state. The precise moment you start to "know" something is the moment you "find out" or "discover" it.
Why do we need de after supe here? Couldn't I just say supe la traición?
Does traición always refer to political treason?
Not at all! While traición does mean "treason" in a political context, it is also the everyday word for "betrayal." You can use it to talk about a backstabbing friend, a cheating partner, or any broken trust.
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