⇒ In Spanish, there are two verbs that can express the idea of knowing: saber and conocer
⇒ It's important to know the differences between the two because they're not interchangeable. Let's learn the meaning of these two very important verbs.
⇒ Saber is used to talk about facts or learned skills.
⇒ You can use it to talk about information you've memorized or to say you know how to swim, draw, speak a language, etc.
Saber Present Indicative Forms
⇒ Here are the conjugations of saber in the present indicative.
| Subject | Present Tense Form |
|---|---|
| yo | sé |
| tú | sabes |
| él, ella, usted | sabe |
| nosotros | sabemos |
| vosotros | sabéis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | saben |
⇒ Now that you know how to conjugate saber, check out these examples.
| Sé hablar español.I know how to speak Spanish. |
| Anita no sabe nadar.Anita doesn’t know how to swim. |
| ¿Sabes si Juanita está casada?Do you know if Juanita is married? |
| ¿Sabes dónde hay un buen café?Do you know where a good cafe is? |
⇒ To express the knowledge of how to do something, use saber plus an infinitive. For example, Yo sé cocinar (I know how to cook).
⇒ Conocer is used to express familiarity or acquaintance (or lack thereof) with a person, place, or thing.
⇒ For example you can know, or be acquainted with, a book, a movie, a country, or a certain person.
Conocer Present Indicative Forms
⇒ Here are the conjugations of conocer in the present indicative.
| Subject | Present Tense Form |
|---|---|
| yo | conozco |
| tú | conoces |
| él, ella, usted | conoce |
| nosotros | conocemos |
| vosotros | conocéis |
| ellos, ellas, ustedes | conocen |
⇒ Now that you know how to conjugate conocer, check out these examples.
| Conozco un buen sitio para ver la puesta del sol.I know a good place to watch the sunset. |
| Conoce una película que tal vez te interese.He knows a movie that may interest you. |
| No conocemos Madrid.We are not acquainted with Madrid. |
| ¿Conoces a mi amiga Melissa?Do you know my friend Melissa? |