Saber y conocer

What do both verbs mean?

to know **

** like ser & estar, saber & conocer have specific uses

Uses

Saber – to know . . .

1. . . . facts, info about something

2. . . . how to do something

Conocer – to know . . .

1. . . . a person

2. . . . a noun (be acquainted with/ familiar with)

3. to meet a person

saberséI know

sabemosWe know

sabesYou know

sabéisYou all know

sabeHe, she, you know

sabenThey, you all know

To know . . .

. . . information, facts about something

1. Él sabe mucho de la historia del mundo.He knows a lot about world history.

2. Sabéis dónde está el restaurante.You all know where the restaurant is.

To know . . .

. . . how to do something.

Saber + INF

1. Saben hablar españolThey know how to speak Spanish.

2. Sabemos jugar al fútbol.

We know how to play soccer.

ConocerconozcoI know

conocemosWe know

conocesYou know

conocéisYou all know

conoceHe, she, you know

conocenThey, you all know

To know . . .

. . . a person.

1. Kiko conoce a vosotros.** Kiko knows you all.

** personal a must be used here. Why?

Personal a is used when a person(s) is the DO of a sentence!

To know . . .

. . . NOUNS (i.e., to be acquainted with or be familiar with something).

1. Conozco MadridI am familiar with Madrid.

2. Conocéis el restaurante.You all are familiar with the restaurant.

3. Conocen la literatura española.They are familiar with Spanish literature.

To meet a person

1. Conocí a José. **I met José.

2. Conocisteis al profesor. **You all met the profesor.

** personal a must be used here.

The previous examples imply only that you’ve been introduced to the object.

It does not imply that you know much, if anything, about it.

What is the difference between the 2 sets of sentences given?

1. Él sabe el nombre del restaurante

Conoce el restaurante.

2. Sabemos mucho de la literatura española.

Conocemos la literatura española.

In both cases, the 1st sentence implies that the subject knows information about the restaurant or Spanish literature.

The 2nd sentence simply implies that the subject has been introduced or knows about the restaurant and Spanish literature only. The subject is not necessarily able to give you much information about them.

Would you use saber or conocer?

Do you know where the dog is?saberinformation

Who knows Pepe?conocerKnowing people

Are you familiar with Chicago?conocerAcquainted with/ familiar with something

Ronaldo knows how to shoot animals.saberKnow how to do something

Translate to SpanishDo you know where the dog is?

¿Sabes dónde está el perro?

Who knows Pepe?¿Quién conoce a Pepe?

Are you familiar with Chicago?¿Conoces Chicago?

Ronaldo knows how to shoot animals.Ronaldo sabe tirar animales.