Saber and Conocer

• Saber and conocer both mean to know.

• They both also have irregular yo forms.

Saber vs. conocersaber

sé

sabes

sabe

sabemos

sabéis

sabenThe verb saber is

irregular in its yo form.

Saber = to know a fact, to know information

Sabemos que Rodolfo y Luisa son estudiantes.

¿Sabes los días de la semana?

Yo sé el número de teléfono de Juan Valdez.

Yo sé esquiar.

¿Sabes cocinar?

Los niños no saben nadar.

Saber + infinitive* = to know how (to do something)

*Conocer is never followed by an infinitive.

Saber is often followed by a question word.*

¿Sabes dónde está la oficina de correos?

No sé cuándo sale el tren para San José.

*Conocer is never followed by a question word.

conozco

conoces

conoce

conocemos

conocéis

conocenThe verb conocer is

irregular in its yo form.

Saber vs. conocerconocer

Conocer = to know a person or to be familiar with a place or thing.

Conozco a la señora Spelman.

¿Conoces Leander? ¿Dónde está el HEB?

Yo sé quién es el presidente, pero no conozco al señor Obama personalmente.

Sabemos dónde está Tegucigalpa, pero no conocemos la ciudad.

Notice the contrast between saber and conocer in the following sentences.

I know who the president is, but I don’t know Mr. Obama personally.

We know where Tegucigalpa is, but we aren’t familiar with the city.

• Yo sé que Carlos Vives es un cantante, pero no conozco sus canciónes.

• I know that Carlos Vives is a singer but I’m not familiar with his songs.

When conocer is followed by a person, you must use the personal “a” before the name of the person.

Ej. Yo conozco a tus padres.Mis estudiantes conocen al señor Kinder.

You do not use the personal “a” when you are familiar with a place.

Ej. Conozco Cedar Park.

Decide whether or not you would use saber or conocer in these sentences in Spanish.

I know my brother’s teacher. ConocerI know that my brother’s teacher is Ms. Simchock.SaberI know that Nicaragua is to the north of Costa Rica.SaberI know San José (Costa Rica’s capital)well.ConocerI know how to dance salsa.SaberI know all the great salsa musicians. Conocer