Saber & Conocer
saber & conocer both words mean “to know.”
conjugation They both are irregular in the “yo” form only.
Different Purposes Even though Saber and Conocer both mean “to know,” they are used for different purposes.
Use saber for... Facts Example: I know Michigan is a state.
Use Saber for... Information Example: I know there is a test today.
Use Saber for... How to do something Example: I know how to drive.
Use conocer for... knowing someone or a pet Examples: I know you. She knows Fido.
Use conocer for... knowing a place (as a proper noun) Examples: I know Walls. I know Memphis like the back of my hand.
Use conocer for... knowing a topic of interest Examples: I know Mexican Literature. She knows Math really well.
saber yo sé nosotros sabemos tú sabes él/ella/Ud. sabe ellos/ellas/Uds. saben
conocer yo conozco nosotros conocemos tú conoces él/ella/Ud. conoce ellos/ellas/Uds. conocen
Importante If you are talking about knowing a person, pet, or place you must put a personal “a” before the person, pet, or place (proper noun).
Personal A examples Yo conozco literatura. (I know literature.) Yo conozco a James. (I know James.) James is a person the personal “a”
More Personal A Examples Examples : Yo conozco a Willis. Tú conoces a mi perro. Ella conoce a Watervliet, MI. Person Pet Place
Checking for Understanding
What do “saber” and “conocer” mean? To know
Saber & Conocer are irregular in which conjugation form? Yo
When talking about knowing facts, do you use saber or conocer? saber
When talking about knowing people, do you use saber or conocer? conocer
When talking about knowing how to do something, do you use saber or conocer? saber
When talking about knowing information, do you use saber or conocer? saber
When talking about knowing pets, do you use saber or conocer? conocer
When talking about knowing a place (proper noun), do you use saber or conocer? conocer
When talking about knowing a topic of interest, do you use saber or conocer? conocer
Give the conjugations for saber yo nosotros tú él/ella/Ud. ellos/ellas/Uds. sé sabe sabes sabemos saben
Give the conjugations for conocer yo nosotros tú él/ella/Ud. ellos/ellas/Uds. conozco conoces conoce conocemos conocen
If you are talking about knowing a person, pet, or place (proper noun) you must put a __________ before the person, pet, or place (proper noun). personal a
Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of saber or conocer. Yo __________ a Cornelius. conozco
Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of saber or conocer. Yo _________ tu numero del telefono. sé
Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of saber or conocer. Tú _________ hablar español. sabes
Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of saber or conocer. Tú __________ a su gato. conoces
Fill in the blank with the correct conjugation of saber or conocer. Ella __________ arte mexicano. conoce
el fin