The Verbs saber and conocer (Los verbos saber y conocer) The “to know” verbs

saber sé sabes sabe sabemos sabéis saben The verb saber is irregular in its yo form.

Saber = to know a fact, to know data, to know information Sabemos el nombre del Presidente ¿Sabes los días de la semana? Yo sé el número de teléfono de Consuelo.

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 que… (To know that…) Saber is followed by que when it is just one clause in a sentence that will have another subject and verb. –Ex.: I know that he is here.  Yo sé que él está aquí. Yo sé que Barak Obama juega al básquetbol. Sr. Lynde sabe que el español es muy importante. 2 nd Clause (includes subject and verb) 1 st Clause (includes subject and verb) 1 st Clause (includes subject and verb) 2 nd Clause (includes subject and verb)

Saber is often followed by a question word.* Sabemos quién es Plácido Domingo. ¿Sabes dónde está la oficina de correos? No sé cuándo sale el tren para Tegucigalpa. * Conocer is never followed by a question word.

Saber + lo Saber is often used with lo to say that someone knows “it” or “that.” Remember DOP’s go before the conjugated verb. Thus, lo will usually go before the conjugated form of saber. –Ex.: I know that.  Yo lo sé. –Ex.: Pepe want’s to know it.  Pepe quiere saberlo.

conozco conoces conoce conocemos conocéis conocen The verb conocer is irregular in its yo form. Conocer

= to know or be familiar with a person or a place. = to meet for the first time Conocer

The “Personal a” When the direct object of the sentence is a person or pet, use the “personal a”. The “personal a” comes after the verb and before the person’s name / pronoun. For this reason, conocer is often followed by a when it’s used to talk about knowing / meeting a person. –Yo conozco a Isabel. –Mario conoce a la señora.

Conocer and direct object pronouns Direct Object Pronouns menos teos lo/lalos/las Conocer is often used with direct object pronouns. I know him.  Yo lo conozco. He knows me.  Él me conoce. ¿Conocen Uds. a la señora que trabaja en el gimnasio? Sí, la conocemos bien. ¿Quieres conocerla?

Yo sé quién es Plácido Domingo, pero no conozco al señor Domingo personalmente. Sabemos dónde está Tegucigalpa, pero no conocemos la ciudad. Julia sabe que Rigoberta Menchú recibió el premio Nobel, pero no conoce sus obras. Notice the contrast between saber and conocer in the following sentences. I know who Plácido Domingo is, but I don’t know Mr. Domingo personally. We know where Tegucigalpa is, but we aren’t familiar with the city. Julia knows that Rigoberta Menchú received the Nobel prize, but she isn’t acquainted with her works.

¿Cómo se dice en español? I know how to play cards. Paco knows the Fernandez family. Marta knows the address. Martina knows the city very well. My friends know how to do it. Luisa knows the information. Yo sé jugar a las cartas. (activity) Paco conoce a los Fernandez. (person) Marta sabe la dirección. (information) Martina conoce la ciudad muy bien. (place) Mis amigos saben hacerlo. (activity) Luisa sabe la información. (information)

El FIN