A2 · Word pairs
Saber o conocer
English has one verb to know and Spanish has two, split along a line that is easy to state and easy to forget mid-sentence. Saber holds facts and abilities. Conocer holds acquaintance: people you have met, cities you have been to, books you have read.
Saber
- A fact: sé dónde vive
- A skill: sé nadar
- Information: no sé qué hora es
- Followed by que, si, dónde, cómo
Conocer
- A person: conozco a tu hermano
- A place: conozco Cusco
- A work: conozco esa canción
- Always followed directly by a noun
The shape of the sentence tells you which
Saber is normally followed by a clause or an infinitive. Conocer is followed by a noun, and by the personal a when that noun is a person. If you can put que after it, it is saber.
- Sé que vive en Comas.I know he lives in Comas.
- Conozco Comas.I know Comas, I have been there.
- Sé cocinar.I can cook.
- Conozco a su mamá.I know his mother.
In the past they split further
This is where the pair meets the preterite and imperfect contrast, and both verbs change meaning.
| Verb | Imperfecto | Indefinido |
|---|---|---|
| saber | sabía — I knew | supe — I found out |
| conocer | conocía — I knew, was acquainted | conocí — I met, for the first time |
Saber for skills, poder for permission
Sé nadar means I can swim because I learned how. Puedo nadar means I am allowed to, or nothing is stopping me.
- Sé manejar, pero hoy no puedo.I know how to drive, but today I cannot.
Mistakes to avoid
Conozco que vive en Lima.
Sé que vive en Lima.
A fact in a clause takes saber.
Sé a tu hermana.
Conozco a tu hermana.
A person takes conocer.
Conocí a Marta desde 2019.
Conocía a Marta desde 2019.
Desde marks an ongoing state, so imperfecto.
Try it
___ que llega mañana.
¿___ Arequipa?
___ a Camila en una fiesta, hace tres años.
No ___ nadar muy bien.