8.4: Saber and conocer
- Page ID
- 173598
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Saber and conocer.
In Spanish, there are also two ways to say to know. Saber refers to knowing information that must be memorized such as phone numbers, addresses, dates and how to do things. Conocer is used with people and places.
The conjugations of these two verbs in the present tense follow. With these verbs, only the first form, the “yo” form, is irregular. Read these verbs one at a time until you have them memorized.
saber conocer
yo sé nosotros sabemos yo conozco nosotros conocemos nosotras sabemos nosotras conocemos
tú sabes vosotros sabéis tú conoces vosotros conocéis vosotras sabéis vosotras conocéis
él sabe ellos saben él conoce ellos conocen ella sabe ellas saben ella conoce ellas conocen usted sabe ustedes saben usted conoce ustedes conocen
To remember the difference between these verbs, it is helpful to think about using them in the following situations.
SABER CONOCER
information that can fit in your head like people and places how to do things Also, saber is used when something Conocer is used when someone is memorized and can be recited word familiar with something but cannot for word such as a song or poem. repeat it exactly.
Ex. “I want to hold your hand, and Ex. The song is about a boy who please say you will understand….” likes a girl and wants to hold her hand
Here are some more examples:
Ella sabe nadar bien. Él conoce la ciudad de Chicago. She knows how to swim. He knows the city of Chicago. There is no English equivalent of the word how when explaining how to do something.
Yo sé la fecha importante. Usted conoce al escritor. I know the important date. You know the writer.
Nosotros sabemos la dirección. Tú conoces el cuento. We know the address. You know the story.
Remember that saber is for information we can memorize and for how to do things. Conocer is used when we want to talk about knowing people and places.
So, let us see what you have learned about the verbs saber and conocer with a few practice exercises.
Prácticas.
A. Conjugate the verbs SABER and CONOCER in the present tense.
saber conocer
B. Read each sentence or question. Then, explain why the verb saber or conocer was used.
1. Nosotros sabemos la dirección del restaurante.
2. Tú sabes bien la canción. ¡La cantas cada día!
3. Yo conozco al director de la escuela secundaria.
4. Usted sabe el número de su cellular.
5. Ustedes quieren conocer Costa Rica porque es un lugar hermoso.
6. Yo sé el poema con el nombre “Elena” por Pat Mora.
7. Ustedes saben la fórmula para el problema en la clase de cálculo.
8. El conoce el libro nuevo de Isabel Allende.
9. ¿Conoces a la profesora que ganó el premio?
10. ¿Conoces la ciudad de Aurora, IL?
10. ¿Saben Uds. bailar la cumbia?
C. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate present tense conjugated form of saber or conocer.
1. Yo ____________ la ciudad de Nueva York.
2. Ustedes ____________ la canción de Enrique Iglesias y pueden cantarla bien.
3. Usted _____________ el ritmo de la canción de Shakira.
4. Nosotros _____________ bailar la salsa.
5. Tú ____________ al escritor del poema.
6. Ella ____________ conjugar bien los verbos.
7. La clase ____________ la ciudad de Barcelona.
8. ¿____________ tú el autor Ilán Staváns?
9. ¿____________ cantar bien el himno nacional?
10. María Elena _____________ usar Facebook.
11. Juan y José _____________ la fecha de la fiesta.
12. Yo ____________ el nombre del cantante.
13. Nosotras ____________el tema del libro.
14. Tú ____________ a mi esposo.
15. Los profesores ____________ enseñar la gramática.
D. The song Yo No Sé Mañana by Luis Enrique uses the verb saber to explain that the future is uncertain and that we need to live and appreciate each day. Listen to the song. Then, write three things that you know and three things that you do not know.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
E. What is the difference between saber and conocer? Give two examples with each verb.