La diferencia entre los verbos saber y conocer

Español 1B

Saber = to know

Yo - sé

I know

Nosotros – sabemos

We know

Tú – sabes

You know

Vosotros – sabéis

You all know

Él, ella, Ud. – sabe

He, she, you (f.) knows

Ellos, Ellas, Uds. – saben

They know

You all know

When to use SABER

To know information (facts)

Ella sabe la hora que empieza la clase.

Nosotros sabemos el número del doctor.

To know how to do something (abilities and skills)

Conjugated form of saber always followed by an infinitive:

Yo sé jugar al fútbol.

Mi amigo sabe montar en bicicleta.

Yo sé hablar español.

Cont.

Can also be used in the negative to show that you don’t know something, express ignorance about something or do not know how to do something.

La maestra no sabe el nombre del estudiante.

Laura no sabe conducir (to drive).

Conocer = to know

Yo - conozco

I know

Nos. – conocemos

We know

Tú – conoces

You know

Vos. – conocéis

You all know

Él, ella, Ud. – conoce

He knows, She knows, You (f.) know

Ellos, Ellas, Uds.– conocen

They know, You all know

When to use CONOCER: To know a person.

Yo conozco a mi mejor amigo.

Carla conoce al maestro de inglés.

To be acquainted with a place or something.

Ellos conocen Dayton.

Tú conoces la música de pop y rock.

To meet someone for the first time.

Gusto en conocerlo. (Nice to meet you.)

Quiero conocer a George López.

Cont.

Can be used in the negative to show that you don't know someone or haven't been somewhere.

Laura no conoce a Luis.

Mis padres no conocen Italia.

Memorize this info:

A clue as to when to use “conocer”:

you will most likely see the “personal a” used after the verb.

What’s the “personal a”? When the direct object is a person, group of people,

or a pet, then the “personal a” is needed.

“Personal a” is only going to be used with people and animals and not with places.

No English equivalent/translation

Ej: Yo conozco a los jóvenes.

Ej: El presidente conoce a su perro Bo.

RECUERDA (REMEMBER)

Yo sé el nombre del presidente, pero, yo no conozco al presidente.

I know the president’s name, but, I don’t know the president.