Saber v Conocer

Question 1

Saber or Conocer ( the difference)

Answer 1

Saber is used for facts or information. Conocer is used to show familiarity with a person, place, or object.

Question 2

conjugation of saber

Answer 2

Sé
Sabes
Sabe
Sabemos
Sabéis
Saben

Question 3

We can also use this verb to say “to know how to do something.” To do that, here’s a simple formula:

Answer 3

Saber + Verb in infinitive
Él sabe jugar al baloncesto muy bien. (He knows how to play basketball very well.)

Ellos saben cocinar.
(They know how to cook.)

Yo no sé bailar salsa.
(I don’t know how to dance salsa.)

Nosotros sabemos cantar.
(We know how to sing.)

Tú sabes hablar español.
(You know how to speak Spanish.)

Question 4

saber (and knowing “how” to do something)

Answer 4

One thing to be careful of is the urge to add “how” into the statement in Spanish. In English, we say “He knows how to play basketball very well” or “They know how to cook.” But, in Spanish we don’t need the how.

Question 5

what is conocer

Answer 5

This verb is used to show familiarity or acquaintance with something

Question 6

conjugation of conocer

Answer 6

Conozco*
Conoces
Conoce
Conocemos
Conocéis
Conocen

Question 7

this verb is used to show a degree of familiarity with something.

Answer 7

example
Conozco a Juan. (I know Juan.)
¿Has leído el libro nuevo de Stephen King? (Have you read the new Stephen King book?)
Sí, lo conozco. (Yes, I know [am familiar with] it.)
Conozco el libro. (I know the book)
I am familiar with the book–I have read it.

BUT this: Sé que el personaje principal vive en… (I know that the main character lives in…) Here, we use “saber” because we are recounting a fact or a learned piece of information about the book. It’s general knowledge.

Question 8

“conocer” to express familiarity with places.

Answer 8

¿Conoces España? (Do you know Spain?)
Sí, he estado allí tres veces. (Yes, I’ve been there three times.)

This may sound a little strange, since in English, we would ask, “Have you been to Spain?” In Spanish, we can ask the question that way (¿Has estado en España?), but it’s just as common to hear the question, or answer, for that matter (Sí, conozco España) stated using the verb “conocer.”

Question 9

be careful with the differences between saber & conocer

Answer 9

¡Pero, sabemos donde hay un restaurante muy bueno!

Here, we are stating that we know where a good restaurant is. This is a fact. The location of the restaurant is general knowledge. Being familiar with the restaurant is personal. Let’s look at this again with a slightly different sentence:

Conozco un restaurante muy bueno. Sé que está abierto ahora. (I know / am familiar with a good restaurant. I know it’s open now.)

Knowing the restaurant shows familiarity. Knowing the restaurant’s hours is a piece of learned information about the restaurant