spanish saber vs conocer

1. Saber y conocer

2. What do both verbs mean?
to know **
** like ser & estar, saber & conocer have
specific uses

3. Uses
Saber – to know . . .
1. . . . facts, info about
something
2. . . . how to do
something
Conocer – to know . . .
1. . . . a person
2. . . . a noun (be
acquainted with/
familiar with)
3. to meet a person

4. saber
sé
I know
sabemos
We know
sabes
You know
sabéis
You all know
sabe
He, she, you know
saben
They, you all know

5. To know . . .
 . . . information, facts about something
1. Él sabe mucho de la historia del mundo.
He knows a lot about world history.
2. Sabéis dónde está el restaurante.
You all know where the restaurant is.

6. To know . . .
. . . how to do something.
Saber + INF
1. Saben hablar español
They know how to speak Spanish.
2. Sabemos jugar al fútbol.
We know how to play soccer.

7. Conocer
conozco
I know
conocemos
We know
conoces
You know
conocéis
You all know
conoce
He, she, you know
conocen
They, you all know

8. To know . . .
 . . . a person.
1. Kiko conoce a vosotros.**
Kiko knows you all.
** personal a must be used here. Why?
Personal a is used when a person(s) is the DO of a
sentence!

9. To know . . .
 . . . NOUNS (i.e., to be acquainted with
or be familiar with something).
1. Conozco Madrid
I am familiar with Madrid.
2. Conocéis el restaurante.
You all are familiar with the restaurant.
3. Conocen la literatura española.
They are familiar with Spanish literature.

10. To meet a person
1. Conocí a José. **
I met José.
2. Conocisteis al profesor. **
You all met the profesor.
** personal a must be used here.

11. The previous examples imply only that
you’ve been introduced to the object.
It does not imply that you know much, if
anything, about it.

12. What is the difference between the 2 sets
of sentences given?
1. Él sabe el nombre del restaurante
Conoce el restaurante.
2. Sabemos mucho de la literatura
española.
Conocemos la literatura española.

13. In both cases, the 1st
sentence implies that
the subject knows information about the
restaurant or Spanish literature.
The 2nd
sentence simply implies that the
subject has been introduced or knows
about the restaurant and Spanish
literature only. The subject is not
necessarily able to give you much
information about them.

14. Would you use saber or conocer?
Do you know where the dog is?
saber
information
Who knows Pepe?
conocer
Knowing people
Are you familiar with Chicago?
conocer
Acquainted with/ familiar with something
Ronaldo knows how to shoot animals.
saber
Know how to do something

15. Translate to Spanish
Do you know where the dog is?
¿Sabes dónde está el perro?
Who knows Pepe?
¿Quién conoce a Pepe?
Are you familiar with Chicago?
¿Conoces Chicago?
Ronaldo knows how to shoot animals.
Ronaldo sabe tirar animales.