Saber vs Conocer

Two verbs for "to know". Saber for facts and skills, conocer for people and places.

Two verbs for "to know"

SaberConocer
What it meansto know facts, information, how toto know/be familiar with people, places, things
yoconozco
sabesconoces
él/ellasabeconoce
nosotrossabemosconocemos
ellossabenconocen

When to use saber

Facts and information

la respuesta. (I know the answer.)
Sabe dónde está. (He knows where it is.)
No sabemos qué pasó. (We don't know what happened.)

How to do something (saber + infinitive)

nadar. (I know how to swim.)
Ella sabe cocinar. (She knows how to cook.)
¿Sabes conducir? (Do you know how to drive?)

When to use conocer

People (always with personal "a")

Conozco a María. (I know María.)
¿Conoces a mi hermano? (Do you know my brother?)
No conocemos al profesor. (We don't know the teacher.)

Places and things (familiarity through experience)

Conozco Madrid. (I know/have been to Madrid.)
¿Conoces este restaurante? (Do you know this restaurant?)
Conoce bien la ciudad. (He knows the city well.)

Meaning changes in preterite

In the past tense, both verbs shift meaning

Supe la verdad. = I found out the truth. (not: I knew)
Conocí a Juan. = I met Juan. (not: I knew Juan)
This is because the preterite marks a completed action — the moment of discovering or meeting.

Quick quiz

1. _____ la respuesta. (I know the answer.)

2. ¿_____ a mi hermano? (Do you know him?)

3. Ella _____ cocinar muy bien. (knows how to)

4. No _____ Madrid. (I haven't been there.)

5. ¿_____ dónde está el banco? (Do you know where?)

6. _____ a María en la fiesta. (I met — preterite)

7. No _____ nadar. (I don't know how to.)

8. _____ este restaurante? (familiar with it?)

9. _____ la verdad ayer. (I found out — preterite)

10. Yo _____ que ella es doctora. (I know that...)

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