Module 59: Mastering the Difference Between Conocer and Saber

In this lesson, we will explore the key differences between the Spanish verbs conocer and saber, both of which translate to “to know” in English. While they may seem interchangeable at first, their usage depends on the context and the type of knowledge being expressed.

When to Use Conocer

Conocer is used to express familiarity or acquaintance with:

People: Knowing or having met someone.
- Example: Yo conozco a María. (I know María.)
Places: Being familiar with a location or place.
- Example: Ellos conocen Madrid. (They know Madrid.)
Things: Having an in-depth knowledge or familiarity with something.
- Example: Conozco bien esta canción. (I am familiar with this song.)

When to Use Saber

Saber is used to express knowledge of:

Facts: Knowing specific information or facts.
- Example: Yo sé la respuesta. (I know the answer.)
Skills: Knowing how to do something.
- Example: ¿Sabes nadar? (Do you know how to swim?)
General Knowledge: Awareness of objective information.
- Example: Sabemos que hoy es lunes. (We know that today is Monday.)

Verb Conjugations:

Here are the conjugations for conocer and saber in the present tense:

Conocer (to know, to be familiar with):

- Yo conozco (koh-NOHS-koh)
- Tú conoces (koh-NOHS-ehs)
- Él/Ella/Usted conoce (koh-NOHS-eh)
- Nosotros conocemos (koh-noh-SEH-mohs)
- Vosotros conocéis (koh-noh-SEH-ees)
- Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes conocen (koh-NOHS-en)

Saber (to know, to know how to):

Yo sé (seh)
Tú sabes (SAH-behs)
Él/Ella/Usted sabe (SAH-beh)
Nosotros sabemos (sah-BEH-mohs)
Vosotros sabéis (sah-BEHS)
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes saben (SAH-ben)

Here are two sample sentences for each verb in the present tense:

Conocer (to know, to be familiar with)

Conozco a María; es una amiga de la universidad.
(I know María; she is a friend from college.)
Ellos conocen ese restaurante; dicen que la comida es deliciosa.
(They know that restaurant; they say the food is delicious.)

Saber (to know, to know how to)

¿Sabes cómo llegar a la estación de tren?
(Do you know how to get to the train station?)
Sabemos que la reunión empieza a las tres.
(We know that the meeting starts at three.)

Here are the conjugations for Conocer and Saber in the Preterite Tense:

Conocer (to meet, to become acquainted with)

Yo conocí
Tú conociste
Él/Ella/Usted conoció
Nosotros/Nosotras conocimos
Vosotros/Vosotras conocisteis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes conocieron

Saber (to find out, to learn about)

Yo supe
Tú supiste
Él/Ella/Usted supo
Nosotros/Nosotras supimos
Vosotros/Vosotras supisteis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes supieron

Here are two sample sentences for each verb in the preterite tense:

Conocer (to meet, to become acquainted with)

Ayer conocí a tu hermana en la fiesta.
(Yesterday, I met your sister at the party.)
Ellos conocieron a muchos nuevos amigos en el viaje.
(They met many new friends on the trip.)

Saber (to find out, to learn about)

Supe la verdad sobre lo que pasó.
(I found out the truth about what happened.)
Ella supo que había ganado el premio esta mañana.
(She found out that she had won the prize this morning.)

Here are the conjugations for Conocer and Saber in the Future Tense:

Conocer (to meet, to become acquainted with):

Yo conoceré
Tú conocerás
Él/Ella/Usted conocerá
Nosotros/Nosotras conoceremos
Vosotros/Vosotras conoceréis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes conocerán

Saber (to know, to find out):

Yo sabré
Tú sabrás
Él/Ella/Usted sabrá
Nosotros/Nosotras sabremos
Vosotros/Vosotras sabréis
Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes sabrán

Here are two sample sentences for each verb in the future tense:

Example Sentences with Conocer in the Future Tense

Conoceré a muchas personas nuevas en la conferencia.
(I will meet many new people at the conference.)
Ellos conocerán la ciudad durante su viaje a España.
(They will get to know the city during their trip to Spain.)

Example Sentences with Saber in the Future Tense

Sabré la respuesta después de hablar con el profesor.
(I will know the answer after speaking with the teacher.)
¿Cuándo sabrás si puedes asistir a la fiesta?
(When will you know if you can attend the party?)

End of Module 59: Review

End of Module Summary: Conocer vs. Saber

In this module, you have explored the important distinction between the Spanish verbs conocer and saber, both of which translate to “to know” in English but have specific and distinct uses.

Conocer is used when referring to familiarity with people, places, or things. It often implies having met someone or having personal experience with something.
Saber is used to indicate knowledge of facts, information, or how to do something. It is often used with interrogatives (e.g., qué, cómo, dónde) or followed by an infinitive to express knowing how to do an activity.

You also reviewed their conjugations in the Present, Preterite, and Future tenses, along with examples that demonstrated real-life scenarios. These examples illustrated how to distinguish between the two verbs in context.

By the end of this module, you should feel confident in:

Choosing the correct verb for different situations.
Conjugating conocer and saber across various tenses.
Understanding the nuanced meanings of these verbs in conversation and writing.

Continue practicing to solidify your understanding. Mastering conocer and saber is a crucial step in achieving fluency and expressing yourself accurately in Spanish!