21 To know, saber, conocer
Conocer:to know a person or a place, or something you’ve seen.
Saber:to know information or skill, also means to taste well or bad. Usually goes with que=that, si=if, or a verb in the infinitive. To know how to do something doesn’t have a word equivalent to HOW.
SABER
- Yo sé
- Tú sabes
- Él sabe, ella sabe
- Nosotros sabemos, nosotras sabemos
- Ellos saben, ellas saben, ustedes saben
CONOCER
- Yo conozco /konósko/
- Tú conoces
- Él conoce, ella conoce
- Nosotros conocemos, nosotras conocemos
- Ellos conocen, ellas conocen, ustedes conocen
Sample conversations:
Places you know
A: ¿Conoces _____________ (add state of the United States OR any particular place)?
B: Sí, conozco __________ (repeat the place). / No, yo no conozco ____________ (repeat the place). Pick one
What if you don’t want to repeat the name of the place? You can say just LO=masculine IT to replace it: SÍ, LO CONOZCO. However, in Spanish there are names of places that are perceived as feminine. For example, if you say MADRID, this is a feminine place.
A: ¿Conoces _____________ (add state of the United States OR any particular place)?
B: Sí, LO conozco __________ / No, yo no LO conozco ____________ (repeat the place). Pick one
Friends in common
A: ¿Conoces a ___________ (add name of person)?
B: Sí, conozco a ____________ (repeat name of person). / No, yo no conozco a _____________ (repeat name of person). Pick one
Add names of teachers, classmates or friends who your partner may know. Remember to add the word A just as a convention when referring to people. This is called “a personal”.
What if you don’t want to repeat the name of the person? You can say just LO=him LA=her to replace it: SÍ, LO CONOZCO / SÍ, LA CONOZCO.
A: ¿Conoces a ___________ (add name of person)?
B: Sí, lo conozco. / No, yo no lo conozco. Pick one
Instruments you know how to play
A: ¿Sabes tocar ___________ (add instrument)?
B: Sí, sé tocar _____________ (repeat instrument). / No, no sé tocar ____________ (repeat instrument).
If you don’t want to repeat the name of the instrument, you may exchange it for LO (masculine IT) or LA (feminine IT). Such IT is possible only as a direct object.
A: ¿Sabes tocar ___________ (add instrument)?
B: Sí, lo OR la sé tocar. / No, no lo OR la sé tocar ____________.
Things you know how to do
A: ¿Sabes ___________ (add action in the infinitive)?
B: Sí, sé _____________ (repeat action in the infinitive). / No, no sé _________________ (repeat action in the infinitive).
You can also respond: Sí, lo sé OR No, yo no lo sé.
Actions: esquiar (=to sky), jugar video juegos (=play video games), patinar (=to skate), jugar fútbol (=to play soccer), pintar (=to paint), tejer (=to wave, to knit), coser (=to sew), cocinar (=to cook), tocar un instrumento (=play an instrument)
If you want to repeat the name of the action, you can always say LO before SÉ.
A: ¿Sabes ___________ (add action in the infinitive)?
B: Sí, LO sé. / No, no LO sé.
