Skip to main content
Humanities LibreTexts

29. Conocer vs. saber

  • Page ID
    16157
  • \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)

    \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)

    \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)

    \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}}      % arrow\)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)

    \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)

    \(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)
    conocer en presente simple de indicativo:
    conozco, conoces, conocés, conoce,
    conocemos, conocéis, conocen
    saber en presente simple de indicativo:
    sé, sabes, sabés, sabe,
    sabemos, sabéis, saben

    • El verbo conocer indica familiaridad o reconocimiento. Casi siempre se usa con personas y lugares:
    ¿Conoces la ciudad de México? ¿Qué otras ciudades conoces?
    No conocemos al presidente.
    (a personal)
    Conocen un restaurante excelente en este barrio.
    Me siento raro en esta fiesta: no conozco a nadie. (a personal)

    • The verb conocer indicates familiarity or recognition and is mostly used for people and places:
    Do you know Mexico city? What other cities do you know (have been to)?
    We don't know the President.
    They know (of) an excellent restaurant in this neighborhood.
    I feel strange in this party: I know no one.

    • El verbo saber indica conciencia y memoria de hechos, información, maneras de hacer las cosas:
    No van a ir al río porque no saben nadar.
    No quiere hablar porque no sabe qué decir.
    No conozco el museo, pero dónde está.

    Conozco la canción, pero no la letra.

    • The verb saber indicates awareness and memory of facts, information, and "how to" do things:
    They're not going to the river because they don't know how to swim.
    He does not want to speak because he doesn't know what to say.
    I don't know the museum (haven't been there), but I know where it is.

    I know (am familiar with) the song, but I don't know the lyrics (by heart).


    Dos pistas útiles / Two Useful Tips

    • el verbo conocer nunca está seguido del relativo que:
    Sé que ella vive en Nueva York.
    Sabemos que hablas con ella.


    • el objeto directo del verbo saber nunca es una persona:
    El joven dice que no conoce a esa mujer.
    Hola, ¿te conozco?
    conocer cannot be immediately followed by que (that):
    I know (that) she lives in New York.
    We know that you talk to her (on a regular basis)


    • one cannot saber people:
    The young man says he doesn't know that woman.
    Hi, do I know you?

    ¡A practicar!


    Práctica 29

    Complete las oraciones con la forma correcta de conocer o saber. Añada también la a personal cuando sea necesaria.
    (Ver ejercicio interactivo) - (Diccionario bilingue: https://www.wordreference.com/)

    1. Carmen __________ tocar el piano y __________ muchos músicos.
    2. Vamos a __________ Cancún algún día, ni tú ni yo __________ cuándo.
    3. ¿Vosotros __________ doctor Vélez?
    4. Nadie __________ porqué somos así.
    5. Yo __________ varios senadores.
    6. La enfermera __________ qué hacer en estos casos.
    7. Yo no __________ la respuesta. ¿La __________ tú?
    8. Los perros __________ encontrar cualquier cosa por el olor, y __________ su dueño.
    9. Es importante __________ la otra cultura para __________ comunicarse con su gente.
    10. Juan no __________ alcalde, pero __________ que es honesto.

    Traducción al inglés

    1. Carmen knows how to play the piano and she knows many musicians. 2. We're going to get to know Cancun some day, but neither you nor I know when. 3. Do you know Dr. Vélez? 4. Nobody knows why we are this way. 5. I know several senators. 6. The nurse knows what to do in these cases. 7. We don't know what to answer, do you know? 8. Dogs know how to find anything by its scent, and they know their master. 9. It's important to know the other culture in order to know how to communicate with its people. 10. Juan doesn't know the mayor, but he knows he's honest.

    Respuestas

    1. sabe / conoce a. 2. conocer / sabemos 3. conocéis al 4. sabe 5. conozco a 6. sabe 7. sé / sabes 8. saben / conocen a 9. conocer / saber 10. conoce al / sabe


    Práctica interactiva

    • Nelson: dos ejercicios sobre el uso de saber y conocer.
    • Yepes: oraciones para completar.


    This page titled 29. Conocer vs. saber is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Enrique Yepes.

    • Was this article helpful?