French grammar - The two ways to know - savoir and connataire |
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French has two common verbs - savoir and connaître - both of which can translate to 'to know' in English. However, they have distinctly different uses: • savoir means 'to know information' or 'to know how to do something' (know‐how). -- It is one of those verbs that can be followed immediately (without a preposition) by an infinite verb - 'to know how to do something'. The word comment ('how') is not required. -- Note however that in the passé composé (avoir su) means 'to have found out. • connaître means 'to know' in the sense of being personally familiar with or having experienced something oneself. -- It must always be followed by a noun - never a verb. |
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Je sais ton nom.
I know your (familiar) name.
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Je sais les paroles de cette chanson.
I know the words of this song.
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Tu sais où il habite ?
Do you (familiar) know where he lives? |
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Savez-vous quand ils arrivent ?
Do you (formal) know when they arrive? |
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Je ne sais pas pourquoi il a dit ça.
I don't know why he said that. |
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Je sais danser.
I know how to dance. *OR* I can dance.
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Il sait très bien parler français.
He knows how to speak French very well. *OR* He can speak French very well.
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Ma fille ne sait pas encore nager.
My daughter doesn't know how to swim yet.
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Tu sais qu'il vient ? Oui, je sais.
Do you (familiar) know he's coming? Yes I know. |
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Le saviez-vous ?
Do you (formal) know that?
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Je l'ai su hier.
I found out yesterday. |
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Je connais cette chanson.
I know this song. |
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Tu connais mon amie Sylvie ?
Do you (familiar) know my friend Sylvie? |
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Est-ce que vous connaissez Paris ?
Do you (formal) know Paris?
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Connaissez-vous l'actrice française Catherine Deneuve ?
Do you (formal) know the French actress Catherine Deneuve? |
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Je la connais mais je ne l'ai jamais rencontrée.
I know her but I've never met her. |
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Est-ce que vous connaissez Carcassonne ?
Do you (formal) know Carcassonne? |
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Non, je ne la connais pas, mais j'ai entendu parler de cette ville.
No, I don't know it, but I've heard of this town.
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Gabriel est un acteur connu de tout le monde.
Gabriel is an actor known to everyone.
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Je connais bien les romans de Victor Hugo.
I know the novels of Victor Hugo well. |
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Est-ce que tu sais qui c'est ?
Do you (familiar) know who it is? |
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Oui je sais qui c'est, mais je ne le connais pas personnellement.
Yes I know who it is, but I don't know him personally. |
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Est-ce que vous savez où se trouve la poste ?
Do you (formal) know where the post office is? |
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Non, je ne sais pas où est la poste.
No, I don't know where the post office is. |
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Je connais très bien cette ville.
I know this town very well. |
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Oui, je sais que Berlin est la capitale de l'Allemagne mais je ne la connais pas.
Yes I know Berlin is the capital of Germany but I have not been there. |
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