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Knowing French Verb
The French verb savoir usually means "to know." It has irregular conjugations in just about every tense and mood, and somewhat different meanings in a couple of those.
Savoir + noun
To know a fact, to know by heart
Savez-vous l’heure ? | Do you know the time? | |
Je sais beaucoup de chansons. | I know a lot of songs by heart. |
Savoir + infinitive
To know how to do something
Je sais conduire. | I know how to drive. | |
Il ne sait pas le faire. | He doesn’t know how to do it. |
Savoir + clause
To know, realize
Tu ne sais pas ce que tu fais. | You don’t realize what you’re doing. | |
Il sait bien qu’il a tort. | He knows very well that he’s wrong. |
Meaning changes
Savoir has different meanings in the passé composé and conditional.
Passé composé
Savoir = to learn, find out
J’ai enfin su ce qu’il s’était passé. | I finally found out what had happened. | |
Qu’en avez-vous su ? | What did you find out about it? |
Conditional
Savoir = to be able to (very formal)
Sauriez-vous répondre à des questions ? | Could you possibly answer some questions? | |
Je ne saurais pas vous renseigner. | I’m afraid I can’t give you any information |
Savoir is one of the small number of French verbs that can be made negative with the ne littéraire (ne without pas).
Je le lui ai dit je ne sais combien de fois. | I’ve told him countless times. | |
Je ne saurais vous aider. | I wouldn’t know how to help you. |
Savoir in action
Related lessons
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