Savoir

The Subjunctivisor!

Does savoir require the subjunctive?

Savoir may require the subjunctive, depending on how it’s used.

In the affirmative, savoir takes the indicative.

Par exemple…

Je sais qu’elle a les billets.
I know she has the tickets.

Savoir que is not normally used in negative and interrogative statements; it’s far more natural to say savoir si.

Par exemple…

Je ne sais pas si elle a les billets.
I don’t know if she has the tickets.

Sais-tu si elle a les billets ?
Do you know if she has the tickets?

However, in the case of Savez-vous que …, whether or not to use the subjunctive depends: are you asking about a known fact (Did you know …) or actually wondering whether something is true?

Par exemple…

Savez-vous que la Guadeloupe fait partie de la France ?
Did you know that Guadeloupe is part of France?

Savez-vous que la Guadeloupe soit la plus belle île de la Caraïbe ?
Do you that (if, whether) Guadeloupe is the most beautiful island in the Caribbean?

 
Savoir conjugations

The Subjunctivisor!  |  Subjunctive lesson
 

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