FHUHS Spanish

Saber & Conocer in the Preterite vs. Imperfect

While conocer(to be familiar with; to know a person) is completely regular in both the preterite and the imperfect, saber (to know a fact; to know how to do something) is quite irregular in the preterite:

Saber in the preterite

Saber changes meaning depending upon whether or not it is used in the preterite or the imperfect. As you would expect, saber in the imperfect (also known as the ‘used to’ or ‘was/were _____ing’ tense) frequently translates as ‘used to know’ :

Sabíamos montar a caballo. (We used to know how to ride a horse.)
Sabía el formulario. (I used to know the formula.)

However, in the preterite, saber takes on a different meaning. In other words, the perfected beginning of knowing, which in English is regularly expressed by ‘found out.’

María supo que el examen es el martes. (María found out the exam is Tuesday.)
¿Cuándo lo supiste? (When did you find it out?

Concocer

As you would expect, conocer in the imperfect (also known as the ‘used to’ or ‘was/were _____ing’ tense) frequently translates as ‘used to know’, or ‘used to be familiar with’ :

Conocía a Juan (I used to know Juan.)
Conocía Montreal.(I used to be familiar with Montreal.)

In the preterite,, indicating completed or perfected actions in the past, conocer has the expected meaning, but is frequently translated into English with ‘met’:

Conoció a María el viernes pasado. (He met María last Friday.)
Nos conocimos el año pasado. (We met las year.)