savoir (présent)

Irregular Verb Savoir (To Know)

Level 1

Savoir is an irregular verb used for intellectual knowledge (facts) and procedural knowledge (skills). It is distinct from connaître, which is used for familiarity with people and places.

How It Works

The verb savoir is essential for communicating what you know. Here is how it is conjugated in the present tense:

  • Je sais
  • Tu sais
  • Il/Elle/On sait
  • Nous savons
  • Vous savez
  • Ils/Elles savent

Usage Rules:
1. With an Infinitive: Use it to say you know 'how' to do something. Unlike English, you do not need to add 'comment' (how). Example: Je sais nager (I know how to swim).
2. With a Clause: It often precedes words like que (that), si (if), or question words like où (where) and pourquoi (why).
3. With Nouns: It only takes a noun if that noun represents a fact or something memorized (like a phone number or a lesson). For people or places, use connaître instead.

Examples (5)

  1. Je sais que tu as raison.

    I know that you are right.

    Word by Word: I know that you have reason.

    Here, 'savoir' is followed by a clause starting with 'que' to express a fact.

  2. Est-ce que tu sais nager ?

    Do you know how to swim?

    Word by Word: Is it that you know to swim?

    When followed directly by an infinitive, 'savoir' expresses a learned skill.

  3. Nous savons où il habite.

    We know where he lives.

    Word by Word: We know where he lives.

    The plural stem 'sav-' is used here with the interrogative word 'où'.

  4. Elle sait sa leçon par cœur.

    She knows her lesson by heart.

    Word by Word: She knows her lesson by heart.

    Savoir can take a noun if it refers to information that has been memorized.

  5. Ils ne savent pas encore la nouvelle.

    They don't know the news yet.

    Word by Word: They not know not yet the news.

    The 'v' in 'savent' is pronounced, unlike the silent endings in the singular forms.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'savoir' for people or places.

    Je sais Marie.
    Je connais Marie.

    Use 'connaître' for people, places, and general familiarity. 'Savoir' is only for facts and skills.

  • Adding 'comment' (how) before an infinitive.

    Different MeaningJe sais comment cuisiner.
    Je sais cuisiner.

    'Je sais comment cuisiner' is grammatical, but it means you know the way to go about cooking. To say you have the skill, 'Je sais cuisiner' is the simple, natural choice.

  • Confusing 'savoir' with 'pouvoir' for ability.

    Je ne sais pas venir ce soir.
    Je ne peux pas venir ce soir.

    Use 'savoir' for learned skills. Use 'pouvoir' for physical ability or permission (being able to do something in a specific moment).

How It Connects

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savoir (présent)Level 1Irregular Verb Savoir (To Know)

Learn This First

To learn the irregular verb 'savoir', you first need to be comfortable with French subject pronouns (je, tu, il, etc.) and the basic subject-verb-object sentence structure. Familiarity with other verb conjugations helps in recognizing how 'savoir' deviates from regular patterns.

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savoir