знати / умети + да + Clause

Knowing a Fact or How to Act

Level 3Sounds Like znati i umeti + da

Use знати да for facts ('I know that...'), but use either умети да or знати да for learned skills ('I know how to...'). Never use умети for factual knowledge.

How It Works

In Serbian, English concepts of 'knowing' and 'can' split into precise categories:

1. Factual Knowledge (знати only)
When reporting awareness of a fact, only знати can be used. The clause following да can take any subject and tense:
• Знам да учиш. (I know that you are studying.)
• *Умем да учиш is impossible in Serbian.

2. Acquired Skill and Practical Knack (умети and знати)
When expressing an acquired skill or technique ('know how to do something'), both verbs introduce a да + present complement (допунски презент replacing an infinitive). In this construction, the subject must be identical across both verbs (subject control):
• Ја умем да пливам. / Ја знам да пливам. (I know how to swim.)
• Умети emphasizes skillfulness, proficiency, or tact (the art of doing something well).
• Знати is broader and covers routine learned capabilities.

3. Conjugation Note for умети
The present tense conjugation of умети belongs to the -ети verb class (like смети and разумети): умем, умеш, уме, умемо, умете, умеју. Take special note of the 3rd person plural ending in -ју (умеју).

4. Contrast with моћи
Learners often confuse learned skill with situational possibility. Use знати or умети for internal learned competence ('Do you know how to swim?'). In contrast, моћи denotes immediate physical ability, permission, or situational circumstance ('Are you able to swim right now, e.g., with that injured shoulder?').

Examples (4)

  1. Да ли знаш да возиш ауто?

    Do you know how to drive a car?

    Word by Word: Whether you-know that you-drive car?

    Here 'знати да' expresses an acquired practical competence.

  2. Она врло добро уме да се снађе у тешким ситуацијама.

    She knows very well how to manage in difficult situations.

    Word by Word: She very well knows-how that herself finds in difficult situations.

    Here 'умети' highlights interpersonal tact, practical aptitude, and knack under pressure.

  3. Сви знају да је он вредан, али не уме да ради у тиму.

    Everyone knows that he is hardworking, but he does not know how to work in a team.

    Word by Word: All know that is he hardworking, but not knows-how that works in team.

    This sentence contrasts factual awareness ('знају да') with a social or practical skill ('не уме да ради').

  4. Они умеју да свирају клавир веома лепо.

    They know how to play the piano very beautifully.

    Word by Word: They know-how that play piano very beautifully.

    Demonstrates the 3rd person plural form 'умеју' followed by an embedded 3rd person plural verb 'свирају'.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'умети' to express factual knowledge.

    Умем да је Београд леп град.
    Знам да је Београд леп град.

    'Умети' only expresses practical ability or skill, never awareness of facts or propositions. Factual knowledge requires 'знати'.

  • 'Моћи' is correct here, but it asks about being able right now, not about a learned skill.

    Different MeaningМожеш ли да пливаш?
    Знаш ли да пливаш? / Умеш ли да пливаш?

    'Можеш ли да пливаш?' is a normal question and is often used for ability too. It leans toward 'are you able to, now?' (health, conditions). To ask about a learned skill, use 'знати' or 'умети': 'Знаш ли да пливаш?'.

  • Mismatched subject person between 'умети' and the embedded verb.

    Ја умем да добро кува.
    Ја умем да добро кувам.

    When denoting learned skill, the subordinate verb introduced by 'да' must match the person and number of the main subject ('ја умем ... кувам').

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

знати / умети + да + ClauseLevel 3Knowing a Fact or How to Act

Learn This First

Using 'знати' and 'умети' with 'да + презент' requires familiarity with regular present tense conjugations, the standard Serbian complement clause pattern 'да + презент', and basic exposure to the verb 'знати'.

Words in This Pattern

знатиуметида