sepa/sepas/sepa/sepamos/sepan
Subjunctive of Saber
Used to express knowing or finding out in subjective contexts like doubt, wishes, or emotions.
How It Works
The verb saber (to know) is one of the most common irregular verbs in the Spanish present subjunctive. Many present subjunctive forms use the present indicative 'yo' stem, but 'saber' has an independently irregular stem.
The present indicative 'yo' form is sé. For the subjunctive, the stem becomes sep-. Then, you add the standard subjunctive endings for -ER/-IR verbs.
Here is the full conjugation:
- yo sepa
- tú sepas
- él/ella/usted sepa
- nosotros/as sepamos
- vosotros/as sepáis
- ellos/ellas/ustedes sepan
You use these forms after expressions that trigger the subjunctive mood. Common triggers include:
1. Doubt and Disbelief:
- Dudo que él sepa la respuesta. (I doubt that he knows the answer.)
- No creo que ellos sepan la verdad. (I don't believe they know the truth.)
2. Wishes and Hopes:
- Espero que tú sepas cómo llegar. (I hope you know how to get there.)
- Ojalá sepamos qué decidir. (I hope we know what to decide.)
3. Impersonal Evaluations and Necessity:
- Es necesario que usted sepa las reglas. (It is necessary that you know the rules.)
- Es importante que todos sepamos esto. (It's important that we all know this.)
4. Conjunctions of time referring to the future:
- Cuando sepas algo, avísame. (When you know something, let me know.)
An impersonal expression does not automatically require the subjunctive: Es cierto que él sabe la respuesta asserts knowledge. With vos, present subjunctive forms vary regionally; follow the usage of the variety you are learning.
Examples (5)
- Espero que sepas la dirección.
I hope that you know the address.
Word by Word: I hope that you-know the address.
The verb 'esperar que' (to hope that) triggers the subjunctive. 'Sepas' is the correct form for 'tú'.
- Dudo que él sepa la verdad.
I doubt that he knows the truth.
Word by Word: I doubt that he knows the truth.
The expression of doubt 'dudo que' requires the subjunctive. 'Sepa' is the form for 'él'.
- Es importante que todos sepamos los riesgos.
It's important that we all know the risks.
Word by Word: It is important that all we-know the risks.
The impersonal expression 'es importante que' is a subjunctive trigger. 'Sepamos' is the 'nosotros' form.
- Avísame cuando sepas la fecha de la reunión.
Let me know when you know the date of the meeting.
Word by Word: Let-me-know when you-know the date of the meeting.
'Cuando' used for a future, yet-to-happen event requires the subjunctive.
- No hay nadie aquí que sepa hablar japonés.
There is no one here who knows how to speak Japanese.
Word by Word: Not there-is nobody here that knows to-speak Japanese.
When the antecedent is negative or nonexistent ('nadie'), the verb in the relative clause goes in the subjunctive.
Common Mistakes
Using 'sabe' when expressing ordinary non-assertive disbelief with 'no creo que'.
No creo que ella sabe la respuesta.No creo que ella sepa la respuesta.To express the ordinary meaning 'I don't think she knows the answer', use subjunctive 'sepa'. Indicative can occur in marked echo or corrective contexts, so this is a mismatch with the intended disbelief reading, not a ban on every indicative after 'no creo que'.
Incorrectly forming the subjunctive stem, for example, using 'saba' instead of 'sepa'.
Ojalá que tú sabas qué hacer.Ojalá que tú sepas qué hacer.'Saber' is irregular in the subjunctive. The stem changes from 'sab-' to 'sep-'. The correct form is 'sepas'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the irregular subjunctive forms of 'saber' (sepa, sepas, etc.), learners first need a solid grasp of the verb's meaning and its regular present tense. Additionally, familiarity with the standard present subjunctive endings for -ER verbs is necessary to understand how the irregular stem 'sep-' is conjugated across different subjects.
- sé/sabes/sabe/sabemos/sabenSaber Present Tense
Understanding the base verb 'saber' (to know facts/information) and its irregular present tense forms is essential before learning its subjunctive forms.
Level 1 - -a/-as/-a/-amos/-áis/-anPresent Subjunctive -ER/-IR
The subjunctive of 'saber' follows the standard endings for -ER verbs in the subjunctive, even though the stem 'sep-' is irregular.
Level 3 - saber / conocerKnow (Facts vs. Familiarity)
Learners must distinguish when to use 'saber' versus 'conocer' to ensure they are applying the subjunctive to the correct verb for the intended meaning.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- dudo que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Doubt
This is a classic trigger that requires the subjunctive. 'Dudo que...' is frequently followed by a form of 'sepa' when talking about doubting someone's knowledge.
Level 3 - espero que + SubjunctiveSubjunctive with Hope
Expressions of hope like 'espero que' also require the subjunctive mood, making it a common context for using 'sepa'.
Level 3 - vaya/vayas/vaya/vayamos/vayanSubjunctive of Ir
Like 'saber', 'ir' is another highly common verb with a completely irregular stem ('vay-') in the present subjunctive. Comparing them helps reinforce the concept of irregular subjunctive forms.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice sepa/sepas/sepa/sepamos/sepan in Bubblegum
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