Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Vocabulary/To-Know"

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In this article we will teach you in which situations use those 2 verbs.
In this article we will teach you in which situations use those 2 verbs.
==Savoir==
==Savoir==


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In French, to say "I know how to do something", you use "je sais" + verb infinitive.  
In French, to say "I know how to do something", you use "je sais" + verb infinitive.  
===To know who, what or where===
===To know who, what or where===
 
* Je ne sais pas ce que tu veux dire = I don’t know what you want to say
 
* Il sais où je suis = He knows where I am
Je ne sais pas ce que tu veux dire = I don’t know what you want to say
* Elle sait où le park se trouve = She knows where the park is located
Il sais où je suis = He knows where I am
* Je sais d'où il vient = I know who he comes from
Elle sait où le park se trouve = She knows where the park is located
Je sais d'où il vient = I know who he comes from


===Useful expressions===
===Useful expressions===
=====Je n'en sais rien=====


 
It means "I have no idea".
=====J’en sais rien=====
 
It means "I’ve no idea".
 
Note that this is a rather informal expression. Use it with people you know well.


=====Tu sais quoi? =====
=====Tu sais quoi? =====
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It means "who knows?".
It means "who knows?".
 
* Il y est déjà peut être allé, qui sait ? = Maybe, he has already been there, who knows?
Il y est déjà peut être allé, qui sait ? = Maybe, he has already been there, who knows?


   
   
=====un je ne sais quoi=====
=====un je ne sais quoi=====
This expression is used to say “I don’t know what”.
This expression is used to say “I don’t know what”.
 
* Elle avait un certain je ne sais quoi qui m'a tout de suite plu = She had a certain je ne sais quoi I liked right away
Elle avait un certain je ne sais quoi qui m'a tout de suite plu = She had a certain je ne sais quoi I liked right away
   
   


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To know someone or something personally
To know someone or something personally
 
* Tu connais ce bar ? = Are you familiar with this bar?
Tu connais ce bar ? = Are you familiar with this bar?
* Est-ce que vous connaissez le prix des loyers à Marseille ? = Do you know the rents in Marseille?
Est-ce que vous connaissez le prix des loyers à Marseille ? = Do you know the rents in Marseille?


===Useful expressions===
===Useful expressions===
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This expression means that you are used to something because you've already experienced it many times.
This expression means that you are used to something because you've already experienced it many times.
 
* Merci, ne m'en parle pas, je connais la musique = Don't tell me, I know!
Merci, ne m'en parle pas, je connais la musique = Don't tell me, I know!


====Connaître sur le bout des doigts====
====Connaître sur le bout des doigts====
it means you know it perfectly, " like the back of your hand"
it means you know it perfectly, "like the back of your hand"
Tu es prêt pour le test ? Oui je connais le sujet sur le bout des doigts = Are you ready for the test? Yes, I know the topic like the back of my hand.
* Tu es prêt pour le test ? Oui je connais le sujet sur le bout des doigts = Are you ready for the test? Yes, I know the topic like the back of my hand.




====Connaître par coeur====
====Connaître par coeur====
It means “to know something by heart”.
It means “to know something by heart”.
Je connais ma leçon par coeur = I know my lesson by heart
* Je connais ma leçon par coeur = I know my lesson by heart
 


If you have a question about the difference between "savoir" and "connaître", post it here !
If you have a question about the difference between "savoir" and "connaître", post it here !

Revision as of 14:04, 21 May 2016

It is sometimes difficult for foreign to know when to use the 2 French verbs "Savoir" et "Connaître". In English, for example those 2 verbs means "To know".

  • Connaissez-vous cette personne ? = Do you know this person?
  • Savez-vous ce qu'il est possible de faire ? = Do you know what we can do?

In this article we will teach you in which situations use those 2 verbs.

Savoir

To know how to do something

In French, to say "I know how to do something", you use "je sais" + verb infinitive.

To know who, what or where

  • Je ne sais pas ce que tu veux dire = I don’t know what you want to say
  • Il sais où je suis = He knows where I am
  • Elle sait où le park se trouve = She knows where the park is located
  • Je sais d'où il vient = I know who he comes from

Useful expressions

Je n'en sais rien

It means "I have no idea".

Tu sais quoi?

This is a familiar expression meaning “you know what?”. Tu sais quoi ? J’en ai marre ! = You know what? I’m fed up with it!

Qui sait

It means "who knows?".

  • Il y est déjà peut être allé, qui sait ? = Maybe, he has already been there, who knows?


un je ne sais quoi

This expression is used to say “I don’t know what”.

  • Elle avait un certain je ne sais quoi qui m'a tout de suite plu = She had a certain je ne sais quoi I liked right away


Connaître

The meaning of “connaître” is closer to “to be familiar with”.

“Connaître” is directly followed by a person, place or thing while “savoir” is followed by an interrogative pronoun or a verb.

To know someone or something personally

  • Tu connais ce bar ? = Are you familiar with this bar?
  • Est-ce que vous connaissez le prix des loyers à Marseille ? = Do you know the rents in Marseille?

Useful expressions

Connaître la musique

This expression means that you are used to something because you've already experienced it many times.

  • Merci, ne m'en parle pas, je connais la musique = Don't tell me, I know!

Connaître sur le bout des doigts

it means you know it perfectly, "like the back of your hand"

  • Tu es prêt pour le test ? Oui je connais le sujet sur le bout des doigts = Are you ready for the test? Yes, I know the topic like the back of my hand.


Connaître par coeur

It means “to know something by heart”.

  • Je connais ma leçon par coeur = I know my lesson by heart

If you have a question about the difference between "savoir" and "connaître", post it here !