Spanish · Chapter 16 · Lesson 14 · Grammar primer
Saber vs conocer
Two verbs for 'to know': saber for facts and how-to, conocer for being acquainted with people and places (and 'to meet' in the preterite).
The short version
Saber is facts, conocer is acquaintance
Saber covers facts, information and know-how; conocer covers familiarity with people, places and things. Sé dónde vive, but conozco su casa. And saber plus an infinitive already carries the 'how to', so it is sé nadar and sé conducir. Sé cómo nadar is a calque from English and sounds wrong.
Sé nadar.
Conocí means met, supe means found out
In the preterite both verbs shift to the moment the knowing began. Conocí is 'I met for the first time', not 'I knew'; supe is 'I found out'. For the lasting past state you want the imperfect: conocía a Pedro, sabía que era de Madrid. This is the single most common stumble for intermediate learners.
Conocí a Pedro el año pasado.
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