The Comprehensive Guide to the Conjugation Chart of 'Saber' in Spanish

May 20th, 2023 - Vera

The Spanish verb ‘saber,’ meaning ‘to know’ or ‘to be aware,’ is a fundamental verb in the Spanish language. Mastering the conjugation of ‘saber’ across various tenses and moods is essential for expressing knowledge, facts, and skills. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the conjugation chart of ‘saber’ in detail, providing a thorough understanding of its usage.

Saber in the Present Tense

In the present tense, ‘saber’ follows a regular conjugation pattern for ‘-er’ verbs:

Person Spanish
I know Yo sé
You (informal) know Tú sabes
He/She/It knows/You (formal) know Él/Ella/Usted sabe
We know Nosotros/Nosotras sabemos
You (plural, informal) know Vosotros/Vosotras sabéis
They know/You (plural, formal) know Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes saben

Saber in the Preterite Tense

In the preterite tense, used to describe completed actions in the past, ‘saber’ has an irregular conjugation:

Person Spanish
I knew Yo supe
You (informal) knew Tú supiste
He/She/It knew Él/Ella/Usted supo
We knew Nosotros/Nosotras supimos
You (plural, informal) knew Vosotros/Vosotras supisteis
They knew Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes supieron

Saber in the Imperfect Tense

In the imperfect tense, used to describe ongoing or habitual actions in the past, ‘saber’ follows a regular conjugation pattern:

Person Spanish
I knew Yo sabía
You (informal) knew Tú sabías
He/She/It knew Él/Ella/Usted sabía
We knew Nosotros/Nosotras sabíamos
You (plural, informal) knew Vosotros/Vosotras sabíais
They knew Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes sabían

Saber in the Future Tense

In the future tense, used to express actions that will happen in the future, ‘saber’ follows a regular conjugation pattern:

Person Spanish
I will know Yo sabré
You (informal) will know Tú sabrás
He/She/It will know Él/Ella/Usted sabrá
We will know Nosotros/Nosotras sabremos
You (plural, informal) will know Vosotros/Vosotras sabréis
They will know Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes sabrán

Saber in the Conditional Tense

In the conditional tense, used to express actions that would occur under certain conditions, ‘saber’ follows a regular conjugation pattern:

Person Spanish
I would know Yo sabría
You (informal) would know Tú sabrías
He/She/It would know Él/Ella/Usted sabría
We would know Nosotros/Nosotras sabríamos
You (plural, informal) would know Vosotros/Vosotras sabríais
They would know Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes sabrían

Saber in the Subjunctive Mood

In the subjunctive mood, used to express doubt, uncertainty, or desires, ‘saber’ follows a regular conjugation pattern:

Person Spanish
I know Yo sepa
You (informal) know Tú sepas
He/She/It knows Él/Ella/Usted sepa
We know Nosotros/Nosotras sepamos
You (plural, informal) know Vosotros/Vosotras sepáis
They know Ellos/Ellas/Ustedes sepan

Common Phrases with Saber

  1. Sé la respuesta: I know the answer.
  2. ¿Sabes dónde está el restaurante?: Do you know where the restaurant is?
  3. Él sabe tocar la guitarra: He knows how to play the guitar.

Conclusion

Mastering the conjugation of ‘saber’ is crucial for effective communication in Spanish. By understanding its conjugation across different tenses and moods, you can express knowledge and awareness accurately. Practice regularly to internalize the conjugations and enhance your proficiency in the Spanish language. ¡Buena suerte! (Good luck!)

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