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FRENCH VERB

savoir

to know (a fact), to know how

  • #8 most used
  • Irregular -ir verb
  • Past participle: su
  • Present participle: sachant

Conjugation

Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.

Present

Présent · now, habits and facts

  1. je I know
  2. tu you know
  3. il, elle, on he/she knows
  4. nous we know
  5. vous you know
  6. ils, elles they know

Past

Passé composé · finished actions

  1. je I knew
  2. tu you knew
  3. il, elle, on he/she knew
  4. nous we knew
  5. vous you knew
  6. ils, elles they knew

Imperfect

Imparfait · “used to” and “was …ing”

  1. je I used to know
  2. tu you used to know
  3. il, elle, on he/she used to know
  4. nous we used to know
  5. vous you used to know
  6. ils, elles they used to know

Future

Futur simple · plans; in speech, “je vais parler” is just as common

  1. je I will know
  2. tu you will know
  3. il, elle, on he/she will know
  4. nous we will know
  5. vous you will know
  6. ils, elles they will know

Conditional

Conditionnel · “would”, polite requests

  1. je I would know
  2. tu you would know
  3. il, elle, on he/she would know
  4. nous we would know
  5. vous you would know
  6. ils, elles they would know

Present subjunctive

Subjonctif présent · wishes, doubts, “il faut que …”

  1. je (that) I know
  2. tu (that) you know
  3. il, elle, on (that) he/she know
  4. nous (that) we know
  5. vous (that) you know
  6. ils, elles (that) they know

Imperative

Impératif · requests and orders

  1. tu know!
  2. nous know! (let’s)
  3. vous know! (plural, or formal)

How to use savoir

One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.

  1. Present

    Vous savez où est la gare ?

    Do you know where the station is?

  2. Past

    Je l'ai su hier seulement.

    I only found out yesterday.

  3. Imperfect

    Je ne savais pas que tu parlais français.

    I didn't know you spoke French.

  4. Future

    On saura les résultats vendredi.

    We'll know the results on Friday.

  5. Conditional

    Vous sauriez où trouver une pharmacie ?

    Would you happen to know where to find a pharmacy?

  6. Present subjunctive

    Il faut que tu saches une chose avant de partir.

    There's something you need to know before you leave.

  7. Imperative

    Sachez que le musée ferme à dix-sept heures.

    Please note the museum closes at five.

Good to know

  • Savoir + infinitive is to know how : je sais nager. Je ne sais pas is the everyday I don't know.

Where you hear savoir

The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.

French · Beginner Level 1

  • Je sais nager, mais pas très bien. I can swim, but not very well.
  • Je n'ai pas su quoi dire. I didn't know what to say.
  • Tu vas savoir faire du kayak ! You're going to know how to kayak!

French · Beginner Level 2

  • Tu sais que je n'aime pas marcher ! You know I don't like walking!
  • Je ne savais pas ! I didn't know!
  • Tu vas savoir demain. You're going to know tomorrow.
22
The Old Port

Beginner Level 1 · je ne sais pas · je sais · vous savez · tu sais

Needs a subscription 24
Hugo Comes to Visit

Beginner Level 2 · Tu sais que... · Tu savais que... ?

Needs a subscription 5
English for Leo

Beginner Level 3 · personne ne sait

Needs a subscription 23
We Kissed

Beginner Level 3 · Je le savais !

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Verbs like this one

The same pattern, on other verbs: irregular -ir verb.