Verb Savoir

The verb savoir literally means "to know," but it can be used in several contexts. Let's take a look at them.

Usage in the Sentence

Rule 1: The verb savoir is followed by an infinitive and is used to show that you know something, such as:

- being able to do something (can)

- to know something as a fact

- to know something by heart

- to know how to do something

Rule 2: The verb savoir is also used with subordinate clauses:

Savoir vs. Connaître

Rule 3: Savoir is rarely used in conjunction with a noun - for example, when you're talking about knowing someone or something. Here, the verb connaître is mostly used.

To learn more about the difference between savoir and connaître, you can visit our article about the common French verbs.

Conjugation

Rule 4: The verb savoir is a common French verb, but is irregular. Here is how it's conjugated in the present: