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Saber Imperfect Practice

Saber (to know (facts, skills)) in the imperfect: 14 free exercises with an explanation after every answer, plus the full conjugation table.

14 exercisesIrregularA1 – A2 level
IWhat to watch for

Good news: saber is completely regular in the imperfect. Take the stem sab- and add the -er endings with their accented í: sabía, sabías, sabía, sabíamos, sabíais, sabían.

The real work is choosing this tense over the preterite. Sabía describes knowledge or a skill you already had in the past — an ongoing state — while supe means the moment you found out. Note that yo and él/ella share the same form, so an explicit subject keeps things clear.

IIConjugation
saberImperfect
yo
sabía
sabías
él / ella / usted
sabía
nosotros
sabíamos
vosotros
sabíais
ellos / ustedes
sabían
Irregular yo (sé), strong preterite stem sup-, future sabr-, subjunctive sep-.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

Answer first, then read the explanation. Don't skip it — that's the whole point.

Exercise 01 of 14Tag: Yo form
Fill in the blank

De niño yo no _____ montar en bicicleta. (saber)

As a child I didn't know how to ride a bike.

Exercise 02 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

¿Tú ya _____ que Rodrigo y Elena eran novios? (saber)

Did you already know that Rodrigo and Elena were dating?

Exercise 03 of 14Tag: Él/ella form
Fill in the blank

Cuando era joven, mi abuelo _____ reparar cualquier motor. (saber)

When he was young, my grandfather knew how to repair any engine.

Exercise 04 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

En esa época nosotros no _____ nada de tecnología. (saber)

Back then we didn't know anything about technology.

Exercise 05 of 14Tag: Ellos/ustedes form
Fill in the blank

Todos en el barrio _____ que doña Rosa cocinaba delicioso. (saber)

Everyone in the neighborhood knew that Doña Rosa cooked deliciously.

Exercise 06 of 14Tag: Yo form
Fill in the blank

Cuando vivía en Bogotá, yo _____ llegar a todas partes sin mapa. (saber)

When I lived in Bogotá, I knew how to get everywhere without a map.

Exercise 07 of 14Tag: Tú form
Fill in the blank

Antes tú _____ todas las canciones de Selena de memoria. (saber)

You used to know all of Selena's songs by heart.

Exercise 08 of 14Tag: Él/ella form
Fill in the blank

La maestra siempre _____ cuándo alguien copiaba en clase. (saber)

The teacher always knew when someone was cheating in class.

Exercise 09 of 14Tag: Nosotros form
Fill in the blank

Nosotros _____ que el examen iba a ser difícil. (saber)

We knew the exam was going to be hard.

Exercise 10 of 14Tag: Ellos/ustedes form
Fill in the blank

Mis hermanos no _____ nadar hasta los quince años. (saber)

My brothers didn't know how to swim until they were fifteen.

Exercise 11 of 14Tag: Vosotros form
Fill in the blank

De pequeños, ¿vosotros _____ los nombres de los ríos de España? (saber)

When you were little, did you all know the names of the rivers of Spain?

Exercise 12 of 14Tag: Imperfect vs preterite
Fill in the blank

Yo no _____ que el museo cerraba los lunes. (saber)

I didn't know the museum closed on Mondays.

Exercise 13 of 14Tag: Imperfect vs preterite
Fill in the blank

Nadie _____ la respuesta cuando el profesor preguntó. (saber)

Nobody knew the answer when the teacher asked.

Exercise 14 of 14Tag: Ellos/ustedes form
Fill in the blank

Los turistas no _____ que la catedral estaba cerrada por obras. (saber)

The tourists didn't know the cathedral was closed for renovations.

Every answer is explained

Not just a green check. A short paragraph telling you why.

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