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Saber vs Conocer Practice

Two Spanish verbs for one English word: to know. Practice when to use saber or conocer with 30 sentences and instant explanations.

•30 exercises•~8 min to complete•A1 – A2 level
IRead first

Two ways to say “to know”.

Saber and conocer both translate as to know, but they cover different things. Saber is for facts, information, and skills — things you can store in your head or on a list.

Conocer is for being acquainted with people, places, or works — things you experience or recognize.

30 exercises below. Read the explanation after each answer — that's where the rule sinks in.

IIQuick reference
saberfacts & skills
Facts and skills
01
Facts and information
Sé que vives en Madrid.
02
Skills (saber + infinitive)
Sé tocar el piano.
03
Knowing how to do something
¿Sabes cocinar paella?
04
Memorized info (numbers, names, formulas)
Sé el teléfono de María.
05
Preterite: supe = I found out
Supe la noticia ayer.
conocerpeople, places, works
People and places you know
01
People — being acquainted
Conozco a Juan desde la universidad.
02
Places — having been there
Conozco París muy bien.
03
Works (books, films, music)
¿Conoces esta canción?
04
Always with personal a for people
Conozco a tu hermana.
05
Preterite: conocí = I met
Conocí a Luis en 2010.
IIIPractice exercises

Practice.

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

Exercise 01 of 30Tag: Skill
Fill in the blank

¿_____ tocar la guitarra?

Do you know how to play the guitar?

Exercise 02 of 30Tag: Person
Fill in the blank

¿_____ a mi prima Ana?

Do you know my cousin Ana?

Exercise 03 of 30Tag: Fact
Fill in the blank

Yo _____ que el examen es el lunes.

I know the exam is on Monday.

Exercise 04 of 30Tag: Place
Fill in the blank

Mis padres _____ Roma porque vivieron allí cinco años.

My parents know Rome because they lived there for five years.

Exercise 05 of 30Tag: Information
Fill in the blank

No _____ dónde están las llaves.

I don't know where the keys are.

Exercise 06 of 30Tag: Work / film
Fill in the blank

¿_____ las películas de Almodóvar? Son fantásticas.

Do you know Almodóvar's films? They're fantastic.

Exercise 07 of 30Tag: Skill
Fill in the blank

Mi hijo tiene cinco años y ya _____ leer.

My son is five years old and already knows how to read.

Exercise 08 of 30Tag: Preterite — found out
Fill in the blank

_____ la verdad cuando vi el correo electrónico.

I found out the truth when I saw the email.

Exercise 09 of 30Tag: Preterite — met
Fill in the blank

_____ a mi mejor amiga en la universidad en 2015.

I met my best friend at university in 2015.

Exercise 10 of 30Tag: Fact
Fill in the blank

Mi hermano _____ todas las capitales de Europa.

My brother knows all the capitals of Europe.

Exercise 11 of 30Tag: Place
Fill in the blank

Quiero _____ Argentina algún día.

I want to visit Argentina some day.

Exercise 12 of 30Tag: Information
Fill in the blank

¿Tú _____ qué hora es?

Do you know what time it is?

Exercise 13 of 30Tag: Person
Fill in the blank

Yo _____ a tus padres desde hace muchos años.

I've known your parents for many years.

Exercise 14 of 30Tag: Spotting errors
Choose the correct sentence

Which sentence is grammatically wrong?

Spot the wrong verb choice.

Exercise 15 of 30Tag: Skill
Fill in the blank

Mi abuela _____ hacer el mejor flan del mundo.

My grandma knows how to make the best flan in the world.

Exercise 16 of 30Tag: Work / book
Fill in the blank

¿Tú _____ Cien años de soledad?

Do you know One Hundred Years of Solitude?

Exercise 17 of 30Tag: Information
Fill in the blank

No _____ tu número de teléfono.

I don't know your phone number.

Exercise 18 of 30Tag: Place
Fill in the blank

Pedro _____ Madrid muy bien porque vivió allí diez años.

Pedro knows Madrid very well because he lived there for ten years.

Exercise 19 of 30Tag: Skill
Fill in the blank

¿ _____ ustedes nadar?

Do you (plural / formal) know how to swim?

Exercise 20 of 30Tag: Preterite — found out
Fill in the blank

_____ que estabas embarazada por tu hermana.

I found out you were pregnant from your sister.

Exercise 21 of 30Tag: Person
Fill in the blank

Quiero _____ a tu nuevo novio. ¿Cuándo lo traes a casa?

I want to meet your new boyfriend. When are you bringing him home?

Exercise 22 of 30Tag: Fact
Fill in the blank

¿Quién _____ la respuesta a esta pregunta?

Who knows the answer to this question?

Exercise 23 of 30Tag: Place
Fill in the blank

Aún no _____ la nueva oficina, pero voy mañana.

I still don't know the new office, but I'm going tomorrow.

Exercise 24 of 30Tag: Meaning shift
Choose the correct sentence

Pick the sentence that means I met him last year.

Context: the first time you met him.

Exercise 25 of 30Tag: Information
Fill in the blank

Mis padres _____ que voy a estudiar en Madrid.

My parents know I'm going to study in Madrid.

Exercise 26 of 30Tag: Work
Fill in the blank

Yo _____ todas las canciones de Shakira.

I know all of Shakira's songs.

Exercise 27 of 30Tag: Skill
Fill in the blank

Mi abuelo no _____ usar el ordenador.

My grandfather doesn't know how to use the computer.

Exercise 28 of 30Tag: Person
Fill in the blank

Nosotros _____ a nuestros vecinos muy bien.

We know our neighbors very well.

Exercise 29 of 30Tag: Spotting errors
Choose the correct sentence

Which sentence sounds wrong?

Spot the wrong verb.

Exercise 30 of 30Tag: Information
Fill in the blank

¿_____ usted dónde está la estación de metro más cercana?

Do you (formal) know where the nearest metro station is?

Every answer is explained

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

No gamification

No streaks, no points, no leaderboards. Just questions.

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Questions answered

Common questions.

What's the difference between saber and conocer?+

Saber is for facts, information, and skills — things you can write down or demonstrate. Conocer is for being acquainted with people, places, or works — things you've experienced firsthand.

When do you use saber in Spanish?+

Use saber for facts (sé que vives en Madrid), information (no sé dónde están), skills with infinitive (sé tocar el piano), and memorized data (sé el número). In the preterite, supe means found out.

When do you use conocer in Spanish?+

Use conocer for people (conozco a Juan), places (conozco París), and works of art or media (conozco esta canción). It always takes the personal a before people. In the preterite, conocí means met for the first time.

What does supe mean vs sabía?+

Sabía (imperfect) means I knew — an ongoing state. Supe (preterite) means I found out — the specific moment of learning. Same with conocí (I met) vs conocía (I knew).

Can I use saber for people?+

No — knowing a person always uses conocer. Saber + a person doesn't work in Spanish. The only exception is saber de alguien meaning to have heard from someone, which is a different idiom.

Are these saber vs conocer exercises free?+

Yes. All 30 exercises run in your browser, work without any signup, and include a clear explanation after every answer.