How to Use the Italian Verbs Sapere and Conoscere

How to Use the Italian Verbs Sapere and Conoscere â€Å"I know how to play the piano† and â€Å"I know him.† While the main verb â€Å"to know† in those two phrases doesn’t differ in English, it does in Italian. In fact, the two verbs you would use would be either â€Å"sapere† or â€Å"conoscere.† Both mean to know, but have different implications. Sapere means to know† in the sense of to be able to, or to know how to. It can also be understood as knowing about a situation or a fact, like â€Å"Non sapevo che tu fossi qui. - I didn’t know that you were here.† Conoscere, on the other hand, means â€Å"to know† in the sense of â€Å"to know someone† or â€Å"to know an area, town, restaurant, etc. Examples With Sapere  in the Present Tense Non so sciare. - I don’t know how to ski.So cantare. - I know how to sing. / I am able to sing.Non lo so. - I don’t know.Non so la risposta giusta. - I don’t know the right answer.Lei sa quando il treno arriva? - Do you know when the train arrives? (formal)So la lezione. - I know the lesson. TIP: The last example could also be used with the verb conoscere: â€Å"Conosco la lezione. -  I prepared for today’s lesson.† Using Sapere in Other Tenses (Il condizionale) Credo di sà ¬, ma...non saprei. - I believe so, but...I wouldn’t know.(L’imperfetto) Sapevi che Marco frequenta qualcuno? - Did you know that Marco is dating someone?(L’imperfetto) Non sapevo che tu volessi imparare l’italiano! - I didn’t know that you wanted to learn Italian! TIP: If you want to say something like â€Å"I’m able to speak Italian,† you would use the verb â€Å"riuscire† instead. For example, â€Å"Riesco a parlare bene Italiano. - I’m able to speak Italian well.† Examples of the Verb Conoscere in the Present Tense Non conosciamo Bologna molto bene. - We dont know Bologna very well. / We aren’t very familiar with Bologna.Il ristorante si chiama L’archetto? Mhh, non lo conosco. - The restaurant is called L’archetto? Hmm, I don’t know it.Quel film con Hugh Grant? Quello in cui conosce un’attrice e si innamorano? - Do you know that Hugh Grant movie? The one where he meets that actress and they fall in love? Conoscere in Other Tenses (Il passato prossimo) Ho conosciuto Francesca a casa di Giuseppe. - I met Francesca at Giuseppes house.(Il passato prossimo) Li Abbiamo conosciuti tre anni fa. - We met them three years ago.(Limperfetto) Da bambino conoscevo bene New York, ma tutto era cambiato da quel periodo. - When I was a kid, I knew New York well, but everything has changed since that time. TIP: Unlike the verb â€Å"conoscere,† which means the same thing when conjugated in the present, past, or imperfect tenses, the meaning of â€Å"sapere† changes when in the passato prossimo form. For example, when you say â€Å"Ieri sera ho saputo che lei viene qua. - Last night I found out that she’s coming here.† So, you could define â€Å"sapere† in the past tense as â€Å"to find out.†