sabes
/SA-bess/
you know
Just like a lightbulb turning on, 'sabes' means you have a piece of information in your head.
sabes(Verb)
you know
?knowing a fact or piece of information
do you know
?when asking a question
📝 In Action
¿Sabes qué hora es?
A1Do you know what time it is?
Tú sabes la respuesta.
A1You know the answer.
No sabes cuánto me alegro de verte.
B1You don't know how happy I am to see you.
💡 Grammar Points
Saber vs. Conocer
Use 'saber' (like 'sabes') for facts and information. Use 'conocer' when you're talking about being familiar with a person, place, or thing. Think: 'saber' for 'what', 'conocer' for 'who' or 'where'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Knowing People
Mistake: "¿Sabes a mi amigo Juan?"
Correction: To ask if someone knows a person, use 'conocer'. The right way is: '¿Conoces a mi amigo Juan?'
⭐ Usage Tips
The Preterite 'supe'
In the past tense, 'supe' (the 'yo' form) often means 'I found out' or 'I learned', which is a bit different from just 'I knew'. For example, 'Ayer supe la verdad' means 'Yesterday I found out the truth'.
'Sabes' followed by another action (like 'sabes nadar') means you have the skill to do it.
sabes(Verb)
you know how to
?having a skill or ability
you can
?implying ability, e.g., 'Can you swim?'
📝 In Action
¿Sabes nadar?
A2Do you know how to swim?
Sabes hablar español muy bien.
A2You know how to speak Spanish very well.
Si no sabes qué hacer, pregunta.
B1If you don't know what to do, ask.
💡 Grammar Points
Saber + [Action Verb]
To say you know how to do something, just put 'saber' before the basic form of the action verb (like nadar, cocinar, hablar). No extra words needed!
❌ Common Pitfalls
Don't Add 'Cómo'
Mistake: "En inglés decimos 'know how to', pero en español no se necesita 'cómo' (how). Incorrecto: ¿Sabes cómo conducir? "
Correction: Correcto: ¿Sabes conducir? The verb 'saber' already includes the idea of 'how to'.
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sabes
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence is the correct way to ask if your friend knows how to play the guitar?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the #1 rule for 'saber' vs. 'conocer'?
The simplest rule is: use 'saber' for facts ('I know WHAT') and skills ('I know HOW'). Use 'conocer' for people, places, and things you are familiar with ('I know OF him/it').
Why is the 'yo' (I) form 'sé' and not 'sabo'?
'Saber' is an irregular verb, which means some of its forms don't follow the standard rules. The 'yo' form in the present tense is one of these special cases you just have to memorize: 'yo sé'. It happens with a few other common verbs too!
Is 'sabes' formal or informal?
'Sabes' is the informal 'you' form, used with friends, family, and people your age (the 'tú' form). For a formal situation, like speaking to a respected elder or a boss, you would use 'sabe' (the 'usted' form).