sabría
sah-BREE-ah
Quick Reference
📝 In Action
Si me lo hubieras dicho antes, yo sabría la respuesta ahora.
B2If you had told me before, I would know the answer now.
¿Sabría usted decirme a qué hora abre el banco?
B1Would you happen to know what time the bank opens? (Polite request)
Ella sabría cómo arreglar el ordenador, es muy buena con la tecnología.
B1She would know how to fix the computer; she is very good with technology.
💡 Grammar Points
The Conditional Tense
This 'would' form is used to talk about actions that would happen if a certain condition were met, or to make polite requests and suggestions.
Irregular Stem
The conditional form of 'saber' is irregular. Instead of using the whole infinitive 'saber' as the base, it uses the shortened, slightly changed stem 'sabr-' plus the regular conditional endings.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Conditional vs. Imperfect
Mistake: "Using 'sabía' (I knew, imperfect) instead of 'sabría' (I would know, conditional) in hypothetical sentences. Example: 'Si pudiera, yo sabía la respuesta.'"
Correction: Use the conditional form: 'Si pudiera, yo sabría la respuesta.' (If I could, I would know the answer.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Expressing Politeness
Using 'sabría' (or 'podría' or 'querría') is a great way to make questions or requests much softer and more polite, like saying 'Would you happen to know...?'
🔄 Conjugations
indicative
present
imperfect
preterite
subjunctive
present
imperfect
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: sabría
Question 1 of 2
Which English phrase best captures the meaning of 'Yo sabría la verdad'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does 'saber' (to know) have an irregular stem in the conditional tense?
Like many common Spanish verbs (like 'tener,' 'venir,' and 'hacer'), 'saber' changes its stem in the future and conditional tenses. It shortens to 'sabr-' to make it easier to pronounce, following an ancient pattern inherited from Latin.
When should I use 'sabría' instead of 'sé'?
Use 'sé' (I know) when stating a fact right now. Use 'sabría' (I would know) when talking about a hypothetical situation, giving a polite opinion, or when asking a question very gently.