italiano · A2 · verb · 4 minutes
Sapere: present tense
Use so/sai/sa and distinguish known facts or skills from familiarity.
Understand the choice
What follows reveals the type of knowing. Sapere + infinitive expresses know how; sapere che/dove answers information; conoscere introduces familiarity.
Core rule: Sapere is irregular and takes facts, clauses, or infinitives for learned ability; conoscere takes familiar people/places/things.
Notice it in context
So cucinare, ma non so fare questo dolce.
I know how to cook, but I do not know how to make this dessert.
So carries io in both clauses; cucinare and fare are abilities.
Sapete dove si trova la stazione?
Do you know where the station is?
Sapete introduces an indirect question with dove.
Conoscono Roma, ma non sanno parlare italiano.
They know Rome but cannot speak Italian.
Conoscono gives familiarity; sanno + infinitive gives skill.
What to remember
- Non lo so is the ordinary “I don’t know.”
- Sappiamo has double p; sanno double n.
Common trap: Do not say so Roma for familiarity. Use conosco Roma.