savoir
to know
Auxiliary: avoir
'savoir' means to know a fact or to know how to do something (savoir nager = to know how to swim), as opposed to 'connaître' (to be acquainted with). It is irregular, with the subjunctive stem 'sach-' and imperative 'sache'.
Je sais la réponse.
I know the answer.
Indicatif
Présent
Present
Je sais où il habite.
I know where he lives.
Tu sais nager ?
Do you know how to swim?
Elle sait parler trois langues.
She can speak three languages.
Nous savons que c'est difficile.
We know that it's difficult.
Savez-vous quelle heure il est ?
Do you know what time it is?
Ils savent déjà la nouvelle.
They already know the news.
Imparfait
Imperfect
Je ne savais pas que tu étais là.
I didn't know you were here.
Tu savais déjà tout, en fait.
You actually already knew everything.
Personne ne savait la réponse.
Nobody knew the answer.
Nous savions que ça finirait ainsi.
We knew it would end like this.
Vous saviez qu'il mentait ?
Did you know he was lying?
Ils savaient garder un secret.
They knew how to keep a secret.
Passé composé
Present Perfect
J'ai su la vérité trop tard.
I found out the truth too late.
Tu as su rester calme.
You managed to stay calm.
Elle a su me convaincre.
She managed to convince me.
Nous avons su la nouvelle par la radio.
We found out the news on the radio.
Vous avez su trouver les mots justes.
You knew how to find the right words.
Ils ont su gérer la crise.
They managed to handle the crisis.
Plus-que-parfait
Past Perfect
Si j'avais su, je serais venu plus tôt.
If I had known, I would have come earlier.
Tu avais su garder le secret jusqu'au bout.
You had managed to keep the secret to the end.
Elle avait su la vérité avant nous.
She had known the truth before us.
Nous avions su l'éviter de justesse.
We had managed to avoid it just in time.
Vous aviez su avant tout le monde.
You had known before everyone.
Ils avaient su profiter de l'occasion.
They had known how to seize the opportunity.
Futur simple
Future
Je saurai bientôt les résultats.
I will know the results soon.
Tu sauras quoi faire le moment venu.
You will know what to do when the time comes.
Elle saura te conseiller.
She will know how to advise you.
Nous saurons la vérité un jour.
We will know the truth one day.
Vous saurez tout en temps voulu.
You will know everything in due time.
Ils sauront se débrouiller seuls.
They will know how to manage on their own.
Conditionnel
Conditionnel présent
Conditional
Je ne saurais pas répondre à cette question.
I wouldn't know how to answer that question.
Tu saurais m'expliquer comment ça marche ?
Would you know how to explain how it works?
Elle saurait quoi dire dans ce cas.
She would know what to say in this case.
Nous ne saurions accepter une telle offre.
We could not accept such an offer.
Sauriez-vous me dire où est la gare ?
Would you be able to tell me where the station is?
Ils sauraient sûrement nous aider.
They would surely know how to help us.
Subjonctif
Subjonctif présent
Present Subjunctive
Il faut que je sache la vérité.
I need to know the truth.
Je veux que tu saches que je te soutiens.
I want you to know that I support you.
Il est important qu'elle sache la nouvelle.
It's important that she knows the news.
Il faudrait que nous sachions la date exacte.
We would need to know the exact date.
Je tiens à ce que vous sachiez la vérité.
I insist that you know the truth.
Il vaut mieux qu'ils sachent tout de suite.
It's better that they know right away.
Impératif
Impératif présent
Imperative
Sache que je serai toujours là.
Know that I will always be there.
Sachons rester humbles.
Let us know how to stay humble.
Sachez que la réunion est annulée.
Please note that the meeting is cancelled.
