Saber Conjugation: All Spanish Tenses

Saber (to know a fact, to know how to do something) is one of the most frequent verbs in Spanish and it is irregular. It has three key irregularities: the yo present is sé (with an accent, to set it apart from the pronoun se); the preterite uses the strong stem sup- (supe, supo); and the subjunctive and part of the imperative change the stem to sep- (sepa). The tú command is regular (sabe), but the usted command is sepa.

Indicative Tenses of Saber

Saber in the Present (Presente)

Current knowledge and skills: Sé la respuesta a esa pregunta (I know the answer to that question).

Present tense rules →

Saber in the Preterite (Pretérito indefinido)

The moment a piece of knowledge was acquired: Ayer supe la noticia por la radio (Yesterday I found out the news on the radio).

Preterite rules →

Saber in the Present Perfect (Pretérito perfecto)

Knowledge acquired and connected to the present: Hoy he sabido que viene mañana (Today I have found out that he is coming tomorrow).

Present perfect rules →

Saber in the Imperfect (Pretérito imperfecto)

Knowledge held continuously in the past: De pequeño ya sabía leer (As a small child I already knew how to read).

Imperfect rules →

Saber in the Past Perfect (Pluscuamperfecto)

Knowledge held before another point in the past: Cuando llamó, yo ya había sabido todo (When he called, I had already found out everything).

Past perfect rules →

Saber in the Future (Futuro simple)

Knowledge that will be held in the future: Pronto sabré el resultado del examen (Soon I will know the exam result).

Future tense rules →

Saber in the Future Perfect (Futuro perfecto)

Knowledge that will be confirmed by a future point: Para el lunes ya habré sabido la nota (By Monday I will have found out the grade).

Future perfect rules →

Saber in the Conditional (Condicional simple)

Hypothetical situations: Con más tiempo, yo sabría hacerlo solo (With more time, I would know how to do it alone).

Conditional rules →

Saber in the Conditional Perfect (Condicional compuesto)

Hypotheses about the past: Habría sabido la respuesta si hubiera estudiado (I would have known the answer if I had studied).

Conditional perfect rules →

Subjunctive Tenses of Saber

Present Subjunctive of Saber (Presente de subjuntivo)

Wishes, doubts and emotions: Espero que sepas la verdad pronto (I hope you know the truth soon).

Present subjunctive rules →

Present Perfect Subjunctive of Saber (Pretérito perfecto de subjuntivo)

Evaluating recent knowledge: Me alegra que hayas sabido reaccionar (I am glad you knew how to react).

Perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperfect Subjunctive of Saber (Pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo)

Hypothetical conditions: Si supieras la verdad, lo entenderías todo (If you knew the truth, you would understand everything).

Imperfect subjunctive rules →

Past Perfect Subjunctive of Saber (Pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)

Unreal hypotheses about the past: Si hubieras sabido eso, no habrías ido (If you had known that, you would not have gone).

Past perfect subjunctive rules →

Imperative of Saber

Affirmative Commands of Saber (Imperativo afirmativo)

Orders and requests: ¡Sepa usted que esto es importante! (Be aware that this is important!)

Affirmative commands rules →

Negative Commands of Saber (Imperativo negativo)

Prohibitions and negative advice: No sepas más de lo necesario (Don't get to know more than necessary).

Negative commands rules →

Expressions with Saber

• Que yo sepa - as far as I know
• Saber a - to taste of something (esta sopa sabe a ajo - this soup tastes of garlic)
• Vete a saber - who knows, there is no way to tell
• ¿Quién sabe? - who knows? (expresses doubt or uncertainty)
• Saber de memoria - to know by heart