connaitre et savoir

[Anne Peers]

These two verbs seem to create confusion among many students of French.  Is there a easier more memorable way of usage?

Anne.

[stu harris]

Of course, French teachers everywhere will tell you that savoir is to know how (to do something,) and connaitre is to know (a person.) But they ignore the common expression s'y connaitre, which is very much a know how construction.

Il s'y connait en logiciel = He knows about software

[Charles D]

I always thought that savor translates as "to know" a fact or "to know how" to do something.  Connaitre has more to do with knowing a person or to be familiar with something.  In any case, that's how I try to separate the two.

[Anne Peers]

Thanks Stu - I certainly didn't know the expression s'y connaitre - very useful.

[Zhongjie Fan]

Bonjour,

À mon avis:

savoir+verb ou savoir+que+phrase

par exemple: Est-ce que tu sais faire un gâteau? Je sais bien que tu vas réussir.

 

connaître+nom

Par exemple: Je connais bien la Chine. Tu connais Paul comme je le connais?

 

(J'étudie aussi le français. S'il y a des torts, relevez-les, SVP.)