how do I know when to use poder or saber
how do I know when to use poder or saber
5 Answers
Hola, llewis60:
Your question is a curious one.
In broad general terms (without listing all the possible uses) "Poder" means "can, in the sense of to be able".
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On the other hand, in the same broad general terms, "Saber" means "to have knowledge or to know in an intellectual sort of way."
To me, the meanings a very different. As a curiousity, I feel like I have missed the meaning of your question. What was it that caused your confusion?? With more information, I might be able to offer a better answer for you.
I presume the confusion stems from translating the English word can. If it is being used to refer to having a specific skill, it translates to saber. If it is being used to refer to having permission or being able to do something, it translates to poder. This is not always an easy thing to apply, since in English "having the ability to do something" overlaps with "having a specific skill", and all three translators on this site do it incorrectly in many cases. The basic distinction is whether a hypothetical person could acquire the ability to do something by learning, such as playing a sport or speaking a language, in which case it is saber, or whether something else is involved, such as having the time, the tools, or the physical ability to do something, in which case it is poder.
I´m spanish teacher and spansih is my mother tongue. In the meaning we must use "sé" (saber). I think that the original questions was not a curious one. The first explanation was theoretic well, but when we apply this to translate or explain it´s not so easy as it seems. I think the second explanation is very good and I think I´m going to use it in the future. Thanks!
I am confused by poder and saber, too. Here's an example of the type of question that is confusing:
TERE: Quiero aprender a hacer alguna actividad nueva.
MATHEW: Yo ____________ hablar varios idiomas. ¿Quieres aprender hindi, marati, konkani, inglés, francés?
In Spanish, what should go in the blank? Does it make a difference?
At least in English, I might say "I know how to speak . . . .," but I might as correctly say "I can speak . . . ." (Assuming I'm not gagged.)
There are more questions like this one here: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0073385212/student_view0/capitulo5/gramatica_5_2a.html But the authors of the quiz simply say "use saber."
I am new to spanish and are profesor ask a lot of questions that require us to know how to answer like test.
