saber vs. conocer, otra vez

Question

Es necesario __________ los nombres de cosas.

This is from an exercise in my workbook. I think that it should be "saber," because los nombres is something that you have to study and learn.

My "teacher" (who makes many mistakes) says that it should be "conocer a."

So, my question for you is: Which one is correct? And if the teacher is right, why?

Thanks for your help.

Is your teacher bilingual, or just having studied Spanish...? - pesta, Nov 3, 2011

He's Mexican and only speaks a little English. - MrSillyInc, Nov 3, 2011

Answer 1

Well, to express knowledge or ignorance of a fact or information about something, you use "saber.

Es necesario saber los nombres de cosas.

That your teacher thinks one should use conocer is odd; that your teacher thinks one should use the personal "a" before "los nombres de cosas" seems, to me, just as odd.

Maybe I'm missing something here?

Like I said, my so-called "teacher" is often wrong about things. He insisted I was wrong and he was right, with no explanation except, "That's how it is." Thanks for the insight. - MrSillyInc, Nov 3, 2011

So, EITHER saber or conocer are both OK, but the personal a is wrong. This is a teacher? - Jeremias, Nov 3, 2011

Yeah, that's why I wrote "teacher" in quotes. He's terrible and I'll never use him again when this class finishes. - MrSillyInc, Nov 3, 2011

Answer 2

En este caso "Conocer" y "Saber" son validos.

Es necesario saber el nombre de las cosas Es necesario conocer el nombre de las cosas

En realidad no hay mucha diferencia.

Lo que no entiendo es lo de "conocer a" "Es necesario conocer a el nombre.." (esta mal) pero por ejemplo esta bien "Ven a conocer a mi amigo" (En este caso Saber estaria mal) "No sabia lo que hacia" (En este caso conocer estaria mal), pero en el ejemplo que tu me pones conocer y saber se pueden usar perfectamente, hay solo una pequeña diferencia (saber es mas parecido a KNOW y conocer o aprender es mas parecido a LEARN o MEET en el caso de "conocer a mi amigo")

Thanks for the help. If I understand you correctly, it doesn't matter, in this case, which I use. - MrSillyInc, Nov 3, 2011