Yo se cocinar bien

Question

Please help me understand the phrase "Yo se cocinar bien" or any other such phrase, where one could just as well have written Yo cocino bien." Do they both mean the same thing? Why the "se"? Is it a way of saying "I cook (it) well"? but then why wouldn't that be "Yo cocinarlo bien"?

Answer 1

Hi Rollo! That "se" there should actually be "sé" and it is not a pronoun but a verb. "Sé" is simple present, first person singular form of "saber". The difference between "yo sé cocinar bien" and "yo cocino bien" is the verb saber. In the first case you are stressing that you know how to cook well, the second one says that you cook well.

Thank you. I should have realized that. The phrase did not have an accent but I should have thought about that. - RolloMartins, Jun 21, 2017

No problem! "Se" can be a very confusing word, even more when it is misspelled. I'm glad you found this useful. - Shamelesspanish, Jun 21, 2017

Answer 2

Yo sé cocinar bien. The word "sé" has a written accent or tilde. It's the verb "saber" in the first person singular. "Yo sé" means " I know". The verb "saber " is " to know"..

Yo sé cocinar is I know how to cook.

Yo cocino is I cook.

Thank you. I should have realized that. The phrase did not have an accent but I should have thought about that. - RolloMartins, Jun 21, 2017