Can do something

Question

Hello,When someone asks you if you can swim or you can cook how can you determine whether to use the verb pouvoir or connaitre vs savoir?   I have not learned about the last two verbs just yet as it is in A2 but I am familiar with them but very confused. Can you help me?Thanks Nicole

Accepted Answer

There are exceptions and complexities as you go along, but basically at this stage, if you think along the lines of:

Connaitre - to know (of), to be familiar with [NOUN] (and may know how to or not)

Savoir - to know (how) (but maybe can or can't)

Pouvoir - to be able to (can do)

(Faire - to 'make'/(to do). This verb is useful knowledge as well in the context you are asking as it takes you to actually doing).

The more difficult distinction for English speakers is, I think, between connaitre and savoir, as we don't really have this. Connaitre refers to a noun is a simple starting point, well noted in the lesson.

I find using the French/English translator on a reputable reference like Larousse can help, and in this situation supplements the lesson linked below quite well

https://www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais-anglais/savoir/70460

Connaître vs savoir = to know something vs to know how to do in French%252Fsearch%253Fs%253Dsavoir%2526model%253Dcompetency

Answer

Thanks Maarten I will look into this and ask any further questions afterwards if I still have any.