Key verbs - auxiliaries, avoir and être, and modal verbs Verbs with similar meanings - connaître and savoir

These two verbs are often mixed up in French as they mean similar things, but there is a distinct difference:

• savoir means to know (a fact)
• connaître means to know a person, eg be acquainted with, or to know a place

Here are some examples:

• je sais faire du patinage - I know how to ice-skate
• oui, je sais bien ! - yes, I know!
• il savait que tu étais malade - he knew you were ill
• tu connais mon frère Luc ? - do you know my brother Luke?
• oui, je le connais ! - yes, I know him
• connaissez-vous bien Londres ? - do you know London well?