Saber imperfect conjugation
Saber in the imperfect: sabía, sabías, sabía, sabíamos, sabíais, sabían.
- to know (facts, information); to know how to; to taste
- irregular
- Participle: sabido
- Gerund: sabiendo
Imperfect imperfecto
| yo | sabía |
|---|---|
| tú | sabías |
| él/ella/usted | sabía |
| nosotros | sabíamos |
| vosotros | sabíais |
| ellos/ellas/ustedes | sabían |
How to use saber in the imperfect
The imperfect of saber is regular: sabía, sabías, sabía, sabíamos, sabían. It describes knowledge you had (or lacked) over a period: "No sabía que hablabas alemán." This is the form you use to say you were unaware of something. It also describes past skills: "De niña sabía tocar el piano." Compare with supe, which marks the moment you learned.
Examples
No sabía que hablabas portugués.
I didn't know you spoke Portuguese.
Ya sabíamos que el proyecto iba a retrasarse.
We already knew the project was going to be delayed.
Mi abuela sabía hacer de todo en la cocina.
My grandmother knew how to make everything in the kitchen.
Quick check: saber in the imperfect
More saber tenses
- All saber tenses
- Saber present
- Saber preterite
- Saber future
- Saber conditional
- Saber present subjunctive
- Saber affirmative commands
Other verbs in the imperfect
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