should it be savoir and connaître

Question

Claire ________ que le magasin ferme à midi.Claire knows that the shop closes at midday.Acc. to me it should be connaître but in test they said it's savoir. Explanation please?

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Ravia,
Just to add to what Maarten said and to help you in the future, if you have a 'que', a 'ce que' or 'ce qui' after the verb it will always be 'savoir' -

Je sais qu'il est allé la voir = I know (that) he went to see her
Je sais ce qui se passe = I know what's happening 
Il ne sait pas ce que tu veux = He doesn't know what you want

I hope this helps!

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Ravia,

Savoir is correct - it is followed here by another verb in a (relative) clause. Savoir can sometimes be followed directly by a noun however.

Connaître would be followed directly by a noun ( direct object).

See attached lesson and link to Laura Lawless site for discussion.

Connaître vs savoir = to know something vs to know how to do in French

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/savoir-vs-connaitre/