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?

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!

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/