a su contre a su comment

Question

Gérard ________ me rassurer.Gérard knew how to comfort me.(HINT: Conjugate ''savoir'' (to know) in Le Passé Composé)
in this case, the correct answer was 'Gérard a su me rassurer. Isn't that saying - Gérard knew to comfort me, rather than 'how' to comfort me?

Accepted Answer

Hi Jennifer, 
To know how to do something in French is
'savoir faire quelque chose'
the 'comment' is not required.
Please take a look at the following Kwiziq lesson on savoir and connaître which includes this particular use of savoir -
Connaître vs savoir = to know something vs to know how to do
In English, if you say 
Gérard knew to comfort me 
it would mean something different (maybe this is not the case in US English)? 
Il sait qu'il doit/quand/qu'il a intérêt à me réconforter =  He knows to comfort me
in other words, Gérard knows what's good for him.
Hope this helps!

Answer

Hi Jennifer,I think that "Gérard knew HOW to comfort me" is correct with "savoir" Savoir  --> to know how to ....Hope this helps.Jim