De nuevo sobre la polisemia de «saber + infinitivo» y su comportamiento gramatical: otro universal vernáculo del español

Abstract

"This grammar note describes and analyzes the polysemy of the verb saber (‘to know’) in current Spanish. Specifically, it summarizes the values that it presents as a full verb or saber1, with a base meaning of ability or capacity (Juan sabe nadar), and as a double auxiliary: saber2 or frequent aspectual auxiliary verb equivalent to soler, acostumbrar (Los sillones vacíos saben estar ocupados a veces), and saber3 or culminative aspectual auxiliary verb similar to alcanzar, lograr, llegar a (Es un país que supo ser espléndido). Likewise, the forms it adopts (saber + infinitive), the verb tenses in which it appears registered, and its use as a modal verb are reviewed. Documentation of this use throughout the history of the Spanish language as well as examples in other Romance languages is offered. All this allows us to propose that we are facing a vernacular universal in Spanish."