"Es conocida" vs. "Está conocida"

David M.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

"Es conocida" vs. "Está conocida"

At first I wanted to translate as "la marca está conocida como La Leyenda del Vino" - because to me it seemed to emphasise the result rather than the process. Not too long ago, we discussed this at https://spanish.kwiziq.com/questions/view/alternative-passive-with-estar (where Inma gave a very useful explanation)... and I remembered that [in that other lesson] I had tried to apply the rule [also with "conocido"] - incorrectly using "estar". So here, I changed my mind and made it "la marca es conocida" [despite emphasising the result?] - and was right. Perhaps there is something about "conocido", cautioning us about interpreting a process as a result?

Asked 4 years ago
David M.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Perhaps part of the story lies in not translating 'conocer' as 'know'. My CLAVE (Spanish > Spanish) dictionary uses averiguar, descubrir, percibir, notar, advertir, experimentar and sentir to convey the real meaning of conocer.

InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hola David,

I think it is to do with being a stative/state verb; verbs that are not dynamic, but express a state. These verbs talk about emotions, thoughts, senses. As you describe in your other query following this one, the meaning of "conocer" is quite wide and it always conveys a sense: averiguar, percibir, sentir... 

With state verbs we tend to use the periphrastic passive with ser. Other state verbs are for example:  preferir, comprender, dudar, creer, desear, amar..., 

Julián es querido/está querido por todos sus compañeros.

Ese destino turístico es preferido/está preferido por los alemanes.

I hope this helped.

Inma

"Es conocida" vs. "Está conocida"

At first I wanted to translate as "la marca está conocida como La Leyenda del Vino" - because to me it seemed to emphasise the result rather than the process. Not too long ago, we discussed this at https://spanish.kwiziq.com/questions/view/alternative-passive-with-estar (where Inma gave a very useful explanation)... and I remembered that [in that other lesson] I had tried to apply the rule [also with "conocido"] - incorrectly using "estar". So here, I changed my mind and made it "la marca es conocida" [despite emphasising the result?] - and was right. Perhaps there is something about "conocido", cautioning us about interpreting a process as a result?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your Spanish level for FREE

Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard

Find your Spanish level
Thinking...