This paper examines three complementation patterns – noun phrase, that-clause and wh-clause – of the verb conoscere with respect to its synonym sapere (« to know ») in contemporary Italian. The noun phrase pattern is in current use, whereas the that-clause and wh-clause patterns seem to belong to an early stage of the language; in fact, they are not recorded in today's synchronic lexicographic description. However, it is found that they occur in written documents and speeches, especially on religious and legal matters, and that a subset of these constructions is still accepted by native speakers. This is explained in terms of Aktionsart and modality. Conoscere is analysed as an instance of actional hybridism. It is shown that the polysemy of conoscere can blur the distinction between two kinds of possible complement clauses: independent relative clauses and wh-clauses.