convenient

[Taka]

Do these really mean the same thing?

It is convenient for you to know English.
It is convenient that you know English.

 

[emsr2d2]

Do these really mean the same thing?

It is convenient for you to know English.
It is convenient that you know English.

Neither sounds very natural but no, they don't necessarily mean the same thing. #2 could mean that it is convenient for other people that you speak English, even if it's not very convenient for you.

If you are on holiday in England with 5 other people and you are the only person in the group who speaks English then it's very convenient for them that you speak English because you can do all the talking and translating. It might not be convenient for you because you will spend your entire holiday translating instead of having fun!

 

[Taka]

So the second one implies it's the fact that the person referred to as 'you' speaks English, but the person described in the first one probably doesn't speak English, right?

 

[5jj]

the person described in the first one probably doesn't speak English, right?

Not necessarily. The person may or may not know English. Change 'probably' to 'possibly' and you are right.

 

[Taka]

OK. Thanks!