What is the past tense of “know”?
The word to know (present tense), means “to have information in your mind as a result of experience or because you have learned or been told it.” We know things that we’ve learnt, or from our experiences and education.
He knew the truth all along.
We had known each other since childhood.
I have knew about this for a long time.
They had know the secret before we told them.
- To know is the verb form of the abstract noun knowledge in the present tense.
- The simple past tense is knew (pronounced the same as new).
- The past participle form is known.
Know: Present, past and future
| Word Form | Examples |
|---|---|
| Past Tense | The past tense vs. past participle of know |
| Past Participle | Past participle: I wish I had known that the store was closing early today. |
“know,” “knew,” and “known” use the pattern: present – knew – past participle – known.
Synonyms of know
All of these words can be used to convey a similar meaning to “know” – that the subject has information or understanding about something. However, there may be subtle differences in connotation or usage, so it’s important to choose the appropriate word for the specific context.
- understand
- comprehend
- grasp
- realize
- recognize
- fathom
- be aware of
- be familiar with
- have knowledge of
- be cognizant of
Origin of the word know
From etymology online on know (v.):
Old English cnawan “perceive a thing to be identical with another,” also “be able to distinguish” generally from Proto-Germanic *knew.
Phrases/idioms with know
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a little knowledge is a dangerous thing | Having a small amount of information can lead to incorrect or harmful actions or decisions. |
| you never know | Meaning an outcome of a situation is uncertain or unpredictable. |
| to know the ropes | To be familiar with the procedures or methods of doing something. |
| you know what they say | A commonly held belief or saying is being referenced to support a point. |
| to let someone know | Meant literally; to inform someone of something or to keep them updated. |
| to know by heart | To have something memorized completely, such as a poem or song lyrics. |
| don’t know whether you’re coming or going | To be confused or disoriented. |
| to know someone inside out | This means to know someone’s personality, character, or habits very well. |
Worksheet: “Known” conjugations
She ______ the answer to the question immediately.
He had ______ about the surprise party for weeks.
Everyone in the class ______ the rules of the game.
She smiled, ______ that her hard work had finally paid off.
I don’t ______ how to solve this difficult puzzle.
FAQs
What is the simple past tense of ‘know’?
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When do I use ‘known’ in a sentence?
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How is ‘known’ used in perfect tenses?
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What’s the difference between ‘knew’ and ‘known’?
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Can ‘knew’ be used after ‘have’ or ‘had’?
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Sources
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Wikipedia. 2023. “Indo-European ablaut.” Wikimedia Foundation. Last modified January 10, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-European_ablaut.
Yash, D. "Know, Knew, Known: Which is the Correct the Past Tense?." Grammarflex, Aug 30, 2025, https://grammarflex.com/know-knew-known-which-is-the-correct-the-past-tense-and-past-participle-of-know/.
