I did not found

USAGE SUMMARY

"I did not found" is not correct and usable in written English.
The correct form of the verb in this case is "find". For example: "I did not find what I was looking for."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is such an information overload and I did not found it convenient to use (ST21_FG2).

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I did not find it erotic.

The Guardian - Books

I did not find the choice difficult.

The Guardian - Travel

I did not find it in life.

The Guardian - Film

I did not find anybody," says Jacob.

BBC

I did not find him defiant.

Huffington Post

I did not find it anywhere.

BMC Medical Education

3) I did not find the figures easy to understand.

eLife

In addition, I did not find the Figures particularly helpful.

F1000Research

I didn't find failure alone.

The New York Times

"I didn't find it interesting enough.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "find" (present tense), "found" (past tense of find) or "founded" (past tense of found) depending on the intended meaning. "I did not find" indicates you did not locate something. "I founded" means you established something.

Common error

A common mistake is using "found" when you mean "find" after "did not". Remember, "find" is the base verb. The past tense form "found" is used correctly when it's the main verb, not after "did not".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I did not found" attempts to express the absence of finding something. However, it's grammatically incorrect because "found" is the past tense of "find", and the correct form to use after "did not" is the base form, "find". Ludwig indicates that the phrase is not standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I did not found" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I did not find". Ludwig AI clearly indicates this error. The intended meaning is to express the inability to locate or discover something. It's important to use "find" after the auxiliary verb "did" to maintain grammatical correctness. Using this incorrect phrase could lead to miscommunication, especially in formal contexts. Remember to use "find" to indicate the base action and "founded" only when referring to the establishment of something.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I did not find

Corrects the grammatical error, replacing "found" with "find" to indicate a lack of discovery.

I couldn't find

A contraction of "I could not find", offering a more casual alternative.

I failed to find

Emphasizes the failure in the act of finding, maintaining a similar negative connotation.

I was unable to find

Expresses the inability to find something, using a more formal tone.

I didn't establish

Replaces "found" with "establish", focusing on the absence of creating or setting up something.

I did not discover

Substitutes "found" with "discover", emphasizing a lack of uncovering or realizing something.

I have not found

Uses the present perfect tense to indicate that something has not been found up to the present.

I didn't locate

Uses "locate" instead of "found", highlighting the inability to find a specific item or place.

I have yet to find

Highlights that the act of finding is still anticipated but hasn't happened.

I did not unearth

Uses "unearth" instead of "found", focusing on a lack of digging up or uncovering something hidden.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say I didn't locate something?

The correct phrasing is "I did not find" or "I didn't find". Using "found" after "did not" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "I did not find" and "I did not found"?

"I did not find" means you were unable to locate something. "I did not found" is grammatically incorrect. "Found" as a verb usually means to establish something, and its past tense is "founded".

How can I use the word "found" correctly in a sentence?

Use "found" as the past tense of "find", as in "I found my keys". Or, use "found" as the base form of the verb meaning to establish, as in "He will found a company". The past tense of this verb is "founded", as in "He founded a company".

What can I say instead of the incorrect phrase "I did not found"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "I did not discover", "I didn't locate", or "I failed to find". Make sure the replacement fits the intended meaning.