I was knowing

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'I was knowing' is not correct or usable in written English, as it is a construction of the verb "to be" and the gerund of the verb "to know".
To express the same idea, the sentence should be written as "I knew". For example: "I knew he was lying, even though he tried to deny it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Yet here I was, knowing full well I wasn't in the starting XI, actually starting to feel the nerves jangle before we had reached the ground.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"I think it was knowing who I was up against, the team and the occasion and playing at home.

BBC

"I am knowing, Father.

The New Yorker

I am knowing this man.

The New Yorker

"I been knowing Nancy for twenty-seven years.

The New Yorker

"Not spoiled goods like some people I am knowing".

The New York Times

Now I am knowing that unlike with Senhor, priests are unlove here.

The New York Times - Books

'I am knowing too many terrible thing to be saying to you,' he tells her.

The Guardian - Books

The man parked his bike and approached Altman, saying, "The boy on the njinga said, 'The American is here,' and I said, 'I am knowing him.

The New Yorker

"I been knowing Tiny before T.I.," Mayweather told the site.

Huffington Post

Wisdom is nothing more than knowing things as they are: knowing myself as I am, knowing you as you are, knowing the world as it is.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you mean to express a past state of knowing, use the simple past tense "knew" instead of the grammatically incorrect progressive form "was knowing". For example, instead of saying "I was knowing the answer", say "I knew the answer".

Common error

The verb "to know" is a stative verb, which describes a state rather than an action. Stative verbs generally do not take the progressive tense. Using "was knowing" is a common mistake because it incorrectly applies a continuous tense to a state of being. Instead, use the simple past "knew".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was knowing" attempts to use the past continuous tense of the verb "to know". However, as Ludwig AI indicates, "to know" is a stative verb that typically does not take continuous tenses in standard English. Therefore, the phrase is grammatically incorrect.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was knowing" is grammatically incorrect in standard English because the verb "to know" is a stative verb and does not typically take continuous tenses. Ludwig AI confirms this, suggesting that it should be avoided in formal writing. Instead, use the simple past tense "I knew" or other alternatives like "I realized" or "I understood" to convey the intended meaning effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I knew

Replaces the progressive form with the simple past tense, correcting the grammatical error.

I realized

Substitutes "knowing" with "realizing", indicating a moment of understanding or awareness.

I understood

Replaces "knowing" with "understood", highlighting comprehension or insight.

I was aware

Emphasizes the state of being conscious or informed about something.

I became aware

Focuses on the process of gaining awareness or understanding.

I had knowledge

Uses a more formal phrasing to express possession of information.

I recognized

Indicates an acknowledgement or identification of something previously unknown.

It dawned on me

Highlights a sudden realization or understanding.

I figured out

Suggests a process of solving or understanding a problem.

I had a feeling

Implies an intuition or premonition about something.

FAQs

Why is "I was knowing" considered grammatically incorrect?

The verb "to know" is a stative verb, describing a state of being rather than an action. Stative verbs typically don't use continuous tenses. So, instead of "I was knowing", the correct form is the simple past, such as "I knew".

What's the difference between "I was knowing" and "I knew"?

"I was knowing" is not grammatically correct in standard English. "I knew" is the correct simple past tense form of "to know", used to express past knowledge or understanding.

Are there situations where "I was knowing" might be acceptable?

While generally incorrect in standard English, "I was knowing" might appear in non-standard dialects or creative writing for stylistic effect. However, in formal or academic contexts, it's best to avoid it and use "I knew" or another appropriate alternative.

What are some alternatives to "I was knowing" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "I realized", "I understood", or "I was aware" instead of the incorrect "I was knowing".