could be aware of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could be aware of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the possibility of someone having knowledge or consciousness about a particular situation or fact. Example: "She could be aware of the changes in the schedule, but I haven't confirmed it with her yet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

I am aware of my own body but that awareness is not a body others could be aware of the way they are of mine.

The New York Times

Imagine you have a phone that could be aware of when I get into a line at an airport.

MIT Technology Review

"It's about educating people about some of the things they could be aware of, that might indicate that person is a victim of sexual abuse or a perpetrator".

The Guardian

So they did, and Palmer said, 'Yes, Scheffler did it on such-and-such a date in 1974.' " When Williams was abroad for "60 Minutes," he always kept his watch on New York time, so he could be aware of what people back in the home office were doing, or were supposed to be doing, at any moment.

The New Yorker

Thanks to regular anonymous posters like Queen Groupie (who knows details that only a groupie entrenched in the current rock scene could be aware of), the postings on the site are often far more credible and revealing than tabloid stories and gossip column items.

The New York Times - Arts

The case of Kitty Genovese was so inexplicable at the time that psychologists have even given it a name - the "bystander effect". That people could be aware of such a tragic event happening in front of them and still be unresponsive could only be attributed to a societal diffusion of responsibility.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Moreover, second, even if each justified belief was at some time justified, this fact implies only that there was some time at which the cognizer could be aware by reflection of the relevant justifiers.

SEP

There was no way I couldn't be aware of how profoundly unhappy it made them; how much it hurt them to see me in that condition.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Given that Facebook can constantly see what a decent chunk of humanity is up to, it could well be aware of any trends or plans that would lead to civilisational collapse before the rest of us.

The Guardian

TfL explained that it could not be aware of any over-charging until the issue was reported by a passenger.

BBC

The trial took place in April 2013, and the court eventually ruled in favor of YouTube, stating, "no service provider could possibly be aware of the contents of each such video".

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could be aware of" when you want to express a possibility or potential for someone to have knowledge or understanding of something. This implies that awareness is not definite, but rather a plausible scenario.

Common error

Avoid using "could be aware of" when you want to express certainty. If you are sure someone knows something, use phrases like "is aware of" or "definitely knows".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could be aware of" functions as a modal verb phrase, indicating a possibility or potential state of knowledge. It suggests that someone might have information or understanding about something. Ludwig AI examples show its use in various contexts to express uncertainty about someone's awareness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could be aware of" expresses a possibility or potential state of knowledge. It's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news and scientific sources. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is used to suggest that someone might have information or understanding, without definite confirmation. When writing, ensure that you are indeed conveying possibility rather than certainty, and consider alternatives like "might know about" or "may understand" to fine-tune your intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might be conscious of

Replaces "could" with "might" and "aware" with "conscious", suggesting a slightly weaker possibility of awareness.

may be cognizant of

Substitutes "could" with "may" and "aware" with "cognizant", offering a formal alternative with similar meaning.

might perceive

Replaces the entire phrase with a more concise verb phrase, focusing on the act of perceiving something.

may understand

Replaces "be aware of" with "understand", indicating a level of comprehension rather than simple awareness.

could realize

Focuses on the moment of becoming aware, implying a transition from unawareness to awareness.

could recognize

Indicates the ability to identify or acknowledge something, which is a specific type of awareness.

might be informed about

Suggests that awareness stems from receiving information, adding a layer of external influence.

may be sensible of

Replaces "aware" with "sensible", adding a nuance of sensitivity or responsiveness to the awareness.

could have knowledge of

Offers a more explicit and formal way to express potential awareness, emphasizing the possession of knowledge.

might be alive to

Uses a more idiomatic expression to convey being keenly aware or sensitive to something.

FAQs

What does "could be aware of" mean?

The phrase "could be aware of" suggests a possibility or potential for someone to have knowledge or understanding about a particular fact, situation, or feeling. It indicates that it's plausible that they know something, but it is not certain.

How to use "could be aware of" in a sentence?

You can use "could be aware of" to express that someone might know something. For example, "She "could be aware of" the risks involved, but she chose to proceed anyway."

What can I say instead of "could be aware of"?

You can use alternatives like "might know about", "may understand", or "might perceive" depending on the specific context. These alternatives provide similar nuances of potential knowledge or understanding.

What's the difference between "could be aware of" and "is aware of"?

"Could be aware of" suggests a possibility, while "is aware of" indicates certainty. "He "could be aware of" the problem" means he might know, whereas "He is aware of the problem" means he definitely knows.