could sense that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could sense that" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate that a person or thing had a feeling or awareness of something in their environment. For example: "He could sense that something was amiss in the room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"One could sense that terrorism was coming back," he said.

The New York Times

"Maud had a lot in common with the character, and I could sense that right away," Mr. Améris said.

The New York Times

You could sense that.

The New York Times - Sports

Don't know if you could sense that.

The New Yorker

You could sense that they were damaged".

The New York Times - Style

You could sense that he was getting a little frustrated".

The New York Times - Sports

I could sense that he didn't embrace that responsibility.

The New York Times - Sports

I could sense that a change was coming.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I could sense that she was just right".

The New York Times

We could sense that the Germans were almost destroyed.

The Guardian

Fans could sense that if anything interesting were to happen, it would come from Elia.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "could sense that" to describe an intuitive understanding or feeling that goes beyond explicit information. This phrase is effective when conveying a subtle awareness of a situation or emotion.

Common error

While "could sense that" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or scientific writing. Opt for more precise verbs like "observed", "deduced", or "inferred" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could sense that" functions as a reporting verb phrase, introducing a subordinate clause that expresses what someone intuitively felt or perceived. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically sound and commonly used. The phrase connects a subject to their implicit understanding of a situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Formal & Business

7%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "could sense that" is a versatile phrase used to describe an intuitive feeling or awareness. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage, especially in news and media contexts. While suitable for general writing, it might be less appropriate in highly formal settings where more precise language is preferred. Remember to use this phrase when conveying a subtle understanding that goes beyond explicit information, and consider alternatives like "could perceive that" or "intuitively felt that" for variety. Avoid overuse, particularly in formal contexts, to maintain clarity and professionalism. The phrase appears most often in journalistic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could perceive that

Replaces "sense" with "perceive", emphasizing awareness through the senses or intuition.

could discern that

Uses "discern" to highlight the ability to distinguish or recognize something not immediately obvious.

could tell that

A more informal way to express noticing or becoming aware of something.

could detect that

Focuses on noticing something subtle or hidden.

could gather that

Suggests inferring something based on available information or clues.

intuitively felt that

Highlights the role of intuition in forming a feeling or understanding.

had a feeling that

A common way to express a hunch or premonition.

could understand that

Emphasizes a cognitive grasp or comprehension of the situation.

could observe that

Focuses on noticing something through careful observation.

suspected that

Implies a degree of uncertainty or doubt about the sensed information.

FAQs

How can I use "could sense that" in a sentence?

The phrase "could sense that" is used to indicate an intuitive feeling or awareness of something. For example, "I "could sense that" he was holding something back" suggests you felt his hesitation without him explicitly stating it.

What are some alternatives to "could sense that"?

Depending on the context, you can replace "could sense that" with phrases like "could perceive that", "could discern that", or "had a feeling that".

Is "could sense that" appropriate for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "could sense that" might be too informal for highly formal or scientific writing. In those cases, consider using more precise alternatives like "observed", "deduced", or "inferred".

What's the difference between "could sense that" and "could see that"?

"Could sense that" implies an intuitive feeling or awareness, while "could see that" suggests understanding something through direct observation. For example, "I "could sense that" she was upset" implies an intuitive feeling, while "I could see that she was upset" suggests you observed her facial expressions or body language.