did not understand

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "did not understand" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to express the fact that you are unaware of something or that you do not comprehend something. For example, "I read the instructions on assembling the desk, but I did not understand them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kaufmann did not understand.

The New York Times - Sports

Nwamgba did not understand.

The New Yorker

"I did not understand".

The New York Times - Sports

He did not understand why.

The New Yorker

"We did not understand.

The New York Times

I did not understand it.

Yale University

This Max did not understand.

The New Yorker

They did not understand anything.

The New York Times

Mr. Ott did not understand.

The New York Times

But he did not understand.

The New Yorker

I did not understand love.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "did not understand" to clearly express a lack of comprehension. It is suitable for various contexts, from formal writing to casual conversation. Ensure the context makes it clear what was not understood.

Common error

Avoid using the incorrect form 'did not understood'. The correct past tense construction is "did not understand", where 'understand' remains in its base form after 'did'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did not understand" functions as a verb phrase, expressing a state of lacking comprehension. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and used to indicate that someone failed to grasp or comprehend something. Examples in Ludwig show its wide applicability across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "did not understand" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to express a lack of comprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in various contexts. It's a versatile expression suitable for neutral and even formal registers, appearing most commonly in news, academic, and scientific sources. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what exactly was not understood. Avoid the common grammatical error of using "did not understood". Alternatives like "failed to comprehend" or "didn't get it" can be used depending on the desired formality and specific nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

didn't get it

A more informal and direct way of saying "did not understand".

failed to comprehend

Emphasizes a more formal or intellectual failure to grasp something.

couldn't make sense of

Focuses on the inability to find meaning or coherence in something.

was unable to grasp

Highlights the inability to seize or understand something, suggesting a mental reaching.

was at a loss to understand

Indicates confusion and an inability to find an explanation.

lacked the understanding of

Emphasizes the absence of the necessary knowledge or insight.

was oblivious to

Suggests a lack of awareness rather than a failure to understand.

remained clueless about

Implies a complete lack of understanding, often with a negative connotation.

was ignorant of

Highlights a lack of knowledge or information.

misunderstood

Indicates that the understanding was incorrect, rather than absent.

FAQs

How can I use "did not understand" in a sentence?

You can use "did not understand" to express a lack of comprehension. For example, "I read the instructions, but I "did not understand" them."

What are some alternatives to "did not understand"?

Alternatives include "failed to comprehend", "didn't get it", or "couldn't make sense of", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "did not understood" instead of "did not understand"?

No, "did not understood" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "did not understand". The auxiliary verb 'did' already indicates the past tense, so the main verb 'understand' remains in its base form.

What's the difference between "did not understand" and "misunderstood"?

"Did not understand" means there was no comprehension at all. "Misunderstood" implies that there was some level of comprehension, but it was incorrect.