doesn't know how to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "doesn't know how to" is correct and commonly used in written English
It is typically used to indicate that someone lacks the knowledge or ability to do something. For example: - She doesn't know how to swim, so she stayed out of the deep end of the pool. - I've never cooked a turkey before, so I don't know how to prepare it. - They don't know how to speak French, so they struggled to communicate with the locals on their trip to Paris.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Chávez doesn't know how to manage".

The New York Times

The camera doesn't know how to lie.

The New Yorker

Luke doesn't know how to press redial.

The New York Times

Eddie doesn't know how to handle change.

The New Yorker

But it doesn't know how to play.

The New Yorker

That boy doesn't know how to talk.

The New York Times

He doesn't know how to be".

The New York Times

"He doesn't know how to handle that".

The New York Times

She doesn't know how to swim.

The Guardian

Amanda doesn't know how to lie.

The Guardian

She doesn't know how to talk straight".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the verb following the phrase is in its base form (infinitive without 'to') since the 'to' is already part of the 'how to' construction.

Common error

Avoid following the phrase with another 'to' if it creates a double preposition error, such as saying 'he doesn't know how to to play'. Additionally, ensure you don't confuse this with 'doesn't know to', which implies a lack of social awareness or failure to follow a rule (e.g., 'he doesn't know to knock before entering') rather than a lack of skill.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "doesn't know how to" functions as a negated declarative verb phrase expressing a lack of competence or procedural knowledge. It consists of the auxiliary verb 'do', the negation 'not', the stative verb 'know' and the wh-infinitive clause 'how to'. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a standard construction for describing absence of ability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academic

5%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "doesn't know how to" is a versatile and essential phrase in the English language, used to denote a lack of ability or procedural expertise. Ludwig AI and various high-authority sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian show that it is the standard way to describe deficiencies in everything from basic tasks like 'swimming' to complex professional behaviors like 'managing a crisis'. While highly common in neutral and journalistic writing, authors should be mindful of the subtle difference between this phrase and "doesn't know to", which implies a lack of social intuition rather than a lack of skill. Its high frequency and 4.8 expert rating highlight its reliability across almost all writing registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is unable to

Provides a more formal and objective tone, often used in professional or medical contexts.

lacks the skill to

Specifically emphasizes a lack of training or acquired expertise rather than general knowledge.

cannot

A more direct and concise way to express inability, though it doesn't specify if the cause is lack of knowledge.

is unsure how to

Suggests a temporary state of confusion or hesitation rather than a total lack of knowledge.

doesn't understand how to

Focuses on a cognitive or conceptual gap rather than just a practical inability.

has no idea how to

A more emphatic and informal way to highlight total ignorance of a process.

is clueless about how to

Highly informal and slightly pejorative, implying a broader state of confusion.

is not trained to

Implies that the person has not received the specific instruction required for the task.

has yet to learn how to

Framed more positively, suggesting the ability is attainable in the future.

is ignorant of how to

A more formal and sometimes harsher way to state that someone lacks information.

FAQs

How do I use "doesn't know how to" in a sentence?

You use it to describe a lack of knowledge regarding an action. For example: "She "doesn't know how to" cook Italian food."

What is the difference between "doesn't know how to" and "doesn't know to"?

"doesn't know how to" refers to a lack of skill or ability, whereas "doesn't know to" refers to a lack of awareness that an action is expected or required.

What can I say instead of "doesn't know how to" in a business report?

In professional settings, you might use "lacks the capability to" or "is not proficient in" depending on the specific skill being discussed.

Is "doesn't know how to" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. As noted by Ludwig AI, it follows standard English rules for negation and the use of the interrogative 'how' with an infinitive to express competence.