i forget you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I forget you" is not correct in standard English.
Did you mean "I forget about you" or "I have forgotten you"? You can use a corrected version when expressing that you no longer remember someone or something. Example: "After all these years, I forget about you and the memories we shared."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"I forget you get baptized pretty quickly in this business," he said, shaking his head.

The New York Times

As Psalm 137 declared: "If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth", while every Passover, Jews say "Next year in Jerusalem".

The Guardian - Opinion

There were also reminders why Penderecki was Stanley Kubrick's favourite composer: each time the thrilling Australian soprano Hannah Dahlenburg iterated the psalm, If I forget you Jerusalem, let my right hand be given to oblivion, she was persecuted by seven shrill slasher chords sharp enough to perform the amputation.

The Guardian - Music

By W. S. Merwin The New Yorker, June 2, 2003 P. 46 Even when I forget you View Article W. S. Merwin's poetry first appeared in The New Yorker in 1955, and the magazine has since published close to two hundred of his poems and short stories.

The New Yorker

"If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand wither... .. the psalmist cries out.

Huffington Post

Oh, and lest I forget, you can buy Bumblesnot stuff here.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"I forgot you were wearing that".

The New Yorker

"I forgot you were my only child".

The New York Times

I forgot you were in here".

The New Yorker

I seriously cannot believe I forgot you quit coffee.

The New Yorker

I forgot you already gave me a tip".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. While grammatically incorrect, the phrasing "I forget you" may appear in creative writing or informal speech for stylistic effect or to convey a specific tone.

Common error

Avoid using "I forget you" in formal contexts. This phrasing omits the necessary preposition "about" or uses the incorrect tense, leading to grammatical errors. Always double-check your sentence structure to ensure it aligns with standard English grammar.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I forget you" functions primarily as a declarative statement, though grammatically flawed. Ludwig AI highlights that standard English requires either "I forgot about you" or "I have forgotten you". Its presence, despite its incorrectness, suggests an attempt to convey a failure of memory or recognition.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

12%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I forget you" is grammatically incorrect in standard English; the correct alternatives are "I forgot about you" or "I have forgotten you". Ludwig AI indicates this grammatical issue. Despite its incorrectness, the phrase appears occasionally in various sources, including news and media, academia and wiki, indicating its usage is rare but existent. When writing formally, it's best to avoid "I forget you" and instead use the grammatically correct alternatives to ensure clarity and precision. The intended meaning is to express a failure to remember someone, but the non-standard construction can undermine this purpose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I forgot about you

Adds the preposition "about", making the phrase grammatically correct and implying a lapse in thought or memory regarding the person.

I have forgotten you

Uses the present perfect tense to indicate a completed action of forgetting, which is grammatically sound.

I don't remember you

Employs a more direct and common way of expressing a lack of recollection of someone.

I can't recall you

Indicates an inability to bring someone to mind, similar to not remembering them.

You slipped my mind

Expresses that someone was unintentionally forgotten.

I had forgotten you

Uses the past perfect tense to emphasize that the act of forgetting occurred before a specific point in time.

I fail to remember you

A more formal way of saying that one cannot bring someone to mind.

I've lost track of you

Suggests a gradual forgetting over time, where contact or awareness has been lost.

You're not familiar

Implies a lack of recognition, suggesting the person is not known or remembered.

My memory fails me

Attributes the inability to remember to a failing memory in general.

FAQs

Is "I forget you" grammatically correct?

No, "I forget you" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct forms are "I "forgot about you"" or "I "have forgotten you"".

What's the difference between "I forget you" and "I forgot about you"?

"I forget you" is not grammatically standard. "I "forgot about you"" is the correct way to express that you no longer remember someone. The addition of "about" is essential for proper grammar.

When is it acceptable to use "I forget you"?

While grammatically incorrect, "I forget you" might appear in creative writing, poetry, or informal speech where the writer is aiming for a particular effect or tone. However, it is not appropriate for formal writing.

What can I say instead of "I forget you" to sound more natural?

You can use alternatives like "I "don't remember you"", "I "can't recall you"", or "I "forgot about you" depending on the context.