knew that

USAGE SUMMARY

"knew that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea that someone was already aware of something prior to the moment in time being discussed. Example sentence: She knew that her brother had already left for the airport before she arrived home.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whitman likely knew that.

Forbes

I never knew that".

The New York Times

We always knew that.

The Guardian

I knew that wouldn't work.

The New York Times

You knew that would happen'.

Independent

I knew that would happen.

The New York Times

"I knew that wasn't me.

The New York Times

"I knew that was wrong.

The New York Times - Sports

And I definitely knew that".

BBC

"They knew that, and we knew that.

The New York Times

Ambassador Stevens knew that.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "knew that" to indicate prior knowledge or awareness of a specific fact or situation. For instance, "She "knew that" the meeting was scheduled for Tuesday."

Common error

Avoid using "knew that" when discussing hypothetical or uncertain situations. Instead, use "thought that" or "believed that". For example, instead of "If I "knew that" it would rain, I would have brought an umbrella", use "If I thought that it would rain, I would have brought an umbrella".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "knew that" functions as a declarative clause connector, indicating the speaker's or subject's prior knowledge or understanding of a particular fact or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this usage is correct and common. Examples show it connects a subject with their prior awareness, such as "Whitman likely "knew that"."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "knew that" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate prior knowledge or awareness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and versatile. Predominantly found in "News & Media", it also appears in business and other formal writing. The phrase functions as a declarative clause connector and conveys certainty. When writing, remember to use "knew that" to refer to prior understanding and avoid it in hypothetical scenarios. Alternative phrases like "was aware that" or "realized that" can add nuance. Mastering the use of "knew that" will enhance the clarity and impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had known that

Uses past perfect tense to indicate knowledge prior to a past event.

was aware that

Replaces "knew" with a more formal synonym "aware".

was conscious that

Similar to "aware", but can also imply a heightened sense of perception.

realized that

Emphasizes the moment of understanding or becoming aware.

understood that

Focuses on comprehension and grasping the meaning.

it was known that

Shifts the focus to general knowledge or a widely accepted fact.

I was already informed that

Highlights that the subject received prior notification, adding an element of reporting.

they were already aware that

Highlights that the subject received prior knowledge, adding an element of plural subject.

it was no surprise that

Expresses a lack of surprise, implying prior expectation.

had an inkling that

Implies a vague or intuitive sense of something.

FAQs

How can I use "knew that" in a sentence?

Use "knew that" to express prior knowledge or awareness of a fact. For example, "He "knew that" the project deadline was approaching."

What are some alternatives to "knew that"?

Alternatives include "was aware that", "realized that", or "understood that", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to include "that" after "knew"?

While "that" is often included after "knew", it can sometimes be omitted, especially in informal contexts. For example, "I knew he was coming" is grammatically correct, though "I knew that he was coming" is more explicit.

What's the difference between "knew that" and "found out that"?

"Knew that" implies prior knowledge, while "found out that" implies discovering something new. If you "knew that" something was true, you were already aware of it. If you "found out that" something was true, you learned it recently.