they knew

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they knew" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that a group of people had knowledge or awareness of something in the past. Example: "They knew the answer to the question before it was asked." Alternative expressions include "they were aware" and "they understood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They knew?

The New York Times - Sports

They knew everything".

The New York Times - Books

"They knew the threat.

The New York Times

They knew him there.

The New Yorker

They knew something.

The New York Times

Maybe they knew that.

The New York Times

They knew that song".

The New York Times

And they knew it.

The New York Times

They knew him.

The New Yorker

Different whores they knew.

The New Yorker

They knew a lot.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with specific objects to clarify exactly what information was held, such as "they knew the risks" or "they knew the truth".

Common error

Avoid using "they knew" when the knowledge is a state that began in the past and continues into the present. In such cases, use the present perfect "they have known". Use "they knew" strictly for completed past actions or states.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they knew" serves as a subject-verb pairing in the simple past tense. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to attribute specific knowledge or awareness to a group at a distinct point in history. It often acts as the foundation for a dependent clause (e.g., "they knew that song").

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Social Media

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "they knew" is an essential and grammatically correct English phrase used to denote past awareness. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a highly versatile expression, appearing in over 60 verified instances from premium journalistic sources. It is most effective when used to highlight a group's prior understanding of a situation, especially in contexts of accountability or narrative irony. Writers should ensure they are using the simple past tense correctly and can substitute it with more descriptive alternatives like "they perceived" or "they recognized" to add variety to their prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were aware

Focuses more on the state of consciousness or being informed.

they understood

Implies a deeper comprehension rather than just possessing information.

they realized

Suggests a moment of discovery or a sudden shift in knowledge.

they recognized

Often used when identifying something familiar or acknowledging a truth.

they were cognizant

A more formal and technical alternative to describe awareness.

they sensed

Implies an intuitive or non-verbal type of knowledge.

they perceived

Focuses on the sensory or mental interpretation of information.

they comprehended

Highly formal, stressing the full grasp of complex ideas.

they suspected

Indicates knowledge based on intuition or incomplete evidence.

they foresaw

Specifies knowledge of an event before it actually happened.

FAQs

How do I use "they knew" in a sentence?

You can use it to show past awareness, for example: "Despite the warnings, "they were aware" of the danger and proceeded because "they knew" the stakes were high."

What is the difference between "they knew" and "they had known"?

While "they knew" describes a state in the past, "they had known" (past perfect) is used to indicate knowledge that existed even further back in time, usually before another past event occurs.

What can I say instead of "they knew"?

Depending on the level of formality, you might use alternatives like "they understood", "they realized", or "they were aware".

Is "they knew" considered formal?

Yes, "they knew" is a neutral and versatile phrase suitable for both casual conversation and professional journalism, as seen in publications like The New York Times.