we knew him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we knew him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a past acquaintance or relationship with someone. Example: "In our conversations, we often reminisced about the times we knew him and the impact he had on our lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We knew him well.

The New York Times - Arts

"We knew him before, you see.

The New York Times

It is as if we knew him.

The Guardian - Music

(Alas, poor Wolverine, we knew him well).

The Guardian - Opinion

We knew him in his pink jacket.

The New Yorker

We knew him for his human compassion and generosity.

The New York Times

If we knew Him, we'd be like Him.

The New Yorker

My friends and I all felt we knew him.

The New York Times

"We knew him as the weakest among us".

The New York Times

"We knew him as a stealer," said Gcinile Duma, the secretary of the Youth League.

The New York Times

At school, influenced by the bard's devastating portrait, we knew him as Dick the Bad.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “we knew him” to express past familiarity or acquaintance. Be specific about the context of your relationship if possible (e.g., "We knew him as a neighbor", "We knew him from college").

Common error

Avoid using “we knew him” when you mean “we know him.” The past tense implies that you no longer have the same relationship or knowledge of the person.

Linguistic Context

The phrase “we knew him” functions as a statement expressing past familiarity or acquaintance. Ludwig shows this phrase is commonly used to describe a relationship or understanding of someone that existed in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase “we knew him” is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate past familiarity or acquaintance with someone. Ludwig shows the phrase to be most prevalent in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the past tense is appropriate and accurately reflects a relationship or knowledge that existed in the past. Consider alternatives like "we were familiar with him" to vary your language. Avoid using it if you mean "we know him", as the past tense implies a change in the relationship or knowledge. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is standard and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

We used to know him

Specifies that the knowledge is no longer current.

We were familiar with him

Suggests knowledge of his character or habits.

He was known to us

Passive construction, highlighting that knowledge existed.

We were acquainted with him

Implies a formal or less intimate relationship.

We knew of him

Implies awareness of his existence or reputation.

We had knowledge of him

Focuses on possessing information about him.

We recognized him

Highlights the ability to identify him.

We had crossed paths with him

Indicates a brief or casual encounter.

We were old hands with him

Suggests considerable shared experience with someone.

We had him on our radar

Implies that this person was of interest or under surveillance.

FAQs

How can I use "we knew him" in a sentence?

You can use "we knew him" to describe a past relationship or familiarity with someone, such as "We knew him from church" or "We knew him before he became famous".

What is a formal alternative to "we knew him"?

A more formal alternative to "we knew him" could be "we were acquainted with him", which implies a less intimate but still recognizable relationship.

Is "we knew him" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we knew him" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb 'to know' and correctly indicates a past relationship or familiarity.

What's the difference between "we knew him" and "we have known him"?

"We knew him" refers to a completed period in the past, whereas "we have known him" implies a relationship that started in the past and may continue to the present. For example, "We knew him in college" vs. "We have known him since college".