we understood that

USAGE SUMMARY

"we understood that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a statement that has already been agreed upon by a group of people. For example: "We understood that the meeting would start at 11am, so please make sure everyone arrives on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

"We understood that, as much as we didn't want that.

The New York Times - Sports

We understood that really we would die one day and very soon if we stayed.

Vice

But we understood that.

The New York Times - Arts

We understood that.

The New York Times

"We understood that as a possibility".

The New York Times - Tech

"We understood that something went wrong".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

We understand that might sound intimidating.

Independent

So how do we understand that?

Cornell University

We understand that U.S. is under attack".

The New York Times

"We understand that integration can cause problems.

The New York Times

We understand that very, very well.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting past events, use "we understood that" to establish the context of decisions or actions taken based on the information available at that time.

Common error

Avoid shifting to the present tense after using "we understood that". Ensure the subsequent clause maintains a consistent past tense to avoid grammatical errors and maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we understood that" functions as a conjunction phrase that introduces a subordinate clause expressing a shared understanding or realization. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's used to establish context or convey a previously agreed-upon fact. This phrase commonly connects a group's awareness to a subsequent action or statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

16%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

8%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we understood that" is a versatile conjunction phrase used to introduce a shared understanding or realization, setting the stage for subsequent actions or statements. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and widely used, indicating shared knowledge within a group. It commonly appears in news and media, academia, and business contexts, with a generally neutral register, making it suitable for diverse communication scenarios. Common alternatives include "we realized that" and "we recognized that". When using this phrase, ensure tense consistency and clarity to effectively convey the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we realized that

Emphasizes a moment of sudden understanding or awareness.

we recognized that

Highlights acknowledgement of something already known or evident.

we perceived that

Implies a more intuitive or insightful understanding.

we were aware that

Focuses on the state of being informed about something.

it was clear to us that

Indicates that something was obvious or easily understood.

we came to understand that

Suggests a gradual process of gaining understanding.

we had known that

Refers to a pre-existing understanding.

we gathered that

Implies that understanding was based on incomplete information or inference.

we inferred that

Emphasizes a logical conclusion drawn from evidence.

we deduced that

Suggests a more formal or scientific reasoning process.

FAQs

What does "we understood that" mean?

The phrase "we understood that" indicates a shared comprehension or realization among a group of people about a particular fact, situation, or concept.

How can I use "we understood that" in a sentence?

You can use "we understood that" to introduce a statement that clarifies a previous agreement or shared knowledge, such as, "We understood that the deadline was Friday, so everyone worked late to finish the project."

What are some alternatives to "we understood that"?

Alternatives include "we realized that", "we recognized that", or "we were aware that", depending on the nuance you wish to convey.

Is there a difference between "we understood that" and "we understand that"?

Yes, "we understood that" refers to a past understanding, while "we understand that" indicates a present understanding. For example, "We understood that the project was over budget" refers to a past realization, while "We understand that the project is over budget" refers to a current comprehension.