would recognise him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would recognise him" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the likelihood of someone identifying or acknowledging another person, often in a hypothetical context. Example: "If he walked into the room, I believe most of the attendees would recognise him from the conference last year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Even fewer would recognise him.

The Guardian

Henry James would recognise him as an equal.

The Guardian - Books

Put his image on British public transport and few would recognise him.

Independent

At least Bayliss would recognise him when they all board the plane.

The Guardian - Sport

He still prays on Fridays but does so at home because fellow Muslims would recognise him at a mosque.

The Guardian

He worried that his children would recognise him as "papi" and talk at nursery, giving away his whereabouts.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Not that we'd recognise him.

The Guardian - Music

Sounds like a character from a British comedy film of the 1950s played, perhaps, by the surly and camp Harold Lang (you'd recognise him all right).

The Guardian - Film

He assumes she wouldn't recognise him.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Or believed that Augustin would not recognise him.

The Guardian - Books

He would not recognise him if he walked in the room.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would recognise him" to express a hypothetical scenario where identification is likely based on prior knowledge or exposure. Example: "If he were to change his appearance drastically, few people "would recognise him"."

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses or verb forms that alter the intended meaning. For example, using "will recognise him" implies a future certainty rather than a hypothetical situation. Use "would" for conditional scenarios.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would recognise him" functions as a verb phrase expressing a conditional or hypothetical ability to identify someone. As noted by Ludwig AI, it's a grammatically correct phrase. Examples show this being used in news and media to discuss the likelihood of recognition under certain circumstances.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would recognise him" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase, primarily found in News & Media, expressing a conditional ability to identify someone. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage. While alternatives like "could identify him" exist, the hypothetical nature of "would" is crucial in conveying the intended meaning. When writing, ensure you use the correct tense to maintain the intended nuance, particularly distinguishing between future certainty and conditional likelihood. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase diverse applications of this phrase in real-world contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could identify him

Changes "recognise" to "identify", suggesting a confirmed identification, less hypothetical.

would identify who he is

Adds specificity by including "who he is", focusing on the recognition of identity.

might know him

Uses "might know" offering a less certain, more tentative level of familiarity.

could pick him out

Employs "pick him out", implying a selection from a group, rather than simple recognition.

would be able to place him

Replaces "recognise" with "be able to place", suggesting placing him in context or memory.

could make him out

Uses "make him out" indicating a visual or auditory recognition from a distance or with difficulty.

would know who he was

Highlights the knowledge of the person's past or identity rather than immediate recognition.

might be familiar with him

Suggests a general familiarity rather than a specific act of recognition.

would be acquainted with him

Implies a formal acquaintance rather than casual recognition.

could put a name to his face

Focuses on recalling the name associated with the face, not just the recognition.

FAQs

How can I use "would recognise him" in a sentence?

You can use "would recognise him" to describe a hypothetical situation where someone is likely to identify another person. For example, "If he walked down the street, many people "would recognise him" from his television appearances".

What is a more formal alternative to "would recognise him"?

A more formal alternative is "would identify him". For instance, "Were he to present himself, staff members "would identify him" immediately".

Is it correct to say "will recognise him" instead of "would recognise him"?

The choice depends on the context. "Will recognise him" suggests a future certainty, while "would recognise him" implies a hypothetical or conditional situation. For instance, "If he attends the event, they "would recognise him"" indicates uncertainty, whereas "They will recognise him" asserts a future fact.

What does "would recognise him" imply about the speaker's knowledge?

"Would recognise him" suggests the speaker believes that under certain conditions, recognition is likely due to existing familiarity or distinguishing features. It implies the speaker is making a judgment about the recognisability of the person in question.