Base
I know the answer.
Know describes something that is in your mind now.
Past Tense of Know: Knew and Known
Know is an irregular verb. Use knew for the past and known after have or has. The k is silent in all forms.
Base
know
Past
knew
Past participle
known
Third person: knows · -ing form: knowing
ABC: form patternExamples
Base
Do you know her phone number?
After do, the verb stays as know.
Past
She knew the way to the station.
Knew is the past form; it sounds like new.
Past
We knew nobody at the party.
Knew nobody means we did not know anyone there.
Past participle
I have known him since school.
Have known links the past to now.
Past participle
Have you known Tom for a long time?
In questions, have comes before the subject.
Usage notes
Knew sounds like new
The k is silent in know, knew and known. Knew is pronounced exactly like new, and the context shows which word is meant.
No continuous form for knowing
Know describes a state, so we say I know her, not I am knowing her. Do not use know in the present continuous.
Common mistakes
I knowed the answer.
I knew the answer.
Know is irregular: the past is knew, never knowed.
She has knew him for years.
She has known him for years.
After has or have, use the past participle known.
I am knowing her.
I know her.
Know is a state verb, so it does not use the continuous form.
Practise this verb
0/8
Choose the right form
Choose the form that completes each English sentence.
1.I didn't ___ your brother was here.
2.We have ___ our neighbors for ten years.
3.I ___ that man. He is my teacher.
4.When she was young, she ___ everyone in the village.
Write the missing form
Type the correct form of know in each sentence.
Correct the mistake
Rewrite the English sentence with the correct verb form.
8.Choose the mistake in this sentence.
Answer key
1. I didn't ___ your brother was here.
Answer: know
After didn't, the verb stays in the base form know.
2. We have ___ our neighbors for ten years.
Answer: known
After have, use the participle known.
3. I ___ that man. He is my teacher.
Answer: know
The sentence is in the present, so use know.
4. When she was young, she ___ everyone in the village.
Answer: knew
When she was young is past, so use knew.
5. Have you ___ Anna for a long time?
Answer: known
Have you plus the past participle is have you known.
6. He ___ the way, so we did not ask.
Answer: knew
The past form is knew.
7. I ___ the answer now!
Answer: know
A present state uses know.
8. She has knew him for ages.
Answer: She has known him for ages.
After has, use known, not knew.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past tense of know?
The past tense of know is knew: I knew him at school.
What is the past participle of know?
The past participle of know is known: I have known her for years.
How do you pronounce knew?
Knew is pronounced like new. The k is silent.