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didn't know he wasn't there vs didn't know he weren't there

The correct phrase is 'didn't know he wasn't there.' 'Wasn't' is the correct past tense form of 'to be' for the third person singular. 'Weren't' is used for the plural forms or the second person singular. Therefore, 'wasn't' is the appropriate choice in this context.

Last updated: March 15, 2024

didn't know he wasn't there

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is the correct past tense form of 'to be' for the third person singular. It indicates that the speaker was unaware of his absence.
  • Jan 12, 2015 ... @ByronYork Obama didn't know he wasn't there until he learned it on the news. Cut him some slack. — Brian Carter (@bcarter76) January 12, ...
  • Josh Earnest. “Obama didn't know he wasn't there until he learned it on the news. ” Posted at 3:09 pm on January 12, 2015 by Twitchy Staff | 163 Comments ...
  • Dec 31, 2011 ... One minute Tate was there, the next he wasn't. I didn't know he wasn't there. Tony threw me in the water. No one but Tate knew I couldn't swim.
  • I actually wore all of Curtis's uniforms because we were the same size, so people commented that they didn't know he wasn't there, I thought that was a ...

didn't know he weren't there

This phrase is incorrect. 'Weren't' is not the appropriate past tense form of 'to be' for the third person singular.


Alternatives:

  • didn't know he wasn't there
  • wasn't aware he wasn't there
  • was unaware he wasn't there
  • didn't realize he wasn't there
  • didn't notice he wasn't there

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