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I knew what he did. vs I knew what he had done.

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I knew what he did" is used when referring to a past action that was known at the time it happened. "I knew what he had done" is used when referring to a past action that was known before another past event. The choice between the two depends on the specific timeline of events being described.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 797 views

I knew what he did.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate that the speaker was aware of a specific action that someone did in the past.

Examples:

  • I knew what he did, but I didn't say anything.
  • She found out about what he did last summer.
  • Do you know what he did yesterday?
  • He never told me what he did.
  • I knew what he did as soon as I saw the evidence.
  • I told Liam I knew what he did.
  • I just wanted to tell him I knew what he did.
  • I knew what my father was. I knew what he did. I...
  • I knew what he did.
  • He was always working, but I never really knew what he did.
  • Well, janneke was my way of finding out why this person that I thought I knew so well did what he did.
  • I knew what we all knew.
  • When Jasper called himself replacement I knew what Dante meant.
  • I guess they suspected I knew what she knew.
  • I knew they were testing me but I never knew what for.
  • I knew what was there. I knew the danger. I don't want to die there.
  • I had mixed feeling when I knew what happened.
  • I wish I knew what happened.
  • I knew what we all knew. Kono lost her badge.
  • I thought I knew what I wanted.
  • I just wish I knew what triggered it.
  • Before that happened I thought I knew what love was.
  • Because I knew what she sang.
  • I just wish I knew what I needed.
  • At least when she was burning stuff down I knew what to say.

Alternatives:

  • I knew what he was doing.
  • I knew what he has done.
  • I knew what he has been doing.
  • I knew what he had been doing.
  • I knew what he would do.

I knew what he had done.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to indicate that the speaker was aware of a specific action that someone had completed before another past event.

Examples:

  • I knew what he had done before he confessed.
  • She realized what he had done after seeing the evidence.
  • He finally admitted to what he had done.
  • I knew what he had done when I saw the consequences.
  • Do you know what he had done before he left?
  • I came home, and I saw this place, and I knew what he had done.
  • I knew what he had done to my boy.
  • Because he also knew what Cyrus had done.
  • And maybe Pip knew what I had done.
  • You confessed because you knew what you had done.
  • It was only then I knew what I'd done.
  • He calmly confessed to what he had done.
  • In this moment, Xiomara wanted to kiss Rogelio for what he had done.
  • One way to repay the labor for what he had done.
  • But then was horror-stricken by what he had done.
  • I wanted him to realize what he had done.
  • Then I saw what he had done.
  • Julian knew I could never tell Lily what he had done because that would also have exposed my lies.
  • I knew the minute I heard your voice on the phone you knew what I had done.
  • Maybe you can say that's an asset or a handicap in the terms of hydrogen because I knew what could be done.
  • And he's come back to pay us to work for what he had done.
  • NARRATOR: In fact, that is what he had done.
  • He didn't want his mother to know what he had done.
  • In fact, that is what he had done.
  • It would take time, maybe years to figure out what he had done.

Alternatives:

  • I knew what he did.
  • I knew what he was doing.
  • I knew what he has done.
  • I knew what he has been doing.
  • I knew what he had been doing.

Related Comparisons

I don't know what he drank vs I don't know that he drank he was sorry for what he did vs he was sorry for what he had done I knew what it takes vs I knew what it took I was really impressed by what she did. vs I am really impressed by what she did. What are you doing vs What you doing thought what could we vs thought what we could

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