I knew what the problem was. vs I Knew what was the problem.

The correct phrase is "I knew what the problem was." The verb "knew" is followed by the direct object "what the problem was" without inverting the word order. In English, the word order in indirect questions like this one is not inverted.

Last updated: March 28, 2024 • 1478 views

I knew what the problem was.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is the correct way to express that you understood the nature of the problem.

Examples:

I knew what the problem was, so I was able to fix it.
She asked me if I knew what the problem was.
Did you know what the problem was before you started working on it?
He didn't know what the problem was until he read the report.
We need to figure out what the problem was before we can move forward.

I Knew what was the problem.

This phrase is not correct in English. The word order is incorrect for indirect questions like this one.

This phrase should not be used. The correct structure is "I knew what the problem was."

Alternatives:

I knew what the problem was.
I knew what the problem entailed.
I knew what the issue was.
I knew what the problem involved.
I knew what the problem consisted of.

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I knew what the problem was. vs I Knew what was the problem.