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"I wish I knew who you are" vs "I wish I knew who you were"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I wish I knew who you are' is used when referring to someone's current identity, while 'I wish I knew who you were' is used when referring to someone's past identity or a hypothetical situation. The choice between 'are' and 'were' depends on the tense and the context of the conversation.

Last Updated: March 29, 2024

I wish I knew who you are

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to someone's current identity.

This phrase is used when you want to express a wish about knowing the current identity of someone. It is used in present tense.

Examples:

  • I wish I knew who you are, so I could thank you properly.
  • I wish I knew who you are, but you seem familiar.
  • I wish I knew who you are, so I could introduce you to my friends.

Alternatives:

  • I wish I knew who you are.
  • I wish I knew your identity.
  • I wish I knew your name.
  • I wish I knew more about you.
  • I wish I knew who you really are.

I wish I knew who you were

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to someone's past identity or a hypothetical situation.

This phrase is used when you want to express a wish about knowing someone's past identity or in a hypothetical context. It is used in past tense.

Examples:

  • I wish I knew who you were when we were in school together.
  • I wish I knew who you were before all this happened.
  • I wish I knew who you were pretending to be.

Alternatives:

  • I wish I knew who you were.
  • I wish I knew your past identity.
  • I wish I knew who you used to be.
  • I wish I knew who you were back then.
  • I wish I knew who you really were.

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