"if i knew" vs "if i know"

Question

"if i knew" vs "if i know"

The phrases 'if I know' and 'if I knew' have different meanings and are used in different contexts. 'If I know' is used when talking about a current or future situation, while 'if I knew' is used when talking about a hypothetical or unreal situation in the present or future. They are not interchangeable as they convey different tenses and meanings.

Last Updated: March 31, 2024

This phrase is used to express a condition or possibility that is contrary to fact in the present or future. It implies that the speaker does not have knowledge or information about something.

Examples:

If I knew the answer, I would tell you.
I would go to the party if I knew some of the people there.

Alternatives:

if I were to know
if I had knowledge

This phrase is used to express a condition or possibility in the present or future. It implies that the speaker has knowledge or information about something.

Examples:

If I know the answer, I will tell you.
I will go to the party if I know some of the people there.

Alternatives:

if I am aware
if I have knowledge

Answer 1

if i knew

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a hypothetical or unreal situation in the present or future.

Answer 2

if i know

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a current or future situation.

"if i knew" vs "if i know"

if i knew

if i know

Related Comparisons