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Legal Writing
: Daily Writing TipsVerbs Like ?Know?
By Maeve
Reader Nancy has noticed the following use of know:
If I’d know this years ago.
This is a non-standard use of the verb, possibly an example of dialect. In standard usage known is the past participle called for in this clause: If I’d known this years ago?
Know belongs to a small group of verbs that have retained their irregular forms:
know-knew-(have) known
blow-blew-(have) blown
grow-grew-(have) grown
throw threw (have) thrown
The third form in each example is the past participle form used with the helping verbs have and has. The past participle can also be used as an adjective. Here are some examples:
Verb use
If I’d known this years ago, I would have changed my behavior.
The wind has blown without cease for three days.
I have grown these tomatoes from seed.
Billy has thrown a perfect curve ball.
Adjective use
Elizabeth George is a well known author.
The youth has no known arrests.
My car has a blown gasket.
Full post as published by Daily Writing Tips on May 11, 2009 (boomark / email).

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