know

Question

I want to say that I didn't know golf rules till someone has just explained to me. What is the most natural sentence to say that?

A: The golf rules are ...blah blah blah

B: I [have never known | never knew| never know| didn't know] golf.

Kooyeen · Accepted Answer

Hi,
A - The rules are... blah blah blah.
B - Ah, I didn't know the rules. I never knew how to play golf. Actually, I didn't know anything at all about golf until a few minutes ago, when you started explaining the rules to me...

I don't know if what I said is ok, that's just what i would say. Let's wait for the others...

New2grammar · Answer

I want to explore the phrase 'never knew' a bit more.

Let's look at the following conversation:

A: I love to play golf

B: I never knew/know you played/play golf

What would be your pick and please elaborate?

Thanks in advance

Kooyeen · Answer

Yes, ok.
The verb "to know" is usually used in the simple past tense in some expressions with "never" or "always", for example. Other verbs are usually used in the present or past perfect with "never" or "always". I also see you are not quite sure whether to choose a present or past tense... Here's another example:

A - I love to play golf!
B - Ah, I never knew you played golf! I've never seen you here! (note: "played" sound much much better than "play" here. I'd say "play" would sound pretty odd)
A - I play golf here quite often, but I never come here on weekends though. ("come", present tense. It refers to a general fact, not only to the past)

As always, even though I'm pretty sure of what I wrote, remember I'm not a native speaker.

New2grammar · Answer

Thanks Kooyeen, you have been really helpful. I think I have some idea now but I have one more follow-up question. I always have questions

I will make sure this is my last question on this topic.

A: I have never played golf before. If I [had/did], I [wouldn't/ wouldn't have] hurt myself.

I think the answer is "If I had, I wouldn't have hurt myself". Please correct me if I am wrong. By the way, are there other natural ways of conveying the same meaning?

Kooyeen · Answer

I always have a lot of questions too, it's a good thing to ask questions, the problem is getting the right answers!

////// I have never played golf before. If I [had/did], I [wouldn't/ wouldn't have] hurt myself.

This is difficult. I'll try to put that sentence in some kind of context...

Ooouch! Dammit, I hurt myself! I've never played golf before... If I had, I wouldn't have hurt myself that way, probably! (I'd say "had", as a reduced forrm of "had played", "had done". Anyway, I think "did" is also possible in very informal English, but it's not considered the preferred form)

Ooouch! Dammit, I hurt myself again! I've never played golf before... If I had, I wouldn't hurt myself this way every time I try to hit the ball! I really suck at golf!

I never play golf on Sundays! If I did, I would miss most of Sunday's football games on TV! You know I really love football... (If I "did" means "if I did so, if I played on Sundays").

Again, I'm not 100% sure, so we should wait for someone else's advice.

New2grammar · Answer

Great explanation! I've never understood this topic that well! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Marius Hancu · Answer

B: I've never known the rules of golf.

know

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