Little did I know

Emithebomber96why not "little I knew"?

That one works too.

Little did I know that he was videotaping the whole thing!

I tend to use the one without "do support" as a stand-alone response to news that surprises me.

She really liked you!. In fact, she left you ten thousand dollars! (reply) Little I knew! (OR L

These have a roughly similar sense, but they are not exactly synonymous or interchangeable, and they are used slightly differently - and there is usually a definite article with the second one: "the little I knew." For example:

"Little did I know how crazy he could become when intoxicated." (You can't say: "Little I knew how crazy he could become when intoxicated.")

"The litt

Emithebomber96Hi, when can I use this structure "little DID I know" why not "little I knew"?

It's an imitation of the inversion pattern required with an initial negative. Semantically, 'little' is practically a negative in that sort of construction.

Never did I know what plans he had for me.
Little did I know what plans he had for me.

CalifJimNever did I know what plans he had for me.

Little did I know what plans he had for me.

I had been toying with the idea that "little" in this usage was more adverb than adjective, but I didn't come up with a convincing way to formulate it.
To my ear, it describes to what extent I knew (was aware), not how much I

Avangilittle we knew

Actually, I'm not familiar with this one, except in your example with "the" in front of it.

CJ

CalifJimyour example with "the" in front of it.

We need to credit Anon with that one!

(He also rejects "little I knew.")

I'm odd man out.

AvangiWe need to credit Anon

Oh. Right. My bad.

CJ