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EyeSeeYou Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

The verb KNOW preceding a PLACE (in the past)

It may be a stupid question but is it posible to use the verb know in the past when talking about a place?

For instance, it's perfectly accepted to say "I'd like to know New York one day", or "I know NYC well".

BUT what about this: "I knew NYC two years ago". Are VISIT/BE TO/GO TO better?
  

Top answer

Sure. eg I used to live in New York when I was in my twenties. I knew the city well.

— Clive

  • Sure.
  • eg I used to live in New York when I was in my twenties.
  • I knew the city well.
  • But I moved to Chicago.
  • Now I'm retired, and when I visit New York, I don't know it at all.
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5 Answers
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Sure.
eg I used to live in New York when I was in my twenties. I knew the city well. But I moved to Chicago. Now I'm retired, and when I visit New York, I don't know it at all. Everything has changed.

This is 'know New York' in the sense of 'be familiar with New York'.
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My mistake, I should've clarified that I didn't mean KNOW in that sense but in to be in the place for the very first time.
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EyeSeeYouI didn't mean KNOW in that sense but in to be in the place for the very first time.
You can't know a place if you are on your first visit.
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So my original sentence ("I knew NYC 2 years ago") makes no sense at all.

So to convey the idea I went to the place for the first time it's better to use verbs such as GO TO, VISIT. What else?

And what about I GOT to know NYC 2 years ago?
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Yes, except in the sense that I explained.
Yes.
Yes.
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