What is the difference between knew and new?

Knew is the past tense of know — having knowledge of something. New means recently made, not old, or not used before.

How do I remember knew vs new?

Knew comes from know — both start with a silent k. If you can swap in was aware of, use knew; if you mean not old, use new.

Level: A2

Knew vs New

Knew (past tense of know) and new (an adjective) sound the same. Practice choosing the right one with the example sentences below.

🔍 Confused words · pair 25 of 54 ⏱ about 5 minutes 🔊 every sentence has audio

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For Matching Game quizzes, choose sentences that include more than one of the words below. If you pick sentences with only one word, the quiz will automatically add a sentence using another word.

Knew – means “had knowledge of” (past of know).
She ______ the answer right away. – knew
He ______ how to fix the car. – knew
Everyone ______ the secret before I arrived. – knew
The teacher ______ who wrote the note. – knew
Long ago, people ______ little about the stars. – knew
Grandparents ______ dozens of stories to share. – knew
Friends ______ something was wrong. – knew
By the time the sun rose, the hikers ______ they were lost. – knew
Not a single student ______ the answer. – knew
The cat ______ where to hide. – knew
Without being told, the puppy ______ where his bed was. – knew
All of the neighbors ______ about the event. – knew
My mom ______ the whole story. – knew
After years apart, both brothers ______ each other at once. – knew
As soon as the phone rang, mother ______ it was my uncle. – knew
Everyone in the office ______ the real reason for the meeting. – knew
From his nervous laugh, it was obvious he ______ the truth already. – knew
The old chef ______ when the bread was ready. – knew
No one at the party ______ her name, but everyone liked her. – knew
The dog ______ its owner. – knew
Everyone ______ all the rules before the game started. – knew
After reading the first page, the teacher ______ the essay was copied. – knew
The children ______ all the words in the song. – knew
By the end of the week, she ______ everyone’s name. – knew
Only the coach ______ the plan. – knew
None of the guests ______ how much work it was. – knew
The shortcut to the park, he ______ without directions. – knew
The look on his face showed his friends ______ he was honest. – knew
The child ______ the answers without help. – knew
The town ______ about the mayor’s plan. – knew
Everyone ______ who had arrived when the doorbell rang. – knew
The story was memorized; he ______ it by heart. – knew
The trick behind the magic, everyone ______ after watching the video. – knew
The handwriting was familiar; the teacher ______ the writer. – knew
His way home, the dog ______ even in the dark. – knew
How to play chess, she ______ as a child. – knew
The words to every song, he ______ and sang loudly. – knew
The plan would change; everyone ______ before it was announced. – knew
Without a doubt, her friends ______ she would help. – knew
The test would be hard, but most students ______ what to expect. – knew
New – means “not old, recently made, or just discovered.”
A ______ cafe opened this week. – new
The favorite birthday gift was a ______ tablet. – new
With every school year comes a ______ teacher. – new
A ______ puppy joined the family. – new
Every morning brings a ______ challenge. – new
The museum displayed a ______ painting. – new
For the first day, shiny ______ shoes were worn. – new
Visitors to town can try several ______ restaurants. – new
After moving, the children quickly made ______ friends. – new
A ______ phone arrived in the mail. – new
Last weekend, the group explored a ______ trail. – new
Everyone received a ______ notebook in class. – new
The chef introduced a ______ dish. – new
Many ______ models were shown at the car show. – new
Discounts are offered on all ______ arrivals. – new
For winter, a ______ coat was bought. – new
The website launch was a ______ success. – new
A ______ library opened in our neighborhood. – new
A ______ job took my uncle overseas. – new
The museum has a ______ wing. – new
Science class always brings ______ topics. – new
Each year, several ______ laws take effect. – new
The bakery on Main Street sells ______ pastries. – new
On his birthday, he wore a crisp, ______ shirt. – new
After a long search, she found a ______ apartment. – new
The bus takes a ______ route this year. – new
After the update, the app felt brand ______. – new
Moving to a ______ city brought new adventures. – new
The mayor announced a ______ park. – new
With every sunrise, ______ opportunities come. – new
A stack of ______ books sat on her desk. – new
After cleaning, the kitchen looked almost ______ again. – new
The factory released a line of ______ products. – new
The garden is full of ______ flowers. – new
Every week, the teacher gives a ______ project. – new
At the fair, children loved the ______ carousel. – new
A ______ year brings fresh beginnings. – new
Green leaves in spring mean ______ life. – new
Several ______ bands performed at the concert. – new
With every invention, society finds ______ solutions. – new

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between knew and new?: Knew is the past tense of know — having knowledge of something. New means recently made, not old, or not used before.
How do I remember knew vs new?: Knew comes from know — both start with a silent k. If you can swap in was aware of, use knew; if you mean not old, use new.