Cool MateRemember vs You know what it was
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Remember
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
You know what it was
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: RememberMost common: Remember
| Remember | You know what it was | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈmembə(r)/","/rɪˈmembəz/","/rɪˈmembəd/","/rɪˈmembərɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈmembər/","/rɪˈmembərz/","/rɪˈmembərd/","/rɪˈmembərɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //juː nəʊ wɒt ɪt wəz//🇺🇸 //ju noʊ wʌt ɪt wəz// |
| Meaning | To keep something in your mind. | A way to express understanding or recognition of a past event. |
| Example | Please remember to bring your homework tomorrow. | When I saw her reaction, I thought, 'You know what it was!' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | clearly, distinctly, vividly, can, try to, be important to, as, for, clearly, distinctly, vividly, can, try to, be important to, as, for, clearly, distinctly, vividly, can, try to, be important to, as, for | you know what I mean, you know what it's like, you know what happened |
| Antonyms | forget | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'remember' when you mean 'remind'., Confusion between 'remember' and 'forget'., Omitting the object, e.g., saying 'I remember' without specifying what. | Misused in formal settings where standard expressions are preferred., Omitted necessary context when used, leading to confusion. |
| Usage notes | Use 'remember' when referring to recalling information or past experiences. It is neutral and widely applicable but avoid in very formal contexts where alternatives like 'recollect' might be more suitable. | Commonly used in casual conversations among friends to acknowledge shared experiences. Best avoided in formal contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Remember vs You know what it was
What's the difference between Remember and You know what it was?
Remember: To keep something in your mind. You know what it was: A way to express understanding or recognition of a past event.
Which is more formal: Remember and You know what it was?
Remember is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Remember and You know what it was?
Remember is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Remember: Please remember to bring your homework tomorrow. You know what it was: When I saw her reaction, I thought, 'You know what it was!'
Can I use Remember and You know what it was interchangeably?
Not always. Remember and You know what it was are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.