In today 's lesson you 'll learn how to express yourself when you don't know something in English.


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Setting
10 Ways to Say "I Don't Know" in English
In today 's lesson you 'll learn how to express yourself when you don't know something in English.
This is actually such an easy method that I think by the end of this lesson, you 'll already start using it.
So let's have a look at the board and see how it works.
You start by using the phrase " I don't know " and you connect it to one of these words or expressions.
For example, " I don't know who is going to the party."
" I don't know what to do."
" I don't know what to say."
" I don't know what to cook."
Right? " I don't know when he 's arriving."
" I don't know where my glasses are."
" I don't know why she left her job."
" I don't know how to reach him."
" I don't know how to drive."
" I don't know how to swim." and so on.
" I don't know how much it costs."
" I don't know how many people were at the concert."
" I don't know how often he goes to the club."
" I don't know whether Jane has arrived."
" Whether " spelled like this w h e t h e r, means " if ".
All right, it's another word for " if ".
" I don't know whether Jane has arrived yet."
" I don't know if I locked the door."
" I don't know if I locked the door."
So, you can see that by using that one expression, " I don't know " with any of these words, you can express a range of information.
Now, a couple of points to keep in mind.
You can use this expression and combine it with present, past, or future tense.
What do I mean?
Well, you could say, " I don't know who usually goes to his parties." That's present tense.
" I don't know who went to his party." Past tense.
Or, " I don't know who is going to his party." Future tense. Right?
So you can do this with all of these words.
You can use it in the present, in the past, or in the future.
And one last very important point to keep in mind regarding the word " know ",
regarding the verb " know ".
The verb " know " is a stative verb. A stative verb means that you cannot use it in the continuous form.
You can only use it in the simple form, like this,
so you can only say " I don't know." not " I am not knowing."
Many people in different parts of the world use – - tend to use continuous forms for everything in English,
but you have to be really careful not to use the continuous forms with stative verbs.
" Know " is a very common stative verb. There are many others like it.
So, other than that, you're fine. You couldn't say...
Sorry, you could also say " I don't know " or " I didn't know ". All right?
So you can use this part but remember not to change the verb " know ".
In today 's lesson you 'll learn how to express yourself when you don't know something in English.
you
don't
today
in
to
'll
know
how
learn
when
English
's
something
lesson
In
yourself
express
This is actually such an easy method that I think by the end of this lesson, you 'll already start using it.
is
I
you
This
the
that
'll
of
it
this
start
think
an
easy
lesson
by
end
already
such
using
actually
method
So let's have a look at the board and see how it works.
and
at
let's
a
the
have
it
look
how
see
So
board
works
You start by using the phrase " I don't know " and you connect it to one of these words or expressions.
and
I
you
don't
the
to
know
of
or
it
words
start
You
one
by
these
using
expressions
phrase
connect
For example, " I don't know who is going to the party."
is
I
don't
the
party
to
know
going
who
For example
" I don't know what to do."
I
don't
do
to
know
what
" I don't know what to say."
I
don't
to
know
what
say
" I don't know what to cook."
I
don't
to
know
what
cook
Right? " I don't know when he 's arriving."
I
don't
he
know
when
's
Right
arriving
" I don't know where my glasses are."
are
my
I
don't
know
glasses
where
" I don't know why she left her job."
I
don't
she
know
left
job
her
why
" I don't know how to reach him."
I
don't
to
know
how
reach
him
" I don't know how to drive."
I
don't
to
know
how
drive
" I don't know how to swim." and so on.
and
I
don't
on
to
swim
know
how
so
" I don't know how much it costs."
I
don't
know
it
much
how
costs
" I don't know how many people were at the concert."
at
I
don't
many
the
know
how
people
were
concert
" I don't know how often he goes to the club."
I
don't
the
to
he
know
how
goes
often
club
" I don't know whether Jane has arrived."
I
don't
know
has
whether
arrived
Jane
" Whether " spelled like this w h e t h e r, means " if ".
like
this
e
h
t
w
if
r
means
Whether
All right, it's another word for " if ".
for
it's
another
word
if
All right
" I don't know whether Jane has arrived yet."
I
don't
know
has
yet
whether
arrived
Jane
" I don't know if I locked the door."
I
don't
door
the
know
if
locked
" I don't know if I locked the door."
I
don't
door
the
know
if
locked
So, you can see that by using that one expression, " I don't know " with any of these words, you can express a range of information.
with
I
you
don't
a
that
can
know
of
words
any
see
one
So
by
these
using
range
information
expression
express
Now, a couple of points to keep in mind.
a
in
to
of
Now
keep
mind
couple
points
You can use this expression and combine it with present, past, or future tense.
and
with
can
or
it
this
You
present
use
past
tense
future
expression
combine
What do I mean?
I
What
do
mean
Well, you could say, " I don't know who usually goes to his parties." That's present tense.
I
you
don't
to
know
his
That's
Well
present
goes
who
usually
say
could
tense
parties
" I don't know who went to his party." Past tense.
I
don't
party
to
know
went
his
who
tense
Past
Or, " I don't know who is going to his party." Future tense. Right?
is
I
don't
party
to
know
his
going
who
Or
Right
tense
Future
So you can do this with all of these words.
with
you
do
can
all
of
this
words
So
these
You can use it in the present, in the past, or in the future.
in
the
can
or
it
You
present
use
past
future
And one last very important point to keep in mind regarding the word " know ",
in
the
to
know
And
very
one
word
last
keep
important
point
mind
regarding
regarding the verb " know ".
the
know
verb
regarding
The verb " know " is a stative verb. A stative verb means that you cannot use it in the continuous form.
A
is
you
a
The
in
the
that
know
it
use
means
continuous
verb
cannot
form
stative
You can only use it in the simple form, like this,
like
in
the
can
it
this
You
use
only
simple
form
so you can only say " I don't know." not " I am not knowing."
I
you
don't
can
know
am
not
so
say
only
knowing
Many people in different parts of the world use – - tend to use continuous forms for everything in English,
for
in
the
everything
of
English
people
different
use
Many
world
continuous
parts
forms
tend to
but you have to be really careful not to use the continuous forms with stative verbs.
be
careful
with
you
the
to
have
not
but
really
verbs
use
continuous
forms
stative
" Know " is a very common stative verb. There are many others like it.
is
There
are
like
a
many
it
very
common
Know
others
verb
stative
So, other than that, you're fine. You couldn't say...
that
fine
You
you're
So
say
other
than
couldn't
Sorry, you could also say " I don't know " or " I didn't know ". All right?
I
you
don't
Sorry
know
or
say
All right
didn't
also
could
So you can use this part but remember not to change the verb " know ".
you
the
to
can
know
this
not
but
So
use
change
part
remember
verb
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