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Know, meet, or get to know
Know is to be familiar with someone or know a fact, meet is the first time, and get to know is learning about someone over time.
Quick rule
Do you already know them, or is it a fact? Know. Is it the first time? Meet. Are you learning about them over time? Get to know.
To be familiar with a person or place, or to have information in your mind: I know her, I know the answer.
To see and know someone for the first time, or to be introduced to them.
To learn about a person or place little by little until you know them well.
How to choose
| Question | know | meet | get to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is it the first time you get to know each other (Where did you two ___?)? | No | Yes | SometimesSometimes |
| Is it learning about someone over time (I am ___ing my new classmates)? | No | SometimesSometimes | Yes |
| Do you already know them, as a state (I ___ her well)? | Yes | No | No |
| Does it work for knowing a fact or answer (I ___ the answer)? | Yes | No | No |
Why it trips people up
Know, meet, and get to know describe three points in a relationship: the first contact, the time it takes, and the result. They get mixed up because one Spanish verb covers all three, and because know also means to have a fact.
How each one works
Know
You already know him from before
I know your brother from high school.
Know in the present perfect: since when
We have known each other for ten years.
Knowing a fact
Do you know the answer to question five?
Meet
The first time
I met my wife at a friend's wedding.
Being introduced
It was great to meet your parents last night.
A first greeting
Hello, I am the new neighbor. Good to finally meet you.
Get to know
A process over time
It takes time to get to know a new city.
Learning about each other
Let's have lunch and get to know each other.
A stage in progress
I am getting to know my new coworkers.
What comes next
know plus person or place (already familiar)
I know a great little cafe near here.
have known plus since / for
She has known him since they were kids.
meet plus person (first time)
Come and meet our new teacher.
Nice / Pleased to meet you
Glad to meet you, Mr. Ortega.
get to know plus person or place
I want to get to know my neighbors.
be getting to know plus person
They are getting to know the town.
Set phrases
Know
- you never know
- something unexpected could happen
- know-how
- practical knowledge of how to do something
Meet
- meet someone halfway
- to accept some of what the other person wants
Get to know
- get to know each other
- to learn about each other over time
Almost the same
I met your sister at a party.
It was the first time I saw her.
I am getting to know your sister.
I am learning about her over time.
I know your sister.
I already know her well.
I met Ana last week.
First contact.
I have known Ana for a week.
You have known her for a while.
In a conversation
- A:
Do you know the new girl in our class?
- B:
I met her on Monday. She seems really friendly.
- A:
Let's invite her to lunch so we can get to know her.
- B:
Good idea. You never know, we might become good friends.
Common mistakes
Wrong: We have met each other since we were kids.
Right: We have known each other since we were kids.
A state that lasts since a past time takes know. Meet names the first contact, not the time that follows.
Wrong: I know him since 2019.
Right: I have known him since 2019.
With since, a state that continues needs the present perfect: have known.
Memory trick
Think of a timeline. The first point is meet. The road after it is get to know. Where you have arrived is know. Know is a state, so there is no "I am knowing".
It depends
- Know with people and places
- Oxford defines know as being familiar with a person or place, and gives Do you two know each other? to mean "have you met before?".
- Get to + verb
- Get to without know also exists, informally: He got to try out the new software means he had the chance (Oxford).
FAQ
What is the difference between meet and get to know?
Meet is the first contact with someone. Get to know is learning about them over time, until you know them well.
Do you know or meet a place?
You know a place you are familiar with. You do not meet a place; to go there for the first time, use visit.