I just remembered that I need to ... (= I still remember it).

[Marika33]

Can we use "understand" and "remember" to talk about not a state, but an action? (To talk about a moment we started to understand/remember something).

What I mean: as far as I'm concerned, we can't use "know" in this way. "Know" is always about a state (in the main meaning — being aware of something), so to talk about an action, we use "learn" or "find out", e.g. "I've known about it ever since I learned of it".

But what about "understand" and "remember"?
Can we use them in the meaning of an action (to talk about a moment we started to understand/remember something)?

• I just knew it (= I still know it).
• I just learned/found out about it (Now I know about it).
  
  
• I just understood it (= I still understand it). (?)
• I just remembered it (= I still remember it). (?)

 

[Tarheel]

You can say you just remembered something. We've all had the experience of trying to remember something and suddenly it comes to us. We might say, "I just remembered where I left it." Or something like that.

 

[tedmc]

I wouldn't use "remembered" if something is still in my memory.

 

[Tarheel]

I wouldn't use "remembered" if something is still in my memory.

I don't know what you mean by that.

 

[tedmc]

I don't know what you mean by that.

I wouldn't use "remembered"(past tense) if I can still remember something now, unless I lost the memory of it.

 

[Tarheel]

@tedmc It doesn't work that way -- not with this word. See post #2.

 

[tedmc]

@tedmc It doesn't work that way -- not with this word. See post #2.

Why would you want to use the past tense when you still remember the thing that you say you "remembered"? It gives the impression that you no longer remember it.

 

[Piscean]

Why would you want to use the past tense when you still remember the thing that you say you "remembered"?

Like Tarheel, I don't really understand this. 'I just remembered' has the idea that you just recalled something that you had forgotten.

It gives the impression that you no longer remember it.

It doesn't.

 

[Maybo]

Like Tarheel, I don't really understand this. 'I just remembered' has the idea that you just recalled something that you had forgotten.

It doesn't.

Does “I just remembered” come from “I’ve just remembered”?

In what situation would we use “I just remember”?

 

[Piscean]

Does “I just remembered” come from “I’ve just remembered”?

No. They present the situation from two different viewpoints.

In what situation would we use “I just remember”?

I wouldn't.

 

[Maybo]

No. They present the situation from two different viewpoints.

Ah! I used to think that "I've just finished my work" is equivalent to "I just finished my work".

 

[White Hat]

In this case, 'remember' is synonymous with 'recall'. See here: '1. to become aware of (something forgotten) again; bring back to one's consciousness; recall; 2. to retain (an idea, intention, etc) in one's conscious mind: to remember Pythagoras' theorem; remember to do one's shopping'. It's the first meaning of the term 'remember' that is being used by the OP here.

 

[Marika33]

You can say you just remembered something. We've all had the experience of trying to remember something and suddenly it comes to us. We might say, "I just remembered where I left it." Or something like that.

Can I say in the same way, "I just understood what you're talking about!"?

 

[Tarheel]

Can I say in the same way, "I just understood what you're talking about!"?

No, it's not the same. Maybe you're thinking about "I've got it!" That's something a person might say if they had been having a hard time figuring something out but then had a eureka moment.

 

[Marika33]

No, it's not the same. Maybe you're thinking about "I've got it!" That's something a person might say if they had been having a hard time figuring something out but then had a eureka moment.

Why is "I just understood ..." different from "I just remembered ..."?
If I can say "I just remembered where I left it (I still remember it)", then why can't I say "I just understood what you're talking about! (I still understand you)"?

 

[Tarheel]

"I just understood" seems like a brand new usage to me.

 

[Marika33]

"I just understand" seems like a brand new usage to me.

I just understood ... *

Ah! I used to think that "I've just finished my work" is equivalent to "I just finished my work".

They're the same. Although some people will tell you they are not, they do actually mean the same thing.

 

[Tarheel]

Ah! I used to think that "I've just finished my work" is equivalent to "I just finished my work".

You've got it right. Or should I say you had it right the first time? (You did. )

 

[Tarheel]

@Marika33 It doesn't matter whether you say "I just understand" or "I just understood.". It's still a brand new usage to me.

Maybe you can think of a way to make it work. However, I think it would be a waste of time.

 

[Marika33]

Can somebody help me? Why is "I just understood ..." different from "I just remembered ..."?
If I can say "I just remembered where I left it (I still remember it)", then why can't I say "I just understood what you're talking about! (I still understand you)"?