to suspect / sense
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to suspect
To have a vague idea or knowledge of something. It is very commonly used in negative sentences to express that one knew absolutely nothing about something.
Ich konnte ja nicht ahnen, dass die Prüfung schon morgen ist!
I couldn't have known that the exam is already tomorrow!
to sense
To have an indefinite feeling or premonition that something specific, often negative, is going to happen.
Schon als das Telefon klingelte, ahnte sie, dass es schlechte Nachrichten waren.
Even when the phone rang, she sensed that it was bad news.
The verb 'ahnen' (to suspect / sense) is the basis for the noun 'die Ahnung' (idea, notion). If you 'ahnen' something, you have an Ahnung of it. The phrase 'keine Ahnung haben' (to have no idea) is extremely common in colloquial speech.
Ich habe keine Ahnung, wie spät es ist.
I have no idea what time it is.
The verb 'ahnen' (to suspect) is very often used in negative sentences to express that you absolutely did not know or expect something. Typical formulations are 'nichts ahnen' (to suspect nothing) or 'nicht ahnen können' (to not be able to know / suspect).
Er ahnte nichts von der Überraschungsparty.
He suspected nothing about the surprise party.
When 'ahnen' (to sense) describes a premonition, it is often followed either by a direct object in the accusative or by a subordinate clause with 'dass' (that).
Sie ahnte das Unglück schon, bevor es passierte.
She sensed the disaster even before it happened.
In the meaning of 'eine Vorahnung haben' (to have a premonition), 'ahnen' (to sense) is mostly used for negative or worrying events. You rarely sense something good; rather, you sense a problem or danger.
Er ahnte Böses, als er die Polizei vor seiner Tür sah.
He sensed something bad when he saw the police at his door.
to know
Wissen refers to confirmed knowledge of a fact or piece of information. Ahnen, by contrast, only means having a vague idea or a possible sense of what is true, and is often used especially emphatically in negative sentences. Use wissen for certain information and ahnen for an uncertain suspicion.
Ich ahne, dass die Besprechung morgen ausfällt.
I suspect that the meeting will be canceled tomorrow.
Ich weiß, dass die Besprechung morgen stattfindet.
I know that the meeting is taking place tomorrow.
