Here is the item:
Maria knowed the futility of her task that
October afternoon. As she swept
off the front sidewalk, more leaves
fell from the trees overhead,
sprinkling the concrete with color.
The first verb, knowed, is the problem. As you know, the sentence requires the simple past. Knew is the correctly spelled form.
| Verb | Simple Present |
Simple Past |
Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| know | know(s) | knew | known |