Drank vs. Drunk
“Drank” and “drunk” are different forms of the irregular verb “drink.” “Drank” is the simple past, while “drunk” is the past participle used in perfect constructions and, where applicable, passive constructions.
Use “drank” for the simple past and “drunk” as the past participle, especially after have/has/had.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| a standalone simple-past verb is needed | drank | Use “drank.” |
| the form follows have, has, or had as the past participle | drunk | Use “drunk.” |
| the word describes intoxication rather than the verb form of drink | drunk as an adjective | Treat the adjective as a separate use from the verb-participle choice. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Does “have,” “has,” or “had” directly govern the form of “drink”?
If yes: Use “drunk.”
If no: For a standalone simple-past verb, use “drank”; if “drunk” describes intoxication, that is an adjectival use rather than this verb-form choice.
Caveat: Choose by the documented meaning or construction; a different pattern may be valid in a different sentence structure, region, or register.
Examples
They drank the water after the hike.
The sentence needs the simple past “drank.”
They have drunk enough water for now.
After “have,” the past participle is “drunk.”
She had drunk the tea before the meeting started.
After “had,” the past participle is “drunk.”
Further guidance
Adjective Boundary
“Drunk” can also be an adjective referring to intoxication; that adjective use is separate from its role as the past participle of “drink.”
Core difference
“Drank” is the simple-past form of “drink”; “drunk” is the past participle used with auxiliaries such as have, has, or had and in passive constructions when the verb permits them.
Fast Test
If have, has, or had directly governs the form of “drink,” choose “drunk.” For a standalone finite past-tense verb, choose “drank.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Drink — Cambridge Learner’s Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct verb-form evidence: drink has past tense drank and past participle drunk.