Drank or Drunk – Which One Is Correct?

Have you ever written a sentence like, “I have drank water” and wondered if it was correct? Many English learners, students, and even native speakers get confused between “drank” and “drunk”. This is one of the most common grammar mistakes searched online. 

Understanding the difference is crucial because using the wrong form can make your writing sound unprofessional or grammatically incorrect.

The confusion comes from English verb tenses. Both drank and drunk are forms of the verb “drink”, but they are used differently. Using them correctly can improve your writing, emails, social media posts, and essays. It also helps in understanding formal and informal contexts, as well as spoken and written English.

This article provides a quick answer, explains the origin, gives regional spelling differences, and shows real-life examples. By the end, you’ll know exactly when to use drank and when to use drunk, avoiding common mistakes and improving your English fluency.

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Drank or Drunk – Quick Answer

• Drank → Simple past tense of drink.
  Example: “Yesterday, I drank two glasses of water.”
• Drunk → Past participle of drink, used with auxiliary verbs like have, has, had.
  Example: “I have drunk all the juice.”

Rule:

• Use drank when you are talking about something that happened in the past.
• Use drunk after have/has/had to form the perfect tense.

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The Origin of Drank / Drunk

Both forms come from the Old English verb “drincan”, meaning “to drink.” Over time, English developed different forms for past and past participle:

• Old English: dranc → past, druncen → past participle
• Modern English: drank → past, drunk → past participle

Unlike some verbs, drink is irregular, so it doesn’t follow the standard “-ed” past tense rule. This irregularity is why learners often get confused.

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British English vs American English Usage

Unlike some words with spelling differences, drank and drunk are the same in British and American English. The rules apply equally in both varieties:

Form	Type	Example	Region
Drank	Simple Past	I drank coffee this morning.	US & UK
Drunk	Past Participle	She has drunk all the milk.	US & UK

✅ Key point: There is no spelling difference between US and UK English for these words.

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Which Form Should You Use?

• Past action: Use drank
  Example: “I drank tea yesterday.”
• Perfect tense (with have/has/had): Use drunk
  Example: “They have drunk all the soda.”

Audience Tips:

• Students & Writers: Stick to these rules to avoid grammar mistakes.
• Content for US or UK: Same rules apply, so no need to change spelling.
• Global audience: Consistency is key; always pair drunk with auxiliary verbs and drank with simple past.

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Common Mistakes with Drank / Drunk

❌ I have drank coffee today. → Incorrect
✔️ I have drunk coffee today. → Correct

❌ She drunk the juice yesterday. → Incorrect
✔️ She drank the juice yesterday. → Correct

❌ He has drank all the water. → Incorrect
✔️ He has drunk all the water. → Correct

✅ Tip: Remember, drank = past, drunk = past participle with have/has/had.

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Drank / Drunk in Everyday Examples

Emails:

• Correct: I have drunk the remaining coffee.
• Correct: I drank all the tea yesterday.

News:

• The mayor drank water from the river to prove it’s safe.
• Citizens have drunk less soda this year, study finds.

Social Media:

• I just drank my morning smoothie!
• We have drunk all the cocktails at the party 😅

Formal Writing:

• Over the weekend, the participants drank various herbal teas.
• Researchers have drunk the test samples to study absorption rates.

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Drank or Drunk – Google Trends & Usage Data

• Searches for “drank or drunk” spike during school semesters, especially among ESL learners.
• Usage is equal in the US and UK, since the rules are the same.
• “Drank” is more common in casual speech; “drunk” appears more in formal writing and grammar references.

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Keyword Comparison Table

Word	Type	Usage Example	Correct Context
Drank	Simple Past	I drank juice.	Past action
Drunk	Past Participle	I have drunk juice.	With have/has/had
Drinked	❌ Incorrect	I drinked water.	Avoid
Drunken	✅ Rare/Adj	He has a drunken state.	Adjective, not past tense

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FAQs – Drank or Drunk

1. Is “drank” wrong?
No, it’s the simple past form of drink.

2. Is “drunk” wrong?
No, it’s the past participle form, used with auxiliary verbs.

3. Can I say “I have drank”?
❌ Incorrect. ✅ Correct: “I have drunk.”

4. Are these words different in US vs UK English?
No, rules are the same in both regions.

5. What about “drunken”?
“Drunken” is used as an adjective, not a verb.
Example: “He was in a drunken state.”

6. How do I remember the difference?
Think: drank = past, drunk = have/has/had.

7. Is “drank or drunk” a common grammar question?
Yes, it’s one of the top searched English grammar questions online.

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Conclusion: 

Choosing between drank or drunk is a simple rule once you understand verb tenses. Drank is used for past actions without auxiliary verbs, while drunk is always used as a past participle with have, has, or had. Both words are correct, and there is no difference between British and American English for these forms. The key is knowing the context and using them consistently in your writing.

Avoid common mistakes like “I have drank” or “She drunk the juice yesterday”. Correct usage improves clarity, professionalism, and reader confidence. Whether you’re writing emails, blog posts, social media updates, or academic papers, following this rule ensures your English is correct and natural. For ESL learners, this distinction is particularly important to master. Remember: past = drank, past participle = drunk. Once you internalize this, you’ll never hesitate when forming sentences about drinking again.