Drank vs. Drunk – Which is Correct?

“Drank” is the simple past tense of the verb “to drink,” used for actions completed in the past. “Drunk” is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs like “have” or “had” to form perfect tenses, or as an adjective describing a state of intoxication. Both are grammatically correct, but their usage depends entirely on the verb tense required.

Drank or Drunk – Which is Correct?

The confusion between “drank” and “drunk” stems from their roles as different forms of the irregular verb “to drink.” Both are grammatically correct, but they serve distinct functions in a sentence. “Drank” is the simple past tense, indicating an action completed at a specific point in the past. “Drunk” is the past participle, which is used in two primary ways: to form perfect tenses with auxiliary verbs (e.g., “have drunk,” “had drunk”) or as an adjective to describe someone who has consumed too much alcohol.

A simple “swap test” can help: If you can replace the word with “ate” (simple past), then “drank” is likely correct. If you can replace it with “eaten” (past participle) or “tired” (adjective), then “drunk” is likely the right choice.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning / Usage	Example
Drank	Simple Past Tense Verb	Completed action of consuming liquid in the past.	She drank a glass of water an hour ago.
Drunk	Past Participle Verb / Adjective	Used with “have/had” for perfect tenses; describes state of intoxication.	He has drunk all the milk. (Verb) The man was visibly drunk. (Adjective)

How to Use Drank

“Drank” is the simple past tense form of the verb “to drink.” It describes an action of consuming a liquid that was completed at a specific time in the past. It is a straightforward past tense verb and does not require an auxiliary verb (like “have” or “had”) to form its meaning. Its usage is common in both formal and casual contexts, referring directly to the act of drinking.

Example 1: Yesterday, I drank two cups of coffee before work.

Example 2: The team celebrated their victory and drank champagne until late.

Example 3: She drank the herbal tea slowly to savor its flavor.

What are the different forms of Drank?

“Drank” itself is a specific form (simple past tense) of the irregular verb “to drink.” The full conjugation for “to drink” includes:

• Base Form: drink (e.g., I drink water daily.)
• Simple Past Tense: drank (e.g., He drank juice.)
• Past Participle: drunk (e.g., They have drunk the soda.)
• Present Participle/Gerund: drinking (e.g., She is drinking tea; Drinking water is good for you.)
• Third Person Singular Present: drinks (e.g., He drinks milk.)

Etymology of the word Drank

The word “drank” is derived from the Old English verb drincan, meaning “to swallow liquid.” This Old English root is common among Germanic languages, with cognates such as Old High German trinkan and Old Norse drekka. The shift from drincan to “drink” and its past forms “drank” and “drunk” reflects the evolution of irregular verb conjugations in English over centuries.

How to Use Drunk

“Drunk” serves two main grammatical functions: as the past participle of “to drink” and as an adjective. As a past participle, it is used in conjunction with auxiliary verbs like “have,” “has,” or “had” to form perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect). In this role, it indicates an action completed at an unspecified time before the present, or an action completed before another past action. As an adjective, “drunk” describes a state of intoxication resulting from consuming alcohol. This usage is very common and clearly understood.

For those seeking a broader understanding of this verb form, a comprehensive past participle guide offers valuable insights.

Example 1 (Past Participle): We have drunk all the lemonade; there’s none left.

Example 2 (Past Participle): By the time I arrived, they had already drunk their coffee.

Example 3 (Adjective): The partygoers were quite drunk by midnight.

What are the different forms of Drunk?

“Drunk” is primarily the past participle of “to drink.” When used as an adjective, it can be compared:

• Positive Degree: drunk (e.g., He is drunk.)
• Comparative Degree: drunker (e.g., He is drunker than I thought.)
• Superlative Degree: drunkest (e.g., He was the drunkest person at the party.)

It can also form nouns like “drunkard” (a person who is habitually drunk) or be part of compound adjectives (e.g., “beer-drunk”).

Etymology of the word Drunk

Like “drank,” “drunk” also traces its origins back to the Old English verb drincan. The past participle form in Old English was druncen. Over time, the “-en” ending, common for past participles in Old English, evolved or was dropped in many words, leading to “drunk.” The adjectival use of “drunk” directly stems from this past participle, describing the state of having “drunk” too much.

Related Concepts

Understanding the distinction between “drank” and “drunk” is fundamentally about grasping the concept of irregular verb conjugations and the specific roles of simple past tense versus past participle. Regular verbs form their past tense and past participle by adding “-ed” (e.g., walk, walked, walked). Irregular verbs, however, change their vowel sounds or take on entirely different forms, and “drink” is a prime example (drink, drank, drunk).

The simple past tense describes an action that began and ended in the past. The past participle, on the other hand, is a versatile form. When used as part of a verb phrase (with “have,” “has,” or “had”), it forms the perfect tenses, indicating actions completed before another point in time. When used alone, it often functions as an adjective, describing a state or quality resulting from the verb’s action (e.g., a broken vase, a written letter, a drunk person).

Examples from Media and Literature

• “He drank from the silver cup, and a warmth spread through him.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
• “I have drunk my last glass of wine for the night.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby (adapted)
• “The old man was drunk, swaying slightly as he tried to speak.” – Ernest Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea (adapted)
• “After the long hike, they eagerly drank the cool spring water.” – National Geographic article
• “She had never drunk such a strong espresso before.” – Contemporary novel excerpt

Practice Exercises

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence.

1. Yesterday, he ________ a whole bottle of water after his run.
2. Have you ever ________ fresh coconut water?
3. The sailors ________ all their rations before the storm hit.
4. By midnight, the celebration had grown loud, and many guests were quite ________.
5. She said she had ________ too much soda and felt bloated.

Answer Key

1. drank
2. drunk
3. drank
4. drunk
5. drunk

Drank Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Consumed	To take in, especially food or liquid.
Imbibed	To drink (alcohol or other liquid). Often implies a more formal or appreciative act.
Swallowed	To cause food or drink to pass down the throat.
Guzzled	To drink something quickly and greedily.

Drunk Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Intoxicated	Affected by alcohol or drugs to the extent that one’s physical and mental control is significantly impaired.
Inebriated	Made drunk; intoxicated. (More formal)
Tipsy	Slightly drunk.
Wasted (slang)	Extremely drunk or under the influence of drugs.
Smashed (slang)	Very drunk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Can “drunk” be used as a verb without “have” or “had”?
No, “drunk” is the past participle and must be used with an auxiliary verb (have, has, had) to form perfect tenses, or as an adjective. You cannot say “I drunk the water” in standard English; it should be “I drank the water” (simple past) or “I have drunk the water” (present perfect).

Question 2: Is it ever correct to say “I was drunk” or “he got drunk”?
Yes, absolutely. In these instances, “drunk” is functioning as an adjective describing a state of intoxication. “I was drunk” means you were in an intoxicated state. “He got drunk” means he became intoxicated.

Question 3: What is the present tense of “drank” and “drunk”?
Both “drank” and “drunk” are forms of the verb “to drink.” The present tense forms are “drink” (for I, you, we, they) and “drinks” (for he, she, it). For example, “I drink water every morning” or “She drinks coffee.”

Conclusion

Mastering the use of “drank” and “drunk” is key to precise English communication. Remember that “drank” is the simple past tense, used for completed actions in the past, while “drunk” is the past participle, required for perfect tenses (with “have” or “had”) and as an adjective to describe intoxication. Distinguishing between these forms is crucial for conveying your message clearly and grammatically.

Pro Tip: Incorrectly using “drunk” as a simple past tense (“I drunk a soda”) is a common grammatical error that can detract from your professional image. Always double-check your verb tenses, especially with irregular verbs, to ensure clarity and credibility in your writing.