drank
HighInformal to formal (when used as the correct simple past tense). Non-standard use as a past participle is informal/colloquial.
Definition
Meaning
The simple past tense of the verb 'drink', indicating the consumption of a liquid in the past.
In non-standard or informal contexts, used as the past participle (e.g., 'I have drank'), but this is generally considered incorrect in standard English where 'drunk' is the correct form.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Almost exclusively used for the literal act of consuming liquids. Rarely used figuratively (e.g., 'drank in the scenery'), where 'drank' is still correct. The standard past participle 'drunk' carries the additional common meaning of intoxication.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in the correct use of 'drank' as simple past. The non-standard use of 'drank' for the past participle (e.g., 'I have drank') is present in some dialects in both regions but is consistently proscribed in standard usage.
Connotations
Correct usage is neutral. Non-standard usage often carries a connotation of lack of education or informality.
Frequency
As the simple past tense, 'drank' is extremely frequent in both varieties. The non-standard past participle usage is more frequent in spoken, colloquial registers in certain sociolects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] drank [Object][Subject] drank [Object] [Adverbial (e.g., quickly)]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “drank like a fish (drank excessively)”
- “drank the Kool-Aid (accepted an ideology uncritically)”
- “drank it all in (absorbed visually or mentally)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in social contexts (e.g., 'We drank a toast to the new partnership').
Academic
Rare, except in historical or sociological descriptions (e.g., 'The subjects drank 500ml of water').
Everyday
Very common for describing past consumption of beverages.
Technical
Used in medical, nutritional, or scientific contexts to report fluid intake.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He drank his tea without sugar.
- They drank pints of lager at the pub.
American English
- She drank her coffee black.
- We drank soda at the baseball game.
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable).
American English
- (Not applicable).
adjective
British English
- (Not standard. The adjective is 'drunk').
American English
- (Not standard. The adjective is 'drunk').
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I drank orange juice for breakfast.
- The cat drank milk from the bowl.
- He drank two cups of coffee before leaving the house.
- We drank a bottle of water during our walk.
- She realised she had drunk far too much wine at the party. (Note correct past participle 'drunk').
- The athlete drank an electrolyte solution to rehydrate quickly.
- Having drank deeply from the well of classical philosophy, her arguments were erudite. (Figurative, correct simple past).
- The study participants drank the solution, and their vital signs were monitored hourly.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the rhyme: 'He SANK after he DRANK.' Both 'sank' and 'drank' are simple past (sink->sank, drink->drank).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONSUMING LIQUID IS INCORPORATING (e.g., drank in the information). PAST IS A SEPARATE LOCATION (the act of drinking is located in finished time).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'я пил/пила' (imperfective) directly as 'I drank' if the context implies habitual action; use 'I used to drink' or 'I was drinking'.
- The non-standard 'I have drank' is analogous to the Russian common mistake 'я есть пришёл' – mixing tense/aspect forms.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'drank' as the past participle (e.g., 'I have drank' instead of 'I have drunk').
- Confusing 'drank' (past) with 'drunk' (past participle/adjective).
- Spelling as 'drinked' (hypercorrection).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'drank' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Drank' is the correct simple past tense (I drank). 'Drunk' is the past participle (I have drunk) and an adjective (He is drunk).
It's a common error in various English dialects, likely due to analogy with verbs where the past and past participle are identical (e.g., 'think/thought/thought'). It is non-standard.
No. The adjective form is 'drunk' (e.g., a drunk man). 'Drank' is only a verb form.
Use 'drank' for a completed past action (I drank it yesterday). Use 'drunk' with 'have/had' (I have drunk it) or to describe a state (The water is drunk; He is drunk).