How to Use Drank vs. Drunk (Irregular Verb Conjugations)

Short answer — forms of "drink"

The verb drink has three key forms: the base form drink, the simple past drank, and the past participle drunk. "Drunken" is generally used as an adjective (e.g., "a drunken sailor").

Note: Use drank for the simple past and drunk as the past participle (with have/had). Modern standard English prefers this distinction.

Tenses — examples

Usage note: "drunk" is the past participle and is used with auxiliaries (have/had); historically some writers used "drunk" as simple past, but modern usage prefers "drank" for simple past.

Common irregular verb patterns: Drink, drank, drunk

• drink – drank – drunk
• sing – sang – sung
• ring – rang – rung
• swim – swam – swum
• begin – began – begun

Synonyms for "drink"

• sip
• gulp
• swallow
• imbibe
• quaff
• consume

Quiz: Choose the correct form

1. The athlete had _______ three bottles of water before the race.
   Options: drank / drunk / drinks
2. Yesterday, I _______ a cup of tea with breakfast.
   Options: drink / drank / drunk
3. She has never _______ coffee in her life.
   Options: drank / drunk / drinks

Usage notes

Drank is always the simple past: "Yesterday, I drank water."
Drunk is the past participle: "I have drunk water."
Drunken is only used as an adjective: "a drunken sailor."