Done it before vs Did it before

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Done it before' is used in present perfect tense to indicate an action that has been completed at some point in the past with relevance to the present. 'Did it before' is used in simple past tense to refer to an action that was completed at a specific time in the past.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 1310 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English in the present perfect tense to refer to an action that has been completed at some point in the past with relevance to the present.

"Done it before"

This phrase is used to talk about past experiences or actions that have occurred before the present moment. It emphasizes the experience or completion of the action.

Examples:

I have done it before, so I know what to expect.
She has done it before, and she can help you with it.

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And honestly, I've done it before.
She said that she had done it before.
Please do, I've done it before.
We'd done it before, and I know that I could not have hurt that girl.
She's done it before, Tony.
Its not impossible, I've done it before.
Only one person had ever done it before.
Remember all the guys who've done it before you.
Makes me wonder if you've done it before.
We've done it before and we can do it again.
~ Right, OK, I've done it before.
They must've done it before they knew your charges were dropped.
You've done it before, in the lab, many times.
See, if you have done it before, you'll last for 30 seconds.
It's not like you haven't done it before.
You have done it before, so do it now for Bo.
I've done it before but it's a pain.
I'll be fine. I've done it before.
I've done it before. Really, I'll be fine.
And the way he put me over that wall, he's done it before.

Alternatives:

I have experienced it before
I have completed it before
I have tried it before
I have seen it before
I have been there before

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English in the simple past tense to refer to an action that was completed at a specific time in the past.

"Did it before "

This phrase is used to talk about a specific action that was completed in the past. It indicates that the action is finished and not necessarily relevant to the present moment.

Examples:

I did it before you arrived.
She did it before she left.

Show examples from the web [+]

It's weird, I mean, my sister did it before me.
She did it before it was even on her finger.
We did it before, right?
hunter, you rebuilt your life from nothing. you've done that, you did it before.
He did it before, it happened again.
You found what Walt needed to charge Stephen, and you did it before Walt could shoot him, so problem solved, I guess.
You did it before I showed up?
But you did it before.
He did it before.
I wish I did it before, but...
You did it before at the airport.
I never really did it before vanessa.
They covered their tracks like they did it before.
Aaron told me you did it before he killed himself.
Yes, I sent those girls away, but I did it before he could be tempted.
We can't do that the way we did it before.
Maybe the Indian Assassin did it before he attacked?
I never did it before, and I'd best learn how.
I always wondered why nobody did it before me
We did it before, 10,000 years ago, when we came out of our caves.

Alternatives:

I completed it before
I performed it before
I undertook it before
I executed it before
I accomplished it before

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Done it before vs Did it before

"Done it before"

"Did it before "

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