"I made" vs "I have made"

Question

"I made" vs "I have made"

Both "I have made" and "I made" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I have made" is used to talk about an action that was completed recently or has relevance to the present, while "I made" is used to talk about a specific action that was completed in the past.

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

Use "I made" when you want to talk about a specific action that was completed in the past. It is formed with the simple past tense.

Examples:

I made a cake for my friend's birthday.
She made a mistake in her report.
He made a promise to help me with the project.
We made plans to go hiking next weekend.
They made a decision to move to a new city.

Alternatives:

I created
I produced
I accomplished
I achieved
I completed

Use "I have made" when you want to emphasize that the action was completed recently or has relevance to the present. It is formed with the present perfect tense.

Examples:

I have made a decision to change my career path.
She has made significant progress in her studies.
Have you made any plans for the weekend?
They have made a reservation at the restaurant.
He has made a mistake in his calculations.

Alternatives:

I have created
I have produced
I have accomplished
I have achieved
I have completed

Answer 1

I made

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about a specific action that was completed in the past.

Answer 2

I have made

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about an action that was completed recently or has relevance to the present.

"I made" vs "I have made"

I made

I have made

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