"I washed" vs "I have washed"

Question

"I washed" vs "I have washed"

Both "I have washed" and "I washed" are correct verb forms in English, but they are used in different contexts. "I have washed" is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action that was completed recently or has relevance to the present. "I washed" is in the simple past tense, referring to a specific action that occurred and was completed in the past.

Last Updated: March 28, 2024

Use "I washed" in the simple past tense to refer to a specific action that occurred and was completed in the past. It indicates that the washing took place at a definite time in the past.

Examples:

I washed my car yesterday.
She washed the dishes after dinner.
He washed his hands before eating.
They washed their clothes last weekend.
We washed the windows together.

Alternatives:

I cleaned
I rinsed
I scrubbed
I laundered
I bathed

Use "I have washed" in the present perfect tense to indicate an action that was completed recently or has relevance to the present. It shows a connection between the past action of washing and the present moment.

Examples:

I have washed the dishes already.
She has washed her car this morning.
Have you washed your hands?
They have washed their clothes for the trip.
He has washed the windows before the guests arrive.

Alternatives:

I have cleaned
I have rinsed
I have scrubbed
I have laundered
I have bathed

Answer 1

I washed

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, especially in the simple past tense.

Answer 2

I have washed

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, especially in the present perfect tense.

"I washed" vs "I have washed"

I washed

I have washed

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