"I have worked" vs "I worked"

Question

"I have worked" vs "I worked"

Both "I have worked" and "I worked" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I have worked" is used to talk about an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present, while "I worked" is used to talk about a completed action in the past without a connection to the present.

Last Updated: March 23, 2024

Use "I have worked" when you want to emphasize that you have experience in a particular job or field, or when you want to talk about recent work activities that are still relevant.

Examples:

I have worked in this company for five years.
She has worked as a teacher for a long time.
Have you worked on this project before?
They have worked hard to achieve their goals.
He has worked with many different clients.

Alternatives:

I have been working
I have had experience working
I have been employed

Use "I worked" when you want to describe a specific action that happened and ended in the past, with no relevance to the present moment.

Examples:

I worked at that company last year.
She worked on the project all night.
Did you work on this assignment?
They worked together to finish the task.
He worked hard to achieve his goals.

Alternatives:

I was working
I used to work
I had worked

Answer 1

I have worked

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present.

Answer 2

I worked

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about a completed action in the past without a connection to the present.

"I have worked" vs "I worked"

I have worked

I worked

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