what we have done vs what have we done

Both "what we have done" and "what have we done" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "What we have done" is used when emphasizing the actions that have been completed by a specific group or individual. On the other hand, "what have we done" is used to express concern, surprise, or regret about actions that have been taken.

Last updated: March 24, 2024 • 2592 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to emphasize actions that have been completed by a specific group or individual.

"what we have done"

This phrase is used to refer to the actions that have been completed by a particular group or individual. It emphasizes the completion of those actions.

Examples:

Let's take a moment to reflect on what we have done so far.
I am proud of what we have done together.
It's important to acknowledge what we have done right.
What we have done has made a significant impact on the community.
I appreciate what we have done for this project.

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He could find out any minute now what we have done.
This is what we have done so far in the fight against terrorism.
Living with the shame of what we have done.
It is exactly what we have done to missis Weezmer.
That is what we have done, and our conclusion is clear.
And that is what we have done in the Committee on Budgetary Control over recent weeks.
Someday the triads will kill us for what we have done.
That is what we have done today.
This is what we have done.
- So what we have done here...
Because of what we have done.
However, what we have done is this.
My clear answer is no: what we have done is not sufficient.
Mr Wojciechowski, that is what we have done.
Our annual action programmes will explain more clearly what we have done with regard to consultations.
That is what we have done in this case.
I hope no one will ever discover what we have done with the princess.
We cannot simply call what we have done so far success and move on to the next failed state.
Instead they requested that the Commission revisit the subject at a later date, which is what we have done.
Has what we have done to date achieved anything?

Alternatives:

what we accomplished
what we achieved
what we completed
what we have achieved
what we have completed

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express concern, surprise, or regret about actions that have been taken.

"what have we done"

This phrase is used to express concern, surprise, or regret about actions that have been taken by a group or individual. It is often used in a rhetorical or introspective manner.

Examples:

Oh no, what have we done?
What have we done to deserve this punishment?
I can't believe what we have done.
What have we done to make things right?
What have we done to fix this mess?

Show examples from the web [+]

But sir, what have we done?
what have we done to make them like that?
Why, what have we done now?
But what have we done, Captain?
What have we done in order to build a country able to accept its responsibilities as an independent and democratic state?
What have we done to ensure that the Palestinians do their duties, such as to support Abu Mazen so that he may have a single police force or to demand that Arafat concede some of his powers to a minister who he himself had supported?
Why, what have we done now?
I mean, what have we done to feel guilty about?
Bart, Bart, what have we done?
What have we done, Father?
What have we done over recent years?
What have we done with this regained freedom?
What have we done to increase our support for nuclear power?
What have we done to get other permissible pipelines sorted out?
What have we done in the field of LNG?
What have we done to be so horribly neglected by you and your father?
What have we done that we can be proud of?
What have we done to ensure a more varied energy mix in Europe, and to reduce our dependence?
What have we done to ensure that coal power stations also figure in this mix?
To my mind, the only questions that need to be asked are: 'What have we done in the past?' and 'What must we do in the future? '

Alternatives:

what did we do
what on earth have we done
what in the world have we done
what in heaven's name have we done
what in God's name have we done

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what we have done vs what have we done

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