"What you did was" vs "What you did is"

Question

"What you did was" vs "What you did is"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'What you did is' is used when you want to emphasize the action or the result of the action. 'What you did was' is used when you want to focus on the action itself. The choice between 'is' and 'was' depends on the emphasis you want to give in the sentence.

Last Updated: March 25, 2024

This phrase is used to focus on the action itself. It is often followed by a specific action or event.

Examples:

What you did was amazing.
What you did was unexpected.
What you did was wrong.

Alternatives:

what you did is
what you did has been
what you did has resulted in
what you did has caused
what you did has led to

This phrase is used to emphasize the action or the result of the action. It is often followed by a description or explanation of the action.

Examples:

What you did is truly remarkable.
What you did is beyond my expectations.
What you did is greatly appreciated.

Alternatives:

what you did was
what you did has been
what you did has resulted in
what you did has caused
what you did has led to

Answer 1

What you did was

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

What you did is

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"What you did was" vs "What you did is"

What you did was

What you did is

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