For all its elegance and versatility, the English language can sometimes throw curveballs at even the most seasoned writers. One such instance is the seemingly simple question: “Learnt or learned?” Both terms appear grammatically correct, but is there a hidden difference? This blog will answer this.
| Learnt | Learned | |
| Spelling | Australia | US |
| Part of Speech | Verb form (past tense & past participle) | Adjective (past participle) and rarely verb |
| Examples | He learnt to play the piano. | She has learned a lot from her mistakes. |
| They learnt about history in school. | He is a highly learned scholar. |
Understanding The Past Tense And Past Participle
Before diving into the specifics, let’s establish a foundation. Both “learnt” and “learned” function as the past tense and past participle of the verb “to learn.” This means they express the action of acquiring knowledge or a skill that happened in the past.
For example:
- Past Tense: I learned how to play the piano when I was a child.
- Past Participle: She has already learned the new dance routine.
US Vs Australia
The key difference between “learnt” and “learned” lies in their preferred usage based on dialect. Here’s the breakdown:
- American English: In the United States and Canada, “learned” reigns supreme. It is the standard past tense and past participle form for most writers and speakers.
- Australian English: Across the pond, “learnt” takes centre stage. It is the more commonly used form in the UK, Australia, and many other regions where British English dominates.
Remember: Both spellings are grammatically correct within their respective dialects. There’s no need to rewrite a perfectly good Australian sentence using “learned” just because you’re referencing American sources.
The same convention is followed for other words, such as dreamed vs dreamt.
The Adjective
There’s one crucial exception to the dialect-based rule. When “learned” functions as an adjective, its spelling remains constant across dialects. This adjective form describes someone possessing extensive knowledge or scholarly pursuits. Here’s how it plays out:
- Example: Professor Davies is a learned scholar with expertise in ancient history.
Pronunciation Note: Interestingly, the adjective “learned” has a slightly different pronunciation compared to the past tense/participle form. It’s pronounced as “lur-nid” with two syllables and emphasis on the first syllable.
I Learned Vs I Learnt
“I learned” and “I learnt” are two different spellings of the same verb, “learn,” used in the past tense. Both are correct, but their usage depends on regional differences in English.
Lesson Learned Vs Lesson Learnt
“Lesson learned” and “lesson learnt” are phrases used to convey the idea of acquiring knowledge or wisdom from an experience.
“Lesson learned” is the preferred spelling in American English, while “lesson learnt” is more commonly used in British and Australian English.
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Examples Of Learnt Vs Learned
| Learnt | Learned |
|---|---|
| She learnt to play the piano when she was five. | She learned to play the piano when she was five. |
| He has learnt a lot from his mistakes and improved his behavior. | He has learned a lot from his mistakes and improved his behaviour. |
| I have learnt so much about history this semester. | I have learned so much about history this semester. |
| They learnt about the new technology yesterday. | They learned about the new technology yesterday. |
| Sarah learnt Spanish through travelling. | Sarah learned Spanish through travelling. |
| The students have learnt their lesson well. | The students have learned their lesson well. |
| He learnt to swim when he was very young. | He learned to swim when he was very young. |
| She learnt how to bake from her grandmother. | She learned how to bake from her grandmother. |
| We have learnt a great deal about astronomy. | We have learned a great deal about astronomy. |
| They’ve learnt from their past mistakes. | They’ve learned from their past mistakes. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Both “learnt” and “learned” are correct forms of the past tense and past participle of the verb “learn” in Australian and American English respectively. For example: “She learnt a new skill yesterday” (AUS English) or “She learned a new skill yesterday” (American English).
Both “I’ve learnt” (Australian English) and “I’ve learned” (American English) are correct. The choice depends on the variant of English you’re using. For example: “I’ve learnt a lot from this experience” (British English) or “I’ve learned a lot from this experience” (American English).
Both “a lesson learned” (American English) and “a lesson learnt” (Australian English) are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the variant of English you’re using. For example: “It was a valuable lesson learned” (American English) or “It was a valuable lesson learnt” (Australian English).
Both “one thing I have learned” (American English) and “one thing I have learnt” (Australian English) are correct. The choice depends on the variant of English you’re using. For example: “One thing I have learned is the importance of perseverance” (American English) or “One thing I have learnt is the importance of perseverance” (Australian English).
Both “today I learned” (American English) and “today I learnt” (Australian English) are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the variant of English you’re using. For example: “Today I learned about a new scientific discovery” (American English) or “Today I learnt about a new scientific discovery” (Australian English).”
The third form of “learn” is “learned” in American English and “learnt” in Australian English. Both forms are past participles used in perfect tenses. For example: “She has learned a lot from her experiences” (American English) or “She has learnt a lot from her experiences” (Australian English).
