‘He Deserves' or 'He Deserved': What's the Difference?

Do you need to know the difference between 'he deserves' and 'he deserved?' If so, you came to the right place.

Here is the short answer in case you are in a hurry: 

• 'He deserves' is the present tense form of the phrase. 
• 'He deserved' is the past tense form of the phrase. 

While the answer above tells you how these phrases differ, there is much more to learn. So, read on!

What is the Difference Between 'He Deserves' vs. 'He Deserved?'

The phrases 'he deserves' and 'he deserved' mean the same thing. However, you use the first term to discuss what someone deserves or should receive in the present.

You use the second when describing what someone should have received in the past based on their conduct or actions.

Definition of 'He Deserves': What Does 'He Deserves' Mean?

To learn more about 'he deserves,' let's look at the definitions of he and deserves. 

Definition of 'He'

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines he as a pronoun that means:

• A male who is neither the listener nor the speaker
• Used in a general manner when the subject's gender is unknown

He can also be a noun that means:

• A male person or animal
• Someone who is masculine or has strong masculine attributes

Definition of 'Deserves'

The same dictionary defines deserves as a verb that means:

• To be worthy of or fit for a specific requital or reward

Definition of 'He Deserved': What Does 'He Deserved' Mean?

As I mentioned above, the only significant difference between 'he deserved' and the former is that deserved is a past tense verb. So, this phrase means that someone's actions merited a requital, action, or reward in the past.

Pronunciation: How to Pronounce 'He Deserves' or 'He Deserved'

Pronunciation is an essential component of learning English. Knowing the correct way to pronounce a word helps to give you confidence to use it in conversation or when you are speaking in front of a group.

And, if you are a native speaker, using proper pronunciation helps you deliver a clear message and improves your communication skills.

So, here is a pronunciation guide you can reference.

• Use this phonetic spelling to pronounce 'he deserves' correctly:

hē dizurvz

• Use this phonetic spelling to pronounce 'he deserved' correctly:

hē dizurvd

How and When to Use 'He Deserves' vs. 'He Deserved'

• Use 'he deserves' when speaking or writing in the present tense.

For example, you could say:

Johnathan has worked so hard this year. He deserves to win the 2023 Best Student award. 

Or:

He deserves what he gets. 

• Use 'he deserved' when speaking about something that occurred in the past.

As an example, you might hear someone say:

He deserved to win the award, but it was given to his classmate. 

Or:

He deserved what he got. 

Sample Sentences Using 'He Deserves' and 'He Deserved'

Here are some additional sample sentences using these two phrases. Read them to ensure you understand and remember how to use both versions correctly.

He Deserves

• He deserves to hear what you have to say.
• No matter what you've heard, you should know he deserves everything he has. He is a team player and often burns the midnight oil to complete projects on tight deadlines.
• It is not your place to judge what he deserves. Besides, you do not know all the facts.
• I am so happy that Tony finally found Annabelle. He is a wonderful person, and after all that he has been through, he deserves happiness and a partner who loves and respects him.
• He deserves a better life, but things always seem challenging for Samuel.
• After his irresponsible actions during the break, he deserves whatever punishment the board imposes on him.
• If you do not think he deserves a new car, don't give it to him. Driving is a privilege. If you do not teach him to be responsible, he could get in trouble or hurt himself or someone else.

He Deserved

• He deserved the harsh punishment he received from his high school coach.
• I know you feel bad for him, but he deserved the sentence he received.
• Jim did not get the promotion. If you think he deserved it, you should tell your manager.
• The convict was released after serving less than half of his sentence. The jury members thought he deserved a harsher sentence, but by law, he could only be sentenced to 25 years with the possibility of parole after he served 10 years.
• We knew he would eventually get what he deserved. But it was not easy to wait for karma to catch up with him.
• He deserved a better life than we could give him, but we always did our best to love and support Timothy.
• Everyone thought he deserved to pay for the many crimes he committed as a teen. However, people had different opinions about what sentence was appropriate.

Last Look: The Difference Between 'He Deserves' or He Deserved'

You learned a lot in this post. Here is a recap of what you learned about the difference between 'he deserves' or 'he deserved.' 

• 'He deserves' is a present tense phrase that says someone's behavior or actions warrant them receiving something specific. 
• 'He deserved' is a past tense phrase that says someone's actions, character, or activities warranted what they received.

You can learn about other topics like this by visiting the confusing words section here. There, you will find hundreds of guides like this that explain the difference between two or more English terms.

Each lesson gives a short and detailed explanation of the topic, definitions, examples, and tips. So, you can use these guides to confirm the meaning of words and verify which term or phrase you should use.

You can also read a few of these weekly posts to expand your vocabulary, learn essential grammar skills, and improve your verbal and written communication.

So, if you have been curious about how to use any terms correctly, check them out before you go.