What is the past tense of "put"?

The past simple of "put" is "put". I put the book on the table.

What is a common mistake with "put"?

Wrong: "I puted my coat on the chair.". Correct: "I put my coat on the chair.". Put is irregular; past tense is 'put' not 'puted'. No -ed ending.

Conjugation of "Put" — All Forms, Examples, and Usage

Q: What is the past participle of "put"?

The past participle of "put" is "put". Use it after have/has/had: "I have put".

Q: Is "put" regular or irregular?

"Put" is an irregular English verb. Pattern: irregular: put-put-put (no change).

Q: How do you pronounce "put"?

/pʊt/ — One short syllable with /ʊ/ vowel like in 'book' or 'foot', not /juː/ like in 'cute'.

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All 12 Tenses of "Put"

Quick reference table — every tense form of "put" with the first-person example and a link to the grammar guide for that tense.

Tense	Example (I)	Quick rule
Simple Present	`I put`	Used for habits, facts, routines, and permanent situations. Full rule →
Simple Past	`I put`	Used for completed actions at a specific time in the past. Full rule →
Simple Future	`I will put`	Used for predictions, decisions made at the moment, and promises. Full rule →
Present Continuous	`I am putting`	Used for actions happening right now or temporary situations. Full rule →
Past Continuous	`I was putting`	Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past. Full rule →
Future Continuous	`I will be putting`	Used for actions that will be in progress at a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect	`I have put`	Used for past actions with present relevance, life experiences, or unfinished situations. Full rule →
Past Perfect	`I had put`	Used for an action that was completed before another past action. Full rule →
Future Perfect	`I will have put`	Used for an action that will be completed before a specific future time. Full rule →
Present Perfect Continuous	`I have been putting`	Used for actions that started in the past and continue now, with focus on duration. Full rule →
Past Perfect Continuous	`I had been putting`	Used for ongoing actions in the past that continued up to another past moment. Full rule →
Future Perfect Continuous	`I will have been putting`	Used for actions that will have been ongoing up until a specific future time. Full rule →

Past Tense of "Put" — Put

The past simple of "put" is "put". Use it for completed actions at a specific past time. Because "put" is irregular, "put" is not formed by adding -ed — you have to memorize this form. See our simple past tense guide for a deeper explanation of the simple past.

I put the book on the table. A1
Can you put your shoes in the closet please? A1
She put the documents carefully into the filing cabinet. A2

Past Participle of "Put" — Put

The past participle of "put" is "put". Use it after "have/has/had" for the perfect tenses ("I have put"), and after "be" for passive constructions ("It was put"). Because "put" is irregular, "put" is not the same as the past simple — students often confuse the two forms.

I put the book on the table. A1
Can you put your shoes in the closet please? A1
She put the documents carefully into the filing cabinet. A2

Is "Put" Regular or Irregular?

"Put" is an irregular English verb. Its principal parts are: base form "put", past simple "put", and past participle "put". The 3rd-person singular present is "puts" and the present participle/gerund is "putting". Conjugation pattern: irregular: put-put-put (no change).

Conjugation pattern: irregular: put-put-put (no change)

How to Pronounce "Put" and Its Forms

Put: /pʊt/ — Stress pattern: O

One short syllable with /ʊ/ vowel like in 'book' or 'foot', not /juː/ like in 'cute'.

Common mispronunciation of "put"

Sometimes pronounced /pjuːt/ with long vowel; should be short /pʊt/ like 'book'.

How to Use "Put" — Common Grammar Patterns

Use 'put' + object + location: 'Put the keys on the desk'. For clothing use 'put on'.

S + V + object + location
S + V + on
S + V + in

Example Sentences with "Put" in Different Tenses

Simple Present: Can you put your shoes in the closet please? A1
Simple Past: I put the book on the table. A1

Common Collocations with "Put"

put something down
put on clothes
put away
put in order
put together

When to Use "Put" vs Similar Verbs

Smart synonyms — when to use each one

place — for more formal or careful positioning of objects
set — when putting something down deliberately in a specific

Antonyms: remove, take

Common Mistakes with "Put"

Wrong: She put often.
Correct: She puts often.
Add "s" to the verb when the subject is third-person singular (he/she/it).

Conjugation Tables for "Put"

Negative Forms

Simple present: I do not put · He does not put
Simple past: I did not put · She did not put
Present perfect: I have not put · He has not put

Question Forms

Simple present: Do you put? · Does he put?
Simple past: Did you put?
Present perfect: Have you put?

Passive Voice (where applicable)

Simple present passive: It is put
Simple past passive: It was put
Present perfect passive: It has been put

Frequently Asked Questions About "Put"

Is "put" regular or irregular?: "put" is an irregular verb. Its past simple is "put" and past participle is "put". You must memorize these forms.
What is the past tense of "put"?: The simple past of "put" is "put".
Are the past simple and past participle the same for "put"?: Yes, for this irregular verb, both the past simple and past participle are "put".