English irregular verbs often confuse learners because their past tense doesn’t follow the usual “-ed” pattern. One of the most common examples is the verb quit, which means “to stop,” “to leave,” or “to resign.” Many learners ask: Is the past tense of quit “quit” or “quitted”? In this article, we’ll explain the correct form, provide examples, and clear up common mistakes.
Past Tense of Quit
The correct past tense of quit is quit.
- Base form: quit
- Past tense: quit
- Past participle: quit
Example:
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“She quit her job last month to start her own business.”
Although the form quitted exists, it is extremely rare in modern English and considered outdated, especially in American English.
Quit: Verb Forms
Here’s how quit changes across tenses:
- Base form (present): quit
- Past tense: quit
- Past participle: quit (sometimes quitted in old British English)
- Present participle/continuous: quitting
This makes quit similar to other irregular verbs that do not change form, such as cut → cut → cut and shut → shut → shut.
Common Mistakes with the Past Tense of Quit
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❌ Using “quitted” in American English
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Incorrect: “He quitted smoking last year.”
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Correct: “He quit smoking last year.”
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❌ Confusing past tense with continuous
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Incorrect: “He was quit the game.”
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Correct: “He was quitting the game.”
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❌ Mixing quit with resign
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Quit = informal (everyday use).
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Resign = formal (job or official role).
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Examples of Quit in Sentences
- Present tense: “I usually quit when I feel tired.”
- Past tense: “They quit the match after the injury.”
- Past participle: “He has quit bad habits for good.”
- Continuous: “She is quitting her part-time job this week.”
Quit vs. Quitted: Which is Correct?
- ✅ Quit → The standard and correct past tense form in both American and modern British English.
- ❌ Quitted → Rare, old-fashioned, and almost never used in contemporary English.
If you want to sound natural and correct, always use quit as the past tense and past participle.
Conclusion:
The correct past tense of quit is quit, not quitted. Like other irregular verbs such as cut and hit, the form stays the same in present, past, and past participle. Although quitted may appear in older British texts, it is not standard today. To avoid mistakes, stick with quit in both writing and speech.