Understanding the Past Tense of ‘Putting’: Is it ‘Put’ or ‘Putted’?

One common confusion is the Understanding past tense of putting many learners and even native speakers wonder whether it’s “put” or “putted”. In this article we’ll break down the correct usage and clarify the differences, with plenty of usage examples to guide you.

What is the Past Tense of “Putting”?

To begin with, let’s clarify the verb “put.” In English grammar, “put” is an irregular verb, meaning it does not follow the typical pattern of adding “-ed” to form the past tense. Instead, the past tense of “putting” is simply “put” the same as the base form. This can be confusing because most verbs follow the regular pattern, but “put” is an exception.

Here’s how it works:

• Present tense: put (e.g., “I am putting the keys on the table.”)

• Past tense: put (e.g., “I put the keys on the table yesterday.”)

• Past participle: put (e.g., “I have put the keys on the table.”)

• As you can see, “put” remains unchanged across all tenses, so there is no need to add “putted.”

Why Not “Putted”?

Many English learners mistakenly use “putted” instead of “put.” However, “putted” is incorrect in standard English. This mistake happens because it follows the regular verb pattern of adding “-ed” to form the past tense. But “put” is one of the irregular verbs, which don’t follow this pattern.

Let’s look at an example to highlight the difference:

Correct Example:

“I put the documents on your desk this morning.”

Here, “put” is used correctly to refer to a past action.

Incorrect Example:

“I putted the documents on your desk this morning.”

In this sentence, “putted” is a grammatical error, and it sounds awkward.

Grammar Rules for Irregular Verbs

To avoid mistakes like “putted,” it’s helpful to understand how irregular verbs work in English. Most irregular verbs, like “go” (went), “see” (saw), and “eat” (ate), change form in unpredictable ways in the past tense and past participle.

Here’s a simple table showing the past tense forms of some common irregular verbs:

Verb	Present Tense	Past Tense	Past Participle
Put	Put	Put	Put
Go	Go	Went	Gone
Eat	Eat	Ate	Eaten
See	See	Saw	Seen

As you can see, “put” doesn’t change in the past tense, which makes it different from regular verbs that add “-ed” (like “work” becoming “worked”).

Common Mistakes with the Past Tense of “Put”

One of the common mistakes people make is assuming “putted” is the correct past tense form. This can happen when you mistakenly apply the rules for regular verbs to irregular ones.

Here are some usage examples to demonstrate the correct usage and the common mistake:

Correct Usage:

• “I put the book on the shelf last night.”
• “She put the groceries on the counter this morning.”

Incorrect Usage:

• “I putted the book on the shelf last night.”
• “She putted the groceries on the counter this morning.”

The word “putted” is never used in standard English. “Put” should always be used, regardless of whether the action happened in the past.

Scenario Example: The Correct Usage in an Email

Imagine you’re sending a professional email to a colleague about completing a task. Here’s an example of how to use “put” in the past tense correctly:

Subject: Task Completion Update

Hi Mark,

I just wanted to let you know that I put the presentation slides in the shared folder. Let me know if you need anything else.

Best regards,
Sophia

In this email, “put” is used correctly to refer to a completed action in the past. If Sophia had written “putted,” the sentence would have sounded awkward and grammatically incorrect.

Clear Communication with Correct Verb Usage

Using the right form of verbs helps ensure clear communication. If you use “putted” in a professional email, your recipient may become confused or even question your grammar knowledge. This could harm your credibility in formal settings. Therefore, knowing and using the correct past tense of “put” ensures your message is received in the intended way.

The Past Participle of “Put”

Just as “put” is used for both the present tense and past tense, its past participle is also “put”. This is important when forming perfect tenses, like the present perfect or past perfect.

For example:

• Present Perfect: “I have put the files in the folder.”

• Past Perfect: “By the time I left, I had already put the files away.”

• As with the past tense, the past participle of “put” stays the same, which makes it easy to remember.

FAQ’s

What is the Past Tense of “Putting”?

The past tense of “putting” is “put”. It remains the same in both present and past tenses.

Why is “Putted” Incorrect?

“Putted” is incorrect because “put” is an irregular verb and does not follow the regular -ed rule.

How Do Irregular Verbs Work in English?

Irregular verbs change unpredictably in the past tense, like “go” (went) and “eat” (ate).

Can “Put” Be Used in the Present, Past, and Past Participle?

Yes, “put” stays the same in present, past, and past participle forms.

What is the Correct Way to Use “Put” in an Email?

Use “put” in the past tense to describe actions completed, e.g., “I put the files on your desk.”

How Can I Avoid Common Mistakes with “Put” and “Putted”?

Remember, “put” never changes in the past tense. Avoid using “putted” in any context.

Conclusion

To wrap up, the past tense of putting is “put,” not “putted.” Understanding this rule will help you avoid common mistakes and communicate more effectively, especially in writing. Since “put” is an irregular verb, its past tense remains unchanged across different forms.

By familiarizing yourself with irregular verbs and their grammar rules, you’ll feel more confident using them correctly in both everyday conversations and formal writing. So, next time you’re about to write about something you’ve put somewhere, remember to use “put”—and avoid the trap of using “putted.”