Understanding verb tenses in English can be tricky, especially when it comes to irregular verbs. One common point of confusion is the past tense of ‘putting’—should it be ‘put’ or ‘putted’? While both might seem reasonable at first glance, only one is correct in standard English grammar. If you’ve ever paused mid-sentence, unsure whether to say “I put it there” or “I putted it there,” you’re not alone.
The verb ‘put’ is irregular, which means it doesn’t follow the usual rules for forming past tense. Unlike regular verbs that typically end in “-ed,” such as ‘talk’ becoming ‘talked’ or ‘walk’ becoming ‘walked’, ‘put’ stays the same in the present, past, and past participle forms. That’s right—the past tense of ‘put’ is still ‘put’.
On the other hand, ‘putted’ is not used unless you’re talking about golf, where “to putt” means to strike the ball gently on the green. In that case, ‘putted’ is correct—but only in that context. This guide will help clear up the confusion and explain why ‘put’ is the correct past tense in most situations.
What Does the Verb ‘Put’ Mean?
The word “put” is one of the most commonly used verbs in English. It generally means “to place something in a particular position.” Despite its simplicity, “put” plays a crucial role in everyday speech and writing.
Examples of ‘Put’ in Present Tense:
- “Can you put the milk back in the fridge?”
- “He puts his keys on the counter every evening.”
- “They always put their shoes by the door.”
“Put” is a transitive verb, meaning it typically requires an object. You can’t just say, “I put,” and stop there. You need to specify what you put and where you put it.
What makes “put” interesting is its unchanging form. It looks the same whether you’re talking about the present, the past, or even the future in some cases. And that’s where the confusion starts for many people.
What Is the Past Tense of ‘Put’?
Here’s the short, direct answer: the past tense of “put” is “put.”
Yes, you read that right. It does not change.
This places “put” in a special category of verbs known as irregular verbs—but more specifically, it’s part of an even rarer group of unchanging irregular verbs. These are verbs whose base form, past tense, and past participle are all exactly the same.
Common Examples of Unchanging Irregular Verbs:
| Present | Past | Past Participle |
| Put | Put | Put |
| Cut | Cut | Cut |
| Hit | Hit | Hit |
| Let | Let | Let |
Past Tense Examples of “Put”:
- “Yesterday, she put her phone on silent.”
- “He put the groceries on the table an hour ago.”
- “We put up decorations for the holiday.”
In all of these, you’ll notice the verb does not change. There is no added -ed like most regular verbs. That’s because “put” is irregular and follows its own pattern.
Is ‘Putted’ Ever Correct in English?
This is where things get interesting.
The word “putted” does exist in English, but it has nothing to do with placing something somewhere. It’s a term used specifically in the game of golf.
Golf Definition:
In golf, “putt” is a verb that means to hit the ball gently toward the hole using a putter. The past tense of this specific action is “putted.”
Examples:
- “Tiger Woods putted the ball perfectly on the 18th hole.”
- “She putted three times before sinking the shot.”
So yes, “putted” is a real word, but it belongs to a completely different verb—“putt,” not “put.” That’s a key distinction.
Important Rule:
If you’re not talking about golf, never use “putted.”
Saying “I putted the book on the table” is grammatically incorrect.
Understanding Irregular Verbs Like ‘Put’
Irregular verbs are the rebels of English grammar. They don’t follow the standard rule of adding -ed to form the past tense.
Instead, they have their own unique patterns—or sometimes no pattern at all. Some change entirely (like go → went), while others, like put, stay exactly the same.
Why Does ‘Put’ Stay the Same?
The answer lies in historical linguistics. “Put” comes from Old English “putian,” and its irregular past form has been retained over centuries. Because of how often it’s used, it became fossilized in its current form.
This is not unusual in English, especially for short, high-frequency verbs. Simpler verbs tend to resist change.
Common Mistakes with ‘Put’ and ‘Putted’
Mistakes are common when people try to apply regular verb rules to irregular verbs.
Here are a few examples of incorrect usage:
- ❌ “She putted the pen on my desk.”
- ❌ “I putted the groceries away after shopping.”
- ❌ “He putted his shoes under the bed.”
Why Do These Mistakes Happen?
Because most English verbs do add -ed in the past tense (walk → walked, jump → jumped), many learners assume “put” should become “putted.” It’s a logical mistake but still incorrect in standard usage.
What About ‘Putting’?
Now that we’ve covered put and putted, let’s talk about “putting.”
“Putting” is the present participle form of “put.”
It’s used in continuous tenses:
- “I am putting the dishes away.”
- “She was putting on her makeup when I arrived.”
- “They are putting together a new team.”
Unlike “putted,” “putting” is always correct when used in progressive tenses. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about placing something or making a golf stroke.
‘Put’ vs. ‘Putt’ – Two Different Words
Here’s a simple chart to compare the two:
| Word | Meaning | Past Tense | Example |
| Put | To place or set something down | Put | “He put the book on the table.” |
| Putt | A golf stroke | Putted | “She putted on the final hole.” |
Even though they sound similar, they are entirely different verbs with different uses, meanings, and past tense forms.
Real-Life Examples from Literature and Speech
From books:
- “He put the letter back in the drawer.” – Classic usage, unchanged verb
- “She put the kettle on and waited.” – Everyday English usage
From conversation:
- “I already put my name on the list.”
- “You put way too much salt in that.”
These examples prove how common and versatile the verb “put” is—and why using it correctly is important.
Tips to Remember the Correct Form
Here are some quick hacks to avoid confusion:
✅ Golf? Use “putted.”
✅ Anything else? Use “put.”
Mnemonic Tip:
“Put is put—don’t add ‘ted’ unless there’s a golf club in your hand.”
This kind of word association helps learners and children remember grammar rules easily.
Final Verdict: Which Is Correct – ‘Put’ or ‘Putted’?
Let’s wrap it up with clarity:
- ✅ The past tense of “put” is “put.”
- ✅ The word “putted” is only correct when talking about golf.
- ❌ Never use “putted” when you mean “placed” something.
By keeping this simple rule in mind, you’ll avoid one of the most common grammar mistakes in English. Your writing and speaking will sound more natural, professional, and correct.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the correct past tense of ‘put’ is simply ‘put’, not ‘putted’. The word ‘put’ is an irregular verb that doesn’t change in its past or past participle forms. While ‘putted’ may sound correct to some, it’s only appropriate in the context of golf, where it refers to making a putt on the green. For everyday use, whether you’re talking about placing an object or performing an action, always use ‘put’ as both the present and past tense. Understanding this rule helps improve your grammar accuracy and avoids common writing and speaking mistakes.
FAQs:
1. Is putted grammatically correct?
Putted is only grammatically correct when referring to the sport of golf. For all other uses, the past tense of put is simply put.
2. What is the past tense of put?
The past tense of ‘put’ is put. It’s an irregular verb that doesn’t change form.
3. Is “I have put” correct?
Yes, “I have put” is grammatically correct. ‘Put’ serves as both the past tense and the past participle.
4. Is the word puts correct?
Yes, “puts” is correct as the third person singular present tense of put (e.g., He puts the book down).
5. How to use put?
Use ‘put’ to describe placing or moving something (e.g., She put the keys on the table). It remains unchanged in all tenses, except for subject-verb agreement.
6. What is the past tense of write?
The past tense of ‘write’ is ‘wrote’. The past participle is ‘written’ (e.g., She had written a letter).
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