Put and Putting: Meaning, Grammar Rules, and Examples
Put and putting come from the same verb, but they are used in different ways. Put is the base form and also the past simple and past participle of the verb. Putting is the present participle and gerund form. Knowing when to use each form helps you write and speak English correctly in everyday conversations, school assignments, emails, and professional communication.
What Does “Put” Mean?
The verb put means to place something or someone in a particular position or location.
It is one of the most common English verbs because it appears in daily speech and writing.
Examples
- Please put your shoes by the door.
- She put her phone on the table.
- They put the books back on the shelf.
Unlike many verbs, put keeps the same spelling in the present, past, and past participle forms.
| Verb Form | Word |
|---|---|
| Base Form | put |
| Past Simple | put |
| Past Participle | put |
| Present Participle | putting |
What Does “Putting” Mean?
Putting is the -ing form of put.
It has two main jobs:
- Present participle
- Gerund (verb acting as a noun)
Examples
Present participle:
- She is putting the dishes away.
- We are putting our plans together.
Gerund:
- Putting your phone away helps you focus.
- Putting others first is a kind habit.
When to Use “Put”
Use put in these situations.
Base Form
After modal verbs or with the infinitive.
Examples:
- You should put your bag here.
- Can you put this letter in the mailbox?
- I want to put my name on the list.
Present Simple
Examples:
- I put sugar in my coffee.
- They put their bikes in the garage every evening.
Past Simple
One unusual feature of put is that the past tense stays the same.
Examples:
- Yesterday I put my wallet in the drawer.
- She put the key under the mat.
Past Participle
Examples:
- I have put everything away.
- The teacher has put the grades online.
When to Use “Putting”
Use putting with continuous tenses.
Present Continuous
- I am putting on my jacket.
- She is putting the baby to sleep.
Past Continuous
- They were putting up decorations.
- We were putting our luggage in the car.
Future Continuous
- I will be putting together the presentation tomorrow.
- She will be putting the children to bed at eight.
Using “Putting” as a Gerund
Sometimes putting behaves like a noun.
Examples:
- Putting your ideas into writing is helpful.
- Putting off homework creates stress.
- Putting safety first is always important.
Grammar Rule for Adding “-ing”
Normally, you add -ing to the base verb.
Put → Putting
Notice that the final t is doubled before adding -ing.
Why?
Put has:
- One syllable
- One vowel
- One final consonant
For many short verbs with this pattern, English doubles the last consonant before adding -ing.
Examples:
| Base Verb | -ing Form |
|---|---|
| put | putting |
| sit | sitting |
| run | running |
| stop | stopping |
| swim | swimming |
Why Doesn’t the Past Tense Change?
Many English verbs add -ed.
Example:
- Walk → Walked
However, put is an irregular verb.
Correct:
- I put my keys on the desk yesterday.
Not:
- ❌ I putted my keys on the desk.
The word putted exists only in golf, where it means “made a putt.”
Example:
- The golfer putted the ball into the hole.
Outside golf, put remains the correct past tense.
Put vs Putting
| Put | Putting |
|---|---|
| Base verb | Present participle or gerund |
| Present, past, and past participle | Used in continuous tenses |
| Used after modal verbs | Used after forms of “be” |
| “I put it here.” | “I am putting it here.” |
Common Phrasal Verbs with “Put”
English uses many expressions with put.
Put on
- Put on your coat.
Put off
- We had to put off the meeting.
Put away
- Please put away your toys.
Put up
- They put up a new fence.
Put down
- Put down the heavy box.
Put together
- She put together a great presentation.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1
❌ I am put the books away.
✅ I am putting the books away.
Why?
Continuous tenses need the -ing form.
Mistake 2
❌ Yesterday I putted my bag here.
✅ Yesterday I put my bag here.
Why?
The past tense of put is still put.
Mistake 3
❌ She is put the dishes away.
✅ She is putting the dishes away.
Why?
After is, use the present participle.
Mistake 4
❌ I have putting everything away.
✅ I have put everything away.
Why?
Present perfect uses the past participle, not the -ing form.
Mistake 5
❌ He should putting his phone away.
✅ He should put his phone away.
Why?
Modal verbs take the base form.
Real-Life Examples
Daily Conversation
- Put your phone on silent.
- I’m putting dinner on the table.
School
- Put your homework in the basket.
- The teacher is putting today’s lesson on the board.
Office
- Please put the report in the shared folder.
- We are putting the final touches on the project.
- I have put the documents in the attachment.
- We are putting together next month’s schedule.
Social Media
- I’m putting together my travel photos.
- She put a funny video online.
Quick Tips
- Put is present, past, and past participle.
- Putting is the -ing form.
- Never use putted for ordinary English.
- Use putting after am, is, are, was, were, be, been, and being.
- Use put after modal verbs like can, should, could, may, and must.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
- She is ______ the groceries away.
- Yesterday I ______ my keys on the desk.
- We should ______ our names on the form.
- They have ______ everything back.
- He was ______ on his shoes.
Answers
- putting
- put
- put
- put
- putting
Multiple Choice
1. Which sentence is correct?
A. I am put my bag here.
B. I am putting my bag here.
C. I am putted my bag here.
Answer: B
2. Which is the correct past tense?
A. putted
B. put
C. putting
Answer: B
3. Which sentence is correct?
A. She has putting the books away.
B. She has put the books away.
C. She has putted the books away.
Answer: B
Correct the Mistakes
1.
❌ We are put the chairs outside.
✅ We are putting the chairs outside.
2.
❌ He putted his coat on.
✅ He put his coat on.
3.
❌ You should putting your phone away.
✅ You should put your phone away.
Rewrite the Sentences
Rewrite using the correct form of put.
- I am put my notebook away.
- Yesterday she putted the toys away.
- They have putting everything in the box.
Answers
- I am putting my notebook away.
- Yesterday she put the toys away.
- They have put everything in the box.
Read This: Breath vs Breathe
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “putting” grammatically correct?
Yes. Putting is the present participle and gerund form of put.
What is the past tense of “put”?
The past tense is put.
Is “putted” ever correct?
Only in golf, where it refers to making a putt. In normal English, use put.
Why does “put” become “putting”?
The final t doubles before adding -ing because put is a short, one-syllable verb ending in a vowel followed by a consonant.
Can “putting” be a noun?
Yes. As a gerund, putting functions as a noun.
Example:
- Putting others first is admirable.
Is “have put” correct?
Yes. Put is the past participle.
Example:
- I have put the files in the folder.
Can I say “should putting”?
No.
Say:
- You should put the files away.
Conclusion
Although put and putting come from the same verb, they serve different grammatical purposes. Put works as the base form, past tense, and past participle, while putting is used for continuous tenses and as a gerund. Remember that put is an irregular verb, so its past form does not change, and reserve putted only for golf. Once you understand these patterns, you’ll use both forms confidently in everyday English.
