Language can trip up even the most confident speakers, and English verbs are often the culprits. One common point of confusion is the past tense of putting. Should you write put or putted
If you’ve ever hesitated mid-sentence wondering which form to use, you’re not alone. This confusion doesn’t just come from English’s quirky rules—it also stems from a unique exception involving golf. In this article, we’ll break down the rule, the exception, the context, and the correct usage so you can write and speak with confidence.
The Past Tense of “Put” in Standard English
The verb put is one of those rare cases in English where the base form, past tense, and past participle are exactly the same.
- Base form: put
- Past tense: put
- Past participle: put
That means the correct past tense of put is always put, not putted, in everyday contexts.
Why “Put” Is Irregular
Most English verbs form the past tense by adding -ed to the base form—like walk → walked or play → played. However, irregular verbs break this pattern. The verb put belongs to a smaller group of irregular verbs that do not change at all in the past tense.
Here’s the basic conjugation:
| Tense | Example |
|---|---|
| Present | I put my phone on the table. |
| Past | I put my phone on the table yesterday. |
| Future | I will put my phone on the table tomorrow. |
As you can see, the sentence structure changes with time indicators, not the verb itself.
Quote: “The English language loves rules—until it decides not to follow them.”
Why “Putted” Appears in Some Contexts
If put is the correct past form of put, why does putted exist at all? The answer lies in a different verb entirely: putt.
The Golf Connection
In golf, to putt means to strike a golf ball gently on the green toward the hole.
The past tense of putt is putted.
So, while putted is wrong in everyday use when you mean to place something, it is perfectly correct in a golfing context.
| Verb | Base Form | Past Tense | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| put (place) | put | put | put | She put the groceries away. |
| putt (golf) | putt | putted | putted | He putted the ball into the hole. |
This is where the putted vs put debate comes in. The choice depends entirely on context.
Usage Examples
Let’s look at how to use each correctly so there’s no guesswork.
Correct Use of “Put”
These sentences show the correct usage of put as the past tense of put:
- Yesterday, I put the keys on the counter.
- She put the flowers in a vase before the guests arrived.
- They put a lot of effort into preparing the presentation.
Notice that the verb form stays exactly the same as in the present tense.
Correct Use of “Putted” in Golf
When talking about golf, putted is correct:
- He putted for birdie and made it.
- She putted three times before the ball finally dropped into the hole.
- The golfer putted with precision during the championship.
The meaning here is unrelated to placing objects—this is about making a putting stroke in golf.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
The put vs putted context trips people up because they treat the two verbs as interchangeable. Here are some common grammar mistakes and how to avoid them:
Mistake 1: Using “Putted” for Everyday Actions
❌ I putted the dishes on the table.
✅ I put the dishes on the table.
Mistake 2: Avoiding “Putted” Even in Golf
❌ He put the ball into the hole on the green. (In golf, “put” doesn’t convey the action of putting.)
✅ He putted the ball into the hole on the green.
Tips to Remember the Distinction
- Think context first: If you’re talking about placing, use put. If you’re talking about golf strokes, use putted.
- Remember irregular verb put: The putting past tense for placing things doesn’t change form.
- Visualize the action: Is it someone moving an object or swinging a golf club? That mental image will tell you the correct past tense form.
Quick Reference Table
Here’s a side-by-side look at both verbs to avoid verb conjugation errors:
| Context | Base Form | Past Tense | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Placing something | put | put | put | He put his wallet in his pocket. |
| Golf stroke | putt | putted | putted | She putted from six feet away. |
Case Study: Grammar Slip in Sports Journalism
In 2017, a sports headline mistakenly read:
Tiger Woods put the ball in for par on the final hole.
The problem? Woods wasn’t “placing” the ball—he was making a putting stroke. The correct headline should have been:
Tiger Woods putted the ball in for par on the final hole.
This minor mistake changed the verb meaning entirely and confused readers familiar with golf terminology. It’s a great reminder that grammar: past tense forms matter even in casual writing.
Why This Matters in Professional Writing
Getting the past form of put right isn’t just about passing an English test. Using the wrong form can:
- Make you sound less credible.
- Confuse the reader about the action taking place.
- Lead to misinterpretation, especially in sports reporting.
For example, in corporate communication:
We putted the new policy in place last month
is incorrect and could make your company sound careless. The correct form is:
We put the new policy in place last month.
Related English Verb Forms Worth Knowing
If you understand put, you’ll see similar patterns in other irregular verbs where the base form and past tense are identical:
| Verb | Base Form | Past Tense | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| cut | cut | cut | cut |
| hit | hit | hit | hit |
| shut | shut | shut | shut |
Like put, these verbs don’t change in past tense. This can help reinforce the idea that “put” stays the same in past tense.
The Rule in a Nutshell
Here’s your one-sentence rule:
In standard English, the past tense of put is put; the only time putted is correct is when you’re talking about golf.
Final Thoughts
Understanding whether to write put or putted comes down to context. In everyday English, put is the past form of put. In golf, putted is correct because it’s the past tense of putt.
If you remember that put is an irregular verb that doesn’t change form and that putted exists only in a sports-specific setting, you’ll avoid most common grammar mistakes and verb conjugation errors.
When in doubt, ask yourself:
- Am I describing placing something? → Use put.
- Am I describing a golf stroke? → Use putted.
With this clarity, you can confidently handle the put vs putted context in writing and conversation.