If you are wondering if the correct past tense of put is putted or put, the answer depends on how the word is being used. In ordinary English, put is the correct past tense and past participle of put. For example, “She put the book on the table” is correct, while “She putted the book on the table” is incorrect. However, putted does exist in a specific context: golf, where putt means to hit a golf ball gently toward the hole.
This small spelling difference causes confusion because put and putt are different verbs. Put means to place something somewhere, while putt refers specifically to a type of golf shot. Understanding their meanings, forms, and contexts will help you choose the right word confidently in writing and conversation.
Quick Answer
Put is the correct past tense and past participle of put when you mean “place something somewhere.” Putted is the past tense of putt, a golf verb. Say “I put the keys on the table,” but “I putted the ball toward the hole.”
Why Do People Confuse “Putted” and “Put”?
The confusion comes from the fact that put and putt look and sound similar.
They are actually two different verbs:
- Put = to place something somewhere.
- Putt = to hit a golf ball gently toward the hole.
The verb put is irregular. Its base form, past tense, and past participle are all put.
| Verb | Present | Past | Past Participle | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| put | put | put | put | place something |
| putt | putt | putted | putted | hit a golf ball |
So, if you are talking about placing an object, use put, not putted.
First Word: Put
Put is a common verb meaning to place, move, or position something in a particular location.
Its forms remain the same:
- Present: put
- Past: put
- Past participle: put
- -ing form: putting
Examples
- I put my phone on the desk.
- She put the dishes away.
- He put his coat in the closet.
- We have put the books on the shelf.
- They put the chairs outside.
Notice that the past tense does not change to putted.
Correct: She put the letter in the drawer.
Incorrect: She putted the letter in the drawer.
Second Word: Putted
Putted is the past tense and past participle of putt.
A putt is a golf shot in which a player gently hits the ball along the green toward the hole.
Examples
- He putted the ball into the hole.
- She putted from several feet away.
- The golfer putted carefully.
- I putted the ball too hard.
Here, putted is completely correct because the verb is putt, not put.
Putted or Put: Comparison Table
| Feature | Put | Putted |
|---|---|---|
| Base verb | put | putt |
| Past tense | put | putted |
| Past participle | put | putted |
| Main meaning | Place something | Hit a golf ball |
| Example | He put the bag down. | He putted the ball. |
| Common context | Everyday actions | Golf |
The key difference is simple: put = place, while putt = golf shot.
When Should You Use Each?
Use put when you are talking about placing or positioning something.
Use “put” for:
- Objects
- Clothes
- Books
- Food
- Money
- Keys
- Furniture
- Information
- Things placed somewhere
Example:
“I put my keys on the kitchen counter.”
Use putted only when the verb is putt and you are talking about golf.
Example:
“The golfer putted the ball toward the hole.”
A useful test is to ask: Am I talking about placing something or playing golf?
If you mean placing something, choose put.
If you mean a golf shot, choose putted.
10+ Examples of Put and Putted
Examples With “Put”
- I put my wallet in my bag.
- She put the milk in the refrigerator.
- He put his shoes by the door.
- We put the books on the table.
- They put their luggage in the car.
- Please put the dishes in the sink.
- I put the key under the mat.
- She put her phone beside the bed.
- He put the letter in an envelope.
- We put the chairs in the garden.
- They put the groceries away.
Examples With “Putted”
- The golfer putted the ball toward the hole.
- She putted from ten feet away.
- He putted too hard.
- The player putted carefully on the final green.
- I putted the ball straight toward the cup.
- She putted successfully on her second attempt.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using “putted” as the past tense of “put”
❌ I putted my bag on the chair.
✅ I put my bag on the chair.
Mistake 2: Adding “-ed” to “put”
Because many English verbs form their past tense with -ed, learners may assume that put becomes putted.
But put is an irregular verb.
❌ He putted the book on the desk.
✅ He put the book on the desk.
Mistake 3: Confusing “put” with “putt”
❌ The golfer put the ball toward the hole.
This sentence can technically have other meanings, but if you specifically mean the golf stroke, putted is the precise verb.
✅ The golfer putted the ball toward the hole.
Mistake 4: Writing “putted” in everyday situations
If you are describing an ordinary action such as placing an object somewhere, putted is not the standard past form.
A Simple Memory Trick
Remember:
Put = Place
Putt = Golf
The extra T in putt can remind you that you are talking about the golf verb.
For example:
- Put the book on the table.
- Putted the golf ball toward the hole.
Another useful rule is:
If there is no golf involved, you probably want put, not putted.
American vs. British English
There is no major American-versus-British difference in the past tense of put.
Both American and British English use:
- put → put
- put → put
- put → putting
Both varieties also use putt → putted → putted for golf.
For example:
American English:
“She put the keys on the table.”
British English:
“She put the keys on the table.”
The grammar is the same in this case.
Similar Words
Several words can be confused with put, especially by English learners.
Place
Place means to put something somewhere, often with an emphasis on positioning it.
- She placed the vase on the table.
- She put the vase on the table.
Set
Set can mean to put something in a particular position.
- He set the glass on the counter.
Lay
Lay means to place something down and normally takes an object.
- She laid the book on the desk.
Putt
Putt is specifically related to golf.
- He putted the ball into the hole.
Final Verdict
If you mean to place something somewhere, the correct past tense is put, not putted.
Put → put → put
If you mean to hit a golf ball gently toward the hole, the verb is putt, and its past tense is putted.
Putt → putted → putted
The easiest distinction is put = place and putt = golf.
FAQs
Is “putted” the past tense of “put”?
No. The past tense of put is put. Putted is the past tense of the separate verb putt, which is mainly used in golf.
Is “I put my phone there” correct?
Yes. Put is used for both the present and past forms of the verb.
- Present: I put my phone there every day.
- Past: I put my phone there yesterday.
Is “I putted the book on the table” correct?
No. If you mean that you placed the book on the table, say “I put the book on the table.”
When is “putted” correct?
Putted is correct when it is the past tense of putt, especially when describing a golf shot.
What is the past participle of “put”?
The past participle is also put.
- I have put the keys here.
- She had put the books away.
What is the past tense of “putt”?
The past tense of putt is putted.
- Present: He putts well.
- Past: He putted well.
Why doesn’t “put” become “putted”?
Because put is an irregular verb. Its base form, past tense, and past participle are all put.
Remember This
Put = place something.
Putt = hit a golf ball.
Put → put → put
Putt → putted → putted
If you are talking about putting an object somewhere, always use put in the past tense.
Conclusion
The difference between putted or put becomes easy once you separate the two verbs. Put means to place something and stays the same in the present, past, and past participle forms. Therefore, “I put the bag on the chair” is correct.
Putted belongs to the verb putt, which is associated with golf. Remember the simple distinction: put means place, while putt means a golf shot. This will help you avoid one of the most common mistakes involving these similar-looking words.
