Put or Puts? Complete Grammar Guide
💡 The Short Answer
The choice between "put" and "puts" depends on the subject and the tense:
- ✅ He/She/It Puts (Present Tense)
- ✅ I/You/We/They Put (Present Tense)
- ✅ Everyone Put (Past Tense - same for all subjects)
1. Present Tense Rules: Subject-Verb Agreement
In the Simple Present Tense, English verbs change form based on the subject. This is called subject-verb agreement.
Use "PUTS" (with an 's')
When the subject is Third Person Singular:
- ✓ He puts...
- ✓ She puts...
- ✓ It puts...
- ✓ The dog puts...
- ✓ John puts...
Use "PUT" (no 's')
For all other subjects:
- ✓ I put...
- ✓ You put...
- ✓ We put...
- ✓ They put...
- ✓ The cats put...
2. Past vs Present Tense
⚠️ Tricky Alert
Put is an irregular verb. Its past tense is also put (not "putted").
| Tense | Example Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present Simple | He puts the key on the table. | He does this regularly / right now |
| Past Simple | He put the key on the table. | He did this in the past (yesterday, etc) |
Note: In the past tense, "put" never takes an 's', even for he/she/it. "He putted" or "He puts (past)" is incorrect.
3. "Puts" or "Put's"?
Many people confuse the verb form with the possessive form. Here's the difference:
✅ Puts (Correct Verb)
Use this when someone is performing the action.
"She puts sugar in her tea."
❌ Put's (Usually Incorrect)
You generally do not use an apostrophe with verbs.
"She put's sugar..." (Incorrect)
Exception: "Put's" can technically be a contraction for "Put is" or "Put has", but this is extremely rare.
📚 10 Real-World Examples
Using "PUTS" (He/She/It)
- She puts on makeup every morning.
- He puts his family first.
- It puts the lotion in the basket.
- My mom puts garlic in everything.
- The teacher puts grades online.
Using "PUT" (I/You/We/They)
- I put my shoes on.
- They put up a new fence.
- We put our trust in you.
- You put too much salt in this.
- The children put away their toys.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Is "he put" correct grammar?
Yes, but only in the past tense. "He put the book down yesterday" is correct. If you mean right now, use "He puts".
Do you say "she put" or "she puts"?
Use "she puts" for present habits ("She puts on perfume daily"). Use "she put" for past actions ("She put on perfume an hour ago").
What is the plural of put?
Verbs don't really have "plurals" like nouns, but with plural subjects (They, We, The dogs), use "put".
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