Past Tense of Cut: Is It Cut or Cutted? Find Out Here
Cut in the Past — It Stays the Same
Read these sentences. Can you see the pattern?
- She cut the paper with scissors yesterday.
- He cut his finger while cooking last night.
- We cut the cake at the party.
- The barber cut my hair this morning.
Did you notice? The word is always cut — in the present and in the past. It never changes.
Why Cut Does Not Change
Most verbs in English add -ed to make the past tense:
- play → played
- walk → walked
- cook → cooked
But cut is different. It is an irregular verb. It stays the same in every form:
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Present | I cut vegetables every day. |
| Past | I cut vegetables yesterday. |
| Past participle | I have cut vegetables many times. |
The word cut looks the same every time. The other words in the sentence tell you if it is present or past.
How to Use Cut in Everyday English
Here are more examples you might use every day:
- I cut the price of my old phone. (= I made it cheaper)
- She cut in front of me in the queue. (= She went before me)
- The teacher cut the lesson short because of the rain.
- We cut the old tree in the garden last weekend.
- He cut the music and everyone stopped dancing.
You are doing great. Now let’s look at a mistake that many learners make.
The Most Common Mistake With Cut
Many learners say “cutted.” That is a smart guess — you know that most verbs add -ed for the past. But “cutted” is not a real English word.
✗ I cutted the paper.
✓ I cut the paper.
✗ She cutted her hair last week.
✓ She cut her hair last week.
✗ They have cutted the budget.
✓ They have cut the budget.
How to remember: Think of the word put. You say “I put it there yesterday” — not “I putted it.” The word cut works the same way. Some verbs just do not change.
Other verbs like this: put, shut, let, set, hit. They all stay the same in the past.
Test Yourself: Cut or Cutted?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. She _______ the tomatoes for the salad yesterday.
2. I have never _______ my own hair before.
3. He _______ the grass every weekend last summer.
4. The children _______ shapes from the paper in class.
5. We _______ the meeting short because it was late.
You Can Use Cut Correctly Now
The past tense of cut is always cut. It never changes — present, past, or past participle. Try using it today: tell someone what you cut yesterday.
Want to practise more verbs like this? Read about the past tense of drink next.
Source
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of cut.” Online Etymology Dictionary
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
