Past Tense of Shut
“Shut” follows the pattern shut → shut → shut. The same inflected form serves a finite simple-past clause and a past-participle construction; surrounding grammar identifies the role. The verb is zero-change across base form, simple past, and past participle; the present participle is “shutting.” Keep this inflection task separate from noun/adjective roles and from shutdown/shut down spelling questions.
The simple past and past participle of “shut” are both “shut.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| completed action in simple past | shut | Use “shut.” |
| past participle after have/has/had | shut | Use “shut.” |
| present/base-form context | shut | Use “shut” when a past form is not required. |
Quick tests
Verb-form test
Do you need the simple past or past participle of “shut”?
If yes: Use “shut.”
If no: Use “shut” or the appropriate present form when the sentence is not past.
Caveat: Both simple past and past participle are “shut.” The verb is zero-change across base form, simple past, and past participle; the present participle is “shutting.” Keep this inflection task separate from noun/adjective roles and from shutdown/shut down spelling questions.
Examples
She shut the window before the rain started.
“Shut” is the simple past.
The shop has shut earlier than usual this week.
“Shut” is the past participle after “has.”
They shut the gates at nine every evening.
The present-tense form can also be “shut.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Use “shut” for both the simple past and the past participle.
Fast Test
If the sentence needs a past form or participle, choose “shut”; use “shut” or the appropriate present form in present-time contexts.
Usage Boundary
Both simple past and past participle are “shut.” The verb is zero-change across base form, simple past, and past participle; the present participle is “shutting.” Keep this inflection task separate from noun/adjective roles and from shutdown/shut down spelling questions.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- SHUT Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (opens in a new tab)Merriam-Webster · Merriam-Webster records the verb inflection as shut; shutting, supporting zero-change shut as the past form.
- SHUT | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Cambridge records shut as both the past tense and past participle of shut.