Irregular verb
The verb to cut
cut → cut → cut
B1Meaning: to divide with a knife or scissors; to reduce something · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they cut·he/she/it cuts - Past Simple:
cut(the same as the base form) - Past participle:
cut(all three forms are the same) - -ing form:
cutting(double t)
Conjugation of the verb to cut
Present Simple
| I | cut |
| You | cut |
| He / She / It | cuts |
| We | cut |
| You (pl.) | cut |
| They | cut |
Past Simple
| I | cut |
| You | cut |
| He / She / It | cut |
| We | cut |
| You (pl.) | cut |
| They | cut |
All the forms of the verb to cut
Present Simple
Full pagecut / cuts
“I cut the bread.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are cutting
“I am cutting the bread right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagecut
“I cut my finger yesterday.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were cutting
“I was cutting the bread when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has cut
“I have already cut the bread.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad cut
“She had already cut the bread when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill cut
“I will cut the bread tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to cut
“I'm going to cut the bread this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould cut
“I would cut the bread if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to cut
1. Cutting something (with a knife or scissors)
- I cut the bread.
- She cut her hair short.
2. Reducing prices or costs
Cut prices, cut costs: here, cut means to make something smaller or lower.
- They cut prices by 20%.
- We need to cut costs.
3. Phrasal verbs: cut off / cut down / cut out
Cut off means to stop a supply, cut down on means to have less of something and cut it out means stop it.
- They cut off the electricity.
- Cut down on sugar.
- Cut it out!
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I cutted my finger ❌
Cut never changes: I cut my finger. Some verbs have the same form in the present, the Past Simple and the past participle: cost, cut, hit, hurt, let, put, set, shut. Learn them as a group.
2. I did a haircut ❌
A haircut is a noun. Use it with get or have: I got a haircut, I had a haircut. Get a haircut means to go to the hairdresser's.
What's next?
You can conjugate to cut. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of cut?+
The Past Simple of cut is cut: it is the same as the base form. The past participle is cut too. Cut → cut → cut. Other verbs work like this: cost, hit, hurt, let, put, set, shut.
Is it cutting or cuting?+
Write cutting, with two t's. When a short verb ends in consonant + vowel + consonant (c-u-t), the last letter doubles before -ing. It is the same with run → running, sit → sitting and swim → swimming.
Is it I cut my hair or I had my hair cut?+
When a hairdresser cuts your hair, say I got a haircut or I had my hair cut: I got a haircut yesterday. Have + thing + past participle means that someone else does it for you. I cut my hair can mean that you did it yourself.
What does cut it out mean?+
Cut it out! means stop it! You say it to someone who is doing something annoying: Cut it out, you two! It is informal, like Stop it!
Is it cut or cutted?+
Always cut. Cut is an irregular verb that does not change in the past: cut, never cutted. Learn it with the other verbs that do not change, like put, hit, let and shut.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/cut
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.