Irregular verb
The verb to hang
hang → hung → hung
B1Meaning: to put something on a hook or a wall · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they hang·he/she/it hangs - Past Simple:
hung(things) /hanged(only for an execution) - Past participle:
hung(things) /hanged(only for an execution) - -ing form:
hanging
Conjugation of the verb to hang
Present Simple
| I | hang |
| You | hang |
| He / She / It | hangs |
| We | hang |
| You (pl.) | hang |
| They | hang |
Past Simple
| I | hung |
| You | hung |
| He / She / It | hung |
| We | hung |
| You (pl.) | hung |
| They | hung |
All the forms of the verb to hang
Present Simple
Full pagehang / hangs
“I hang my coat on the hook.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are hanging
“I am hanging the picture on the wall right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagehung
“I hung the picture on the wall.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were hanging
“I was hanging the picture on the wall when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has hung
“I have already hung the picture on the wall.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad hung
“She had already hung the picture on the wall when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill hang
“I will hang the picture on the wall tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to hang
“I'm going to hang the picture on the wall this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould hang
“I would hang the picture on the wall if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to hang
1. Hanging things up
- Hang your coat on the hook.
- A picture hung on the wall.
2. Phrasal verb: hang out
Hang out = to spend time with friends, relaxing.
- Let's hang out this weekend.
3. Phrasal verb: hang on
Hang on = to wait a little, or to keep going when things are hard.
- Hang on a minute!
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I hanged the picture ❌
Use hung for things: A coat hung in the wardrobe. Use hanged only for an execution: The criminal was hanged. Careful English keeps these two forms apart.
2. Hanger = a thing for clothes
Hang + -er = hanger: the object you hang clothes on. A coat hanger is for a coat. It is a very common word.
What's next?
You can conjugate to hang. Now say it out loud.
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Related pages: hang
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of hang?+
For things, the Past Simple of hang is hung: The picture hung on the wall. For an execution (killing a person with a rope, as a punishment), it is hanged. This difference belongs to careful English. In everyday life, hung is much more common.
Is it hung or hanged?+
Use hung for things: She hung her coat on the hook. Use hanged only for an execution. This is an old rule of careful English. Many native speakers don't always follow it, but it is still the rule.
What does hang out mean?+
Hang out means to spend time with friends, relaxing. It is informal and very common with teenagers. Let's hang out tomorrow. We hung out at the shopping centre.
What does hang on mean?+
Hang on has three uses. (1) To wait a short time: Hang on a second! (2) To keep going in a hard moment: Hang on, we'll get through this. (3) On the phone, Hang on means please wait, don't put the phone down.
What is a hanger?+
A hanger (or coat hanger) is the object you hang clothes on in a wardrobe. It comes from the verb hang + -er. A wire hanger is made of thin metal.
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/hang
© 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.