Irregular verb
The verb to shut
shut → shut → shut
B1Meaning: to close something · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they shut·he/she/it shuts - Past Simple:
shut(the same as the base form) - Past participle:
shut(all 3 forms are the same) - -ing form:
shutting(double t)
Conjugation of the verb to shut
Present Simple
| I | shut |
| You | shut |
| He / She / It | shuts |
| We | shut |
| You (pl.) | shut |
| They | shut |
Past Simple
| I | shut |
| You | shut |
| He / She / It | shut |
| We | shut |
| You (pl.) | shut |
| They | shut |
All the forms of the verb to shut
Present Simple
Full pageshut / shuts
“I shut the door.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are shutting
“I am shutting the door right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pageshut
“I shut the door yesterday.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were shutting
“I was shutting the door when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has shut
“I have already shut the door.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad shut
“She had already shut the door when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill shut
“I will shut the door tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to shut
“I'm going to shut the door this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould shut
“I would shut the door if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to shut
1. Shutting a door, a window or a book
- Shut the door, please.
- She shut her eyes.
2. Shutting a shop or a place
- The shop is shut on Sundays.
- They shut the factory.
3. Phrasal verbs: shut down / shut up
Shut down means to turn off a machine. Shut up means stop talking: it is very informal and it can be rude.
- Shut down the computer.
- Shut up!
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Shut the door! to be polite ❌
Shut and close mean the same, but they don't sound the same. Close is neutral and polite: Could you close the door, please? Shut is stronger and more common in speech. For a shop, you can say The shop is closed (on a sign) or The shop is shut (when you speak).
2. Close the computer ❌
To turn off a computer or a system, say shut down: Shut down the computer before you leave. Close the computer only means to close the lid of a laptop. Shut down can also mean to close and never open again: The factory shut down last year.
What's next?
You can conjugate to shut. Now say it out loud.
This page explained everything. On PLAY, you practise this verb out loud in 3 minutes, until it comes naturally.
Practise to shut on PLAYFree · No sign-up · 3 minutes
For teachersReady-made activities to practise to shut in class
The Academy offers self-marking exercises and progress tracking for each student: your class practises, and you see who has got it and who needs more help.
Discover the Academy30-day free trial · No bank card needed
English contestConjugating to shut is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
Register my students5,000 students every year · Primary and secondary
Related pages: shut
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of shut?+
The Past Simple of shut is shut: it does not change. The past participle is also shut. It belongs to a group of verbs with three identical forms: cut, hit, hurt, let, put, set, shut.
What is the difference between shut and close?+
Both mean to close. Close is neutral and a bit more formal, and it is common in writing. Shut is stronger and more common in speech. Shut the door! sounds sharp. Close the door, please is more polite.
What does shut up mean?+
Shut up means stop talking. It is very informal and it can be rude. Don't say it to someone you don't know, or in a formal situation. Say Be quiet, please or Could you stop talking? instead.
What does shut down mean?+
Shut down has several meanings. (1) To turn off a machine: Shut down the computer. (2) To close and never open again: The factory shut down. (3) To stop showing your feelings and keep them inside.
Is it shut or shutted?+
Say shut. The verb does not change: shut → shut → shut. Shutted is never correct. Cut, hit and put work in the same way.
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/shut
© 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.