Past Tense of Hang

In choosing the past tense of hang, should you use hanged or hung?

Meaning of Hang


Hang has several meanings, of which these are some examples:


To fasten something at the top:

  • Hang your coat up over there
  • Several pictures are hanging on the wall
  • The restaurant hangs their ducks in the window

Drooping or bending down:

  • Feeling ashamed, he hangs his head in shame
  • The branches of the tree hang down with the weight of the snow

To cling tightly to something:

  • Hang on the rope to stop yourself falling
  • They were hanging on to the edge of the boat for dear life

To spend time:

  • The girls hang around with each other every weekend 
  • Sometimes they just hang in town

To kill:

  • They will hang him for committing murder 
  • Not many countries still hang people

Past Tense of Hang


Of all the above examples of the verb hang, the only one where the word hanged is used is when we refer to killing someone by suspending them by their neck. So this is how we use the past tense of hang in this context:

  • They hanged two people last year
  • The sad news is that he hanged himself

But note that hanged is also used as the past participle to form tenses in the passive that may or may not be the past simple:

  • Three people were hanged for murder last year (past simple passive)
  • He will be hanged next month (future simple passive)
  • Twenty-five people have been hanged since 1973 (present perfect passive)



The last person hanged in the UK was in 1955



When to use Hung


Hung is the regular past tense form of hang and is used for all other cases:

  • They hung their coats behind the door before going in
  • The ducks were hung in the window this morning
  • He hung his head in shame after losing the match
  • The people survived as they hung onto the edge of the boat
  • The girls hung around with each other in town yesterday


The girls hung around in town for the afternoon

Now test yourself in this hanged or hung quiz


More Confusing Words:

  • Confused about whether to use drank or drunk? Drunk is actually the past participle used with the verb 'have'. So 'I have drunk a lot tonight'. 'Drank' is simply the past simple: 'I drank a lot last night'.

    Drank or Drunk: Advice on which to choose

    Confused about whether to use drank or drunk? Drunk is actually the past participle used with the verb 'have'. So 'I have drunk a lot tonight'. 'Drank' is simply the past simple: 'I drank a lot last night'.

  • The difference between affect and effect is that while one is a noun, the other is a verb. So this will influence where you place the word in your sentence.

    Difference between affect and effect: Verb or Noun?

    The difference between affect and effect is that while one is a noun, the other is a verb. So this will influence where you place the word in your sentence.

  • Backward can be an adverb or an adjective. As an adjective it means regressive or undeveloped. As an adverb it indicates direction. So those are the Backward vs Backwards grammar differences. The 's' arises with differences between the US and the British Spellings.

    Backward vs Backwards Grammar Differences Explained

    Backward can be an adverb or an adjective. As an adjective it means regressive or undeveloped. As an adverb it indicates direction. So those are the Backward vs Backwards grammar differences. The 's' arises with differences between the US and the British Spellings.

  • Deciding whether to say people are or is in English grammar can be confusing but the explanation is in the difference between the plural and the singular.

    People Are or Is Grammar Explanation with Examples

    Deciding whether to say people are or is in English grammar can be confusing but the explanation is in the difference between the plural and the singular.

  • Should you use anyway or anyways? Anyway is an adverb that has two meanings. One is 'regardless', the other is to indicate that you are returning to talk about some thing you were talking about before. Anyways has the same meanings but it is very informal English.

    Anyway or Anyways Grammar. What's the difference?

    Should you use anyway or anyways? Anyway is an adverb that has two meanings. One is 'regardless', the other is to indicate that you are returning to talk about some thing you were talking about before. Anyways has the same meanings but it is very informal English.

  • Be / get used to is used to talk about something that one is familiar with or accustomed to. There are slight difference between 'be' and 'get'.

    Be / Get Used to: Learn the Differences

    Be / get used to is used to talk about something that one is familiar with or accustomed to. There are slight difference between 'be' and 'get'.

  • Which should you choose of these two words - alot or a lot? A lot means that there is many of something. For instance, 'There are a lot of people here'. Alot is actually not a word that exists, so don't use it!

    Alot or A Lot Grammar Differences. Which should you use?

    Which should you choose of these two words - alot or a lot? A lot means that there is many of something. For instance, 'There are a lot of people here'. Alot is actually not a word that exists, so don't use it!

  • Take an either or neither quiz to test your knowledge on these two words and to improve your grammar.

    Either or Neither Quiz

    Take an either or neither quiz to test your knowledge on these two words and to improve your grammar.

  • The past tense of fit can be either fit or fitted as it very much depends on whether it's being used in American English or British English.

    Past Tense of Fit - Explanation and Examples

    The past tense of fit can be either fit or fitted as it very much depends on whether it's being used in American English or British English.

  • This lesson examines titled versus entitled. The words are very different in meaning so it's important to know which is correct.

    Titled Versus Entitled: How to Choose

    This lesson examines titled versus entitled. The words are very different in meaning so it's important to know which is correct.

  • The past tense of feel is felt. We don't say feeled as feel is an irregular verb which means that it doesn't  follow the usual pattern of past simple verbs.

    Past Tense of Feel: Choosing feel or felt

    The past tense of feel is felt. We don't say feeled as feel is an irregular verb which means that it doesn't follow the usual pattern of past simple verbs.

  • Learn about to vs too. To is used as a preposition and to indicate moving towards something. Too means excessive or also. These two words are commonly confusing for English learners. To vs Too grammar mistakes will be noticeable so it's important to understand them.

    To vs Too: What is the difference?

    Learn about to vs too. To is used as a preposition and to indicate moving towards something. Too means excessive or also. These two words are commonly confusing for English learners. To vs Too grammar mistakes will be noticeable so it's important to understand them.

  • Simple rules for its or it's: "It's" with the apostrophe is the shortened form of "it is" or "it has":  "It's (it is) hot today"; "It's (it has) been a long time since I saw you". "Its" on the other hand indicates the possessive: "The company increased its wages".

    Its or It's: Grammar rules to know the difference

    Simple rules for its or it's: "It's" with the apostrophe is the shortened form of "it is" or "it has": "It's (it is) hot today"; "It's (it has) been a long time since I saw you". "Its" on the other hand indicates the possessive: "The company increased its wages".






New! Comments

Any questions or comments about the grammar discussed on this page?

Post your comment here.