The plates are clean, but they are still on the worktop. Putting them away means moving them to the cupboard where they belong.

The idea

Use put away for storing something in its usual place. A noun can go before or after away: put his tools away / put away his tools. Pronouns go in the middle: put them away. Past put stays put; -ing gives putting.

Examples

  • Please put the clean plates away in the cupboard.
  • Omar put his tools away.
  • Omar put away his tools.
  • Put them away after you finish.
  • Mina is putting the winter blankets away.
  • I put my drawing materials away before dinner.

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Watch out

Away does not necessarily mean far away: the storage place may be beside you. Put away keeps the item for later use; throw away means discard it.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Put ___ after you finish. (them away / away them)

    Show answer or example answer

    them away

    Them refers to the belongings and goes before away.

  2. Choose the correct option. Mina is ___ the winter blankets away. (putting / puting)

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    putting

    The spelling putting doubles the final t before -ing.

  3. You want to keep the bowls and return them to their usual shelf, not discard them. I will ___ these bowls. (put away / throw away)

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    put away

    The bowls will be kept on their usual shelf, so put away fits; throw away would mean discard them.

Use it today

Name three things you keep in a drawer or cupboard. Ask someone to put one away, then repeat the request using it or them.