When you return an object to the place it was in before, you can say put back.

The idea

In neutral everyday English, a noun can go between the words or after them: put the book back or put back the book. A pronoun goes between them: put it back. The past of put is also put.

Examples

  • Please put the jar back on the shelf.
  • Maya put back the chairs after the meeting.
  • I borrowed your pen and put it back in the drawer.
  • The children put the toys back before dinner.
  • Could you put back the milk when you finish?
  • Sam found the keys and put them back on the hook.

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Watch out

Do not say put back it: an object pronoun must come before back.

Try it yourself

  1. Choose the correct option. Please put ___ the map when you finish. (back / away from)

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    back

    back completes the expression for returning the map to its place.

  2. Choose the correct option. The cup belongs here. Please put ___ back. (it / back it)

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    it

    it refers to the cup and fits before the particle already in the sentence.

  3. Choose the correct option. Yesterday Leo ___ the plate back. (put / putted)

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    put

    put stays the same in the past, so it fits yesterday.

Use it today

Name an object you use and say where you put it back.