When it comes to using the past tense of the verb “hit,” the correct form is “hit,” not “hitted.” Although “hitted” may sound plausible to some individuals, especially those who are not native English speakers, it is important to know that it is not accepted as standard English grammar. The confusion around this topic primarily arises from the fact that other irregular verbs, such as “put” and “set,” do form their past tense by adding an extra “ted” or “t” at the end. However, “hit” is an exception to this rule.
Instead of saying “hitted,” native English speakers would say,”I hit the ball,” “He hit me,” or “She hit the target.” We never say, “I hitted the ball,” “He hitted me,” or “She hitted the target.” Using “hitted” instead of “hit” can come across as ungrammatical and may lead to confusion when communicating with native English speakers.
To understand this further, let’s consider some common irregular verbs and how their past tenses are formed. For instance, the verb “put” becomes “put” in the past tense. We say, “I put the book on the table.” Similarly, the verb “set” becomes “set” in the past tense. We say, “She set the table for dinner.” In these cases, “put” and “set” follow the pattern of adding a final “t” or “ted” to form the past tense.
However, “hit” falls into a different category of irregular verbs, and its past tense form does not follow the same pattern. Instead of saying “hitted,” we simply use “hit.” This is similar to other irregular verbs like “cut,” “spread,” and “let,” which also maintain the same form in both present and past tense.
To provide more context, let’s look at some additional examples:
1. Correct: Tom hit the ball out of the park.
Incorrect: Tom hitted the ball out of the park.
2. Correct: The storm hit the coast with tremendous force.
Incorrect: The storm hitted the coast with tremendous force.
3. Correct: The teacher hit the table to get the students’ attention.
Incorrect: The teacher hitted the table to get the students’ attention.
Using “hitted” in these examples would not be grammatically correct, and it may even cause confusion or make you appear less fluent in English. It is important to use the correct form to maintain clarity and accuracy in your communication.
In conclusion, the correct past tense of the verb “hit” is “hit,” not “hitted.” While it may be tempting to add an extra “ted” or “t” like other irregular verbs, it is important to understand the specific rules of each verb. By using the correct form, you will sound more natural and fluent.