Irregular verbs  Regular verbs

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shut, shuts, shutting

Synonyms: close, seal, fasten, bar, secure

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Antonyms: open, unfasten, unlock, unseal, reveal

The Verb Shut – Definition, Usage, and Clarification


The verb shut is a common irregular verb that means to close something, such as a door, window, or a container, making it not open.


VERB FORMS


■ Base Form: shut
■ Past Simple: shut
■ Past Participle: shut
■ Present Participle/Gerund: shutting


USAGE AND CONTEXT


'Shut' is a direct, everyday verb, often more informal or abrupt than 'close.'


1. Closing Something
This is its primary and most literal meaning.


■ Doors/Windows: 'Could you please shut the door? It's cold outside.'
■ Containers: 'Shut the lid tightly on the jar.'
■ Eyes/Mouth: 'He shut his eyes and tried to sleep.'


2. Ceasing Operation (Figurative)
This refers to closing a business or operation, usually permanently.


■ Business: 'The old factory shut down last year.'


ℹ IMPORTANT: 'SHUT' VS. 'CLOSE' AND PHRASAL VERBS


■ 'Shut' vs. 'Close': These are often interchangeable, but 'shut' can sound more forceful or final. You can 'close' a meeting, but you 'shut down' a factory. 'Close' is generally a more neutral term.


■ Identical Verb Forms: The base, past simple, and past participle forms are all 'shut.'


■ Phrasal Verbs:
■ Shut down: To turn off a machine or computer; to close a business. ('Remember to shut down your computer.')
■ Shut up: An impolite and abrupt way to tell someone to stop talking.
■ Shut out: To exclude or prevent from entering. ('He felt shut out of the conversation.')