Meaning and Usage
The verb cut means to divide or make an opening in something using a sharp tool like a knife or scissors. It can be used literally, such as cutting paper or food, or figuratively, like cutting time or costs. Cut is an irregular verb that does not change its form in past tense or past participle.
Forms and Conjugations
The verb cut has the same form in present, past, and past participle, making it easy to remember. Its irregularity lies in this unchanged form across tenses.
| English Pronoun | English Conjugation | Spanish Conjugation | English Example | Spanish Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | cut | corto | I cut the paper. | Yo corto el papel. |
| You | cut | cortas | You cut the bread. | Tú cortas el pan. |
| He/She/It | cuts | corta | She cuts the vegetables. | Ella corta las verduras. |
| We | cut | cortamos | We cut the fabric. | Nosotros cortamos la tela. |
| You (plural) | cut | cortáis | You (all) cut the rope. | Vosotros cortáis la cuerda. |
| They | cut | cortan | They cut the grass. | Ellos cortan el césped. |
In past tense:
| English Pronoun | English Conjugation | Spanish Conjugation | English Example | Spanish Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | cut | corté | I cut my finger yesterday. | Yo corté mi dedo ayer. |
| You | cut | cortaste | You cut the paper last night. | Tú cortaste el papel anoche. |
| He/She/It | cut | cortó | He cut his hair this morning. | Él cortó su cabello esta mañana. |
| We | cut | cortamos | We cut the cake at the party. | Nosotros cortamos el pastel en la fiesta. |
| You (plural) | cut | cortasteis | You all cut the wires carefully. | Vosotros cortasteis los cables con cuidado. |
| They | cut | cortaron | They cut the tree last week. | Ellos cortaron el árbol la semana pasada. |
Common Expressions
The verb cut appears in many common expressions and phrasal verbs such as cut off, cut down, cut out, and cut back, each with different meanings depending on context.
Summary
Cut is an irregular verb that remains the same in all its forms. It is widely used both literally and figuratively, and mastering its usage enriches English communication significantly.
