The common word
"hang" is often confusing. This happens
for several
reasons:
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1.
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There are
actually two quite different meanings
for hang and these
meanings have different forms:
a. hang /
hung / hung
b. hang /
hanged / hanged
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2.
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One of the
common meanings for hang is
"to
suspend." The forms for this meaning are
hang / hung / hung.
Examples:
Where can I hang my coat?
Who hung that picture
in the living room?
It's crooked!
They've hung stockings on
their fireplace
every year at
Christmas. It's a family tradition.
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3.
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The other
common meaning for hang is
"execute
by hanging" (using a noose). This
meaning is
generally used in passive voice.
Its forms are hang / hanged
/ hanged.
Example:
The murderer
was hanged as punishment
for his
crimes.
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Special Notes
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1.
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Hang is also used
with head to mean
"incline
to a lower position" or "bow":
He hung his head in
shame.
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2.
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There are
several common phrasal verbs
and idioms
using hang:
be hung up on
/ about (be fixated or
unnaturally
worried about something)
hang around (wait)
Hang in
there! / Hang on! (Don't give up!)
hang on
(wait; survive despite difficulties)
hang up
(replace the receiver during
a telephone
call)
hang-up
(noun: unnatural or extreme
worry about
something)
All of these
expressions (except the noun
hang-up) use
the forms hang / hung /
hung.
The forms hang
/hanged / hanged are used
only for meaning #2 ("execute
by hanging").
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Oliver, D. (n.d.). Confusing Words: Hang. Retrieved
December 3, 2012, from http://www.eslcafe.com/grammar/confusing_words_hang.html