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hang — hanged ~ hang — hung:

a man hanging from a rope ladder

“Hang” (verb) means ‘to fix or support something at the top so that the lower part is free’,

This verb has regular and irregular forms in past and past participle.  However, there is clear distinction between them in the usage:

hang –  hung – hung   [irregular form]

hang –  hanged — hanged [regular form ]

Use ‘hung’ in the past and past participle when the reference is to a thing, such as a piece of cloth, hat, picture, curtain, etc.; and also use ‘hung’ to refer to the act of disconnecting a telephone conversation in the middle, e.g. “She hung up on me!” means ‘she disconnected the telephone connection from her side while he was still talking to her’:

the little boy hung his coat & bag on hooks

e.g.

He hung his coat on the hook.

A clothesline is a long rope or wire on which wet clothes are hung to dry.

Use “hanged” in the past and past participle when the reference is to a person being killed, as a punishment, by dropping them with a rope around the neck, or a person killing him-/herself in this way:

poor woman hanged to death

e.g.

He was hanged (to death) for murder.

She hanged herself when he refused to marry her.

{The practice of using ‘hung’ in place of ‘hanged’ and vice versa is mostly found in the speeches of non-native speakers of English.  A classic example is found in a video clip about Judas, which, I believe, will be interesting and useful to you.  To watch the video clip, please go to “Judas” in People and Professions.}

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