-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GFB/SOVlrh5rzLjJ2oAJdbUs5nEhfpwx9HcqlSnWObfKmB1FgO/xnGYGo8fAMLGq
 vnmsCwAA+Jy4/W0byTyzTA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001285625-04-000011.txt : 20040402
<SEC-HEADER>0001285625-04-000011.hdr.sgml : 20040402
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040402133844
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001285625-04-000011
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040325
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040402

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000830622
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				04658465
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172921562

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAPPAS JAMES P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001285625

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05498
		FILM NUMBER:		04712818

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-03-25</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000830622</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pim</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001285625</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAPPAS JAMES P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PUTNAM LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST OFFICE SQ</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Managing Director, Putnam, LLC</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James P. Pappas</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>pappasconfirm.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONFIRMING STATEMENT
<TEXT>


Confirming Statement

I, as Reporting Person of Putnam Investment Management, LLC and/or
Putnam, LLC, the Issuer's Investment Adviser and Indirect Parent
Holding Company, respectively, hereby authorize and designate each and
every Managing Director, Senior Vice President and Vice President in
the Putnam Investments Legal and Compliance Department to file SEC
Exchange Act Forms 3, 4 or 5 on my behalf until further notice in
electronic format pursuant to Rule 101(b)(4) of Regulation S-T.

- ---------------------------

/s/  James P. Pappas



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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