Petted and pet are both correct English words, but they serve different grammatical purposes.
Pet is the base form of the verb, while petted is the simple past tense and past participle, meaning someone touched or stroked an animal or person gently.
Many writers become confused because English verbs change form depending on tense, and not every verb follows the same pattern.
In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between petted and pet, their origins, correct usage, grammar rules, examples, common mistakes, British and American English usage, and when to use each form confidently.
Quick Answer
The difference is simple:
- Pet = Present tense or base verb.
- Petted = Past tense and past participle.
Examples
✅ I pet my dog every morning.
✅ Yesterday, I petted my neighbor’s cat.
✅ She has petted every puppy at the shelter.
❌ Yesterday I pet my dog. (Incorrect in formal grammar)
Although some speakers use pet as the past tense informally, petted is the standard and widely accepted form.
The Origin of Petted or Pet
The word pet first appeared in the early 1500s. It originally referred to a favorite or spoiled child before becoming the name for a domesticated animal kept for companionship. Later, English speakers also began using pet as a verb meaning “to stroke or touch affectionately.”
The regular English grammar rule adds -ed to most verbs to create the past tense. Because pet is a regular verb, its correct past tense became petted by doubling the final t before adding -ed. This follows the same spelling pattern as pat → patted and stop → stopped.
There is no spelling difference between British English and American English for pet and petted.
British English vs American English Spelling
Both British and American English use exactly the same spellings.
| Usage | British English | American English |
|---|---|---|
| Base verb | Pet | Pet |
| Past tense | Petted | Petted |
| Past participle | Petted | Petted |
| Present participle | Petting | Petting |
Examples
British English
- She petted the horse after the race.
American English
- He petted the puppy before leaving.
There are no regional spelling differences for this verb.
Which Spelling Should You Use?
Choose the form based on grammar rather than location.
| Audience | Recommended Form |
|---|---|
| United States | Pet / Petted |
| United Kingdom | Pet / Petted |
| Canada | Pet / Petted |
| Australia | Pet / Petted |
| International English | Pet / Petted |
Use pet when talking about the present.
Use petted when describing something that already happened.
Common Mistakes with Petted or Pet
Many learners mix up verb tense.
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| Yesterday I pet the dog. | Yesterday I petted the dog. |
| She petted every day. | She pets every day. |
| I have pet the rabbit. | I have petted the rabbit. |
| We petted the dog tomorrow. | We will pet the dog tomorrow. |
Remember
- Present = pet
- Past = petted
- Present perfect = have petted
Petted or Pet in Everyday Examples
Emails
- I petted your dog while visiting yesterday.
- I always pet the office therapy dog.
News
- Visitors petted rescued animals during the adoption event.
- Families can pet the animals under staff supervision.
Social Media
- I petted the cutest puppy today!
- Everyone wanted to pet the baby goat.
Formal Writing
- The child petted the therapy dog calmly.
- Visitors may pet the animals only in designated areas.
Petted or Pet – Google Trends & Usage Data
Search interest shows that pet is searched far more often because it functions as both a noun and a verb. People commonly search for pet care, pet food, pet insurance, and pet animals.
Petted receives fewer searches because it is mainly used when discussing grammar, writing, or describing completed actions.
Popular Countries
- United States
- United Kingdom
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
Common Search Intent
- Is petted correct?
- Past tense of pet
- Pet vs petted
- How do you spell petted?
- Pet grammar
- Petted meaning
- Pet verb forms
Petted or Pet Comparison Table
| Feature | Pet | Petted |
|---|---|---|
| Part of speech | Verb (base form), noun | Verb (past tense, past participle) |
| Time | Present | Past |
| Correct grammar | Yes | Yes |
| Used for current actions | Yes | No |
| Used for completed actions | No | Yes |
| Example | I pet my dog daily. | I petted my dog yesterday. |
FAQs
Is petted a real word?
Yes. Petted is the correct past tense and past participle of pet.
What is the past tense of pet?
The correct past tense is petted.
Can I say “I pet the dog yesterday”?
In formal English, no. The correct sentence is I petted the dog yesterday.
Is pet an irregular verb?
No. It is a regular verb that forms the past tense by adding -ed.
Is there a British spelling of petted?
No. British and American English both use petted.
Can pet be both a noun and a verb?
Yes. Pet can refer to an animal or describe the action of gently stroking one.
Which is more common, pet or petted?
Pet is much more common because it is both a noun and a verb used in everyday conversation.
Conclusion
Both pet and petted are correct, but they have different jobs in English grammar.
Use pet for present actions and petted for actions that happened in the past, following the regular verb rule that adds -ed to form the past tense.
A simple way to remember this is to check when the action happened before choosing the verb form.
If you’re improving your English grammar, reading a related guide on lay vs lie or choose vs chose can help you master other commonly confused word pairs.
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