Pet vs Petted
What’s the difference between them?
Pet
Meaning:
to caress an animal; noun that refers to domestic animals.
Examples:
1. The kids happily pet the fluffy puppy's fur.
2. The contented cat loves when people pet it.
3. The therapy dog brought comfort as patients lovingly pet its calm demeanor.
Petted
Meaning:
past tense and past participle of 'pet.'
Examples:
1. The child petted the puppy gently.
2. She petted the cat lovingly.
3. I petted the rabbit's soft fur.
Learn similar and opposite words to spot the difference
Synonyms
Antonyms
Pet
1. Caress
2. Cuddle
3. Fondle
4. Pamper
5. Nurture
1. Wild
2. Enemy
3. Offend
4. Abandon
5. Deny Care
Petted
1. Stroked
2. Fondled
3. Caressed
4. Petting
5. Showered with affection
1. Neglected
2. Abused
3. Spurned
4. Ignored
5. Rejected
Tricks for mastery
Useful tips to understand the difference between confusing words "Pet", "Petted".
1. 'Pet' rhymes with 'get' and 'bet', while 'petted' rhymes with 'fitted' and 'kitted'.
2. Remember that 'pet' is the verb form of the word, while 'petted' is the past tense of the verb.
Practice English with the Promova app and avoid misusing confusing words
Frequently asked questions
In what situations should the first word be used?
'Pet' is used in the present tense when referring to the action of caressing or stroking an animal affectionately. For example, if someone is currently showing affection to an animal, you would say, 'She is going to pet the dog.'
When is the appropriate context for using the second word?
'Petted' is the past tense or past participle of 'pet.' It should be used when referring to a past instance of caressing an animal. For example, 'Yesterday, she petted the cat.'
Do the two words share the same pronunciation?
No, they don't share the same pronunciation. 'Pet' has a single 't' sound, while 'Petted' has a more emphasized 'tt' sound in the middle.
What are some common mistakes people make when using these words?
Some people mistakenly use 'pet' for the past tense, as in 'She pet the cat yesterday.' The correct form is 'petted.' Another mistake is mispronouncing 'petted' to sound like 'pet.'
Fill in the gaps to check yourself
1. He ______ his cat every night before bed.
2. The child was so excited to be able to ______ the dog.
3. The store sells a wide variety of ______ supplies.
4. I have never _______ a bird before.
5. The dog looked so happy to be _______.
6. She couldnt help but smile when she saw the _______.
1. He petted his cat every night before bed.
Explanation: The verb petted is the past-tense of the verb pet and is used when describing the action of stroking or patting an animal.
2. The child was so excited to be able to pet the dog.
Explanation: The verb pet is used when describing the action of stroking or patting an animal.
3. The store sells a wide variety of pet supplies.
Explanation: The word pet is a noun and can refer to any type of domesticated animal such as a dog or cat. Therefore, the store sells supplies for these animals.
4. I have never petted a bird before.
Explanation: The verb petted is the past-tense of the verb pet and is used when describing the action of stroking or patting an animal. Since the sentence is in the past-tense, the verb petted is used to describe the action.
5. The dog looked so happy to be petted.
Explanation: The verb petted is the past-tense of the verb pet and is used when describing the action of stroking or patting an animal.
6. She couldnt help but smile when she saw the pet.
Explanation: The word pet is a noun and can refer to any type of domesticated animal such as a dog or cat. Therefore, the sentence is referring to the animal seen by the person.
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Download the PDF with a list of commonly confused words made as flashcards for comfortable learning.
List of Commonly Confused Words
Finding your way around the English language can be hard, especially since there are so many confusing words and rules. So, a list of the most confusing words in English is an extremely useful tool for improving language accuracy and sharing the ideas clearly.