Is It Bet or Betted? The Past Tense of Bet (A2 Grammar)
Quick Answer
The past tense of bet is bet. It does not change. The word “betted” is very old and we do not use it today.
Today: I bet $5 on the game.
Yesterday: I bet $5 on the game.
Bet in the Past — It Stays the Same
Read these sentences. Can you see the pattern?
- She bet $10 on her favourite team yesterday.
- He bet his friend that it would rain.
- We bet a small amount on the horse race last Saturday.
- They bet on the wrong player and lost.
Did you notice? The word is always bet — in the present and in the past. It never changes.
Why Bet Does Not Change
Most verbs in English add -ed to make the past tense:
- play → played
- watch → watched
- cook → cooked
But bet is different. It is an irregular verb. It stays the same in every form:
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Present | I bet on football every weekend. |
| Past | I bet on football last weekend. |
| Past participle | I have bet on football many times. |
The word bet looks the same every time. The other words in the sentence — like yesterday or have — tell you the time.
The Rule in One Line: Bet never changes. Present, past, past participle — always bet.
How to Use Bet in Everyday English
People use the word bet in two main ways. Look at these everyday sentences:
- I bet you can’t run faster than me. (= a friendly challenge)
- She bet me $5 that the bus would be late. (= a small game with money)
- I bet it will snow tomorrow. (= I am very sure)
- He bet on the wrong team and lost his money.
- We have bet on this horse three times before.
You are doing great. Now let’s look at the mistake that most learners make.
The Most Common Mistake With Bet
Many learners say “betted.” That is actually a smart guess — you know that most verbs add -ed for the past. Even native speakers used the word “betted” 200 years ago. But today it sounds very old, and we do not use it. The correct word in modern English is bet.
✗ I betted $10 on the game.
✓ I bet $10 on the game.
✗ She betted her friend that it would rain.
✓ She bet her friend that it would rain.
✗ They have betted on the same team for years.
✓ They have bet on the same team for years.
How to remember: Think of the word cut. You say “I cut the bread yesterday” — not “I cutted.” The word bet works the same way. Some short verbs just do not change.
Other verbs like this: cut, put, hit, let, set, shut, cost. They all stay the same in the past.
Test Yourself: Bet or Betted?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. He _______ $20 on the football match yesterday.
2. I have never _______ on a horse race in my life.
3. She _______ her brother that the team would win.
4. We _______ on the same number every week last year.
5. They have _______ on this team many times before.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned that bet never changes. That is one more irregular verb you will never get wrong again.
And here is some good news — you have already met another verb that works exactly like this. Do you remember the past tense of cut? Is it cut or cutted? (One small word can save you from a big mistake.)
Next lesson: Cut or Cutted? The Past Tense of Cut
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My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
