I've pet that dog vs I've petted that dog
May 17, 2018 5:20 PM Subscribe
OK, so the impetus for this question comes from this 9yo's Twitter account. And a related Mashable article that uses the same construction.
I was taught that the past tense of the verb "to pet" is "petted". But recently, I've seen "pet" being used as past tense more and more. A quick Google search indicates that "Some speakers of English use pet as the simple past tense." Who? Is it regional? Changing lexicon? I'm so confused ...
I was taught that the past tense of the verb "to pet" is "petted". But recently, I've seen "pet" being used as past tense more and more. A quick Google search indicates that "Some speakers of English use pet as the simple past tense." Who? Is it regional? Changing lexicon? I'm so confused ...
My wife uses "pet" (she's from California, if we're counting) and it has always sounded weird and wrong to me, but it's starting to infect me...
posted by restless_nomad at 5:31 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by restless_nomad at 5:31 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
I hear "fit" for "fitted" especially in the cycling context and it drives me nuts.
I disagree with clawsoon on wet, at least. Edit: also bet.
posted by JimN2TAW at 5:32 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
I disagree with clawsoon on wet, at least. Edit: also bet.
posted by JimN2TAW at 5:32 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
"Petted" is the more correct form. "Pet" for past tense is fine for casual speech and informal writing. Think of it like the difference between "I would have" and "I would of."
posted by milk white peacock at 5:34 PM on May 17, 2018
posted by milk white peacock at 5:34 PM on May 17, 2018
Sorry, you asked about whether it's regional. From Chicago, lived in NYC for many years.
posted by JimN2TAW at 5:35 PM on May 17, 2018
posted by JimN2TAW at 5:35 PM on May 17, 2018
Yeah, this sounds weird to me too. Also people do it with text: "I text her the address" instead of "texted" which sounds nuts to me.
From Ohio but have not lived there in a long time.
posted by little cow make small moo at 5:47 PM on May 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
From Ohio but have not lived there in a long time.
posted by little cow make small moo at 5:47 PM on May 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
"I pet a dog I saw at the park yesterday" sounds perfectly normal to me. I'm from Wisconsin. When my cousin was a toddler, he would say "president" instead of "[birthday] present," and that's how "petted" sounds to me, as if there is an extraneous syllable.
posted by AFABulous at 5:57 PM on May 17, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by AFABulous at 5:57 PM on May 17, 2018 [6 favorites]
Australian here.
‘Pet’ used as a past participle verb, as in ‘I pet the dog yesterday’ or ‘I’ve pet that dog before’ sounds Very Very Wrong to me.
Then again, so does ‘text’ instead of ‘texted’. Like nails down a blackboard.
posted by Salamander at 6:04 PM on May 17, 2018 [6 favorites]
‘Pet’ used as a past participle verb, as in ‘I pet the dog yesterday’ or ‘I’ve pet that dog before’ sounds Very Very Wrong to me.
Then again, so does ‘text’ instead of ‘texted’. Like nails down a blackboard.
posted by Salamander at 6:04 PM on May 17, 2018 [6 favorites]
To be clear: I would say ‘I petted the dog’ and ‘I texted my friend’.
(Although actually, we say ‘pat’, not ‘pet’ in this context, so I would actually say ‘I patted the dog’ ;))
posted by Salamander at 6:06 PM on May 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
(Although actually, we say ‘pat’, not ‘pet’ in this context, so I would actually say ‘I patted the dog’ ;))
posted by Salamander at 6:06 PM on May 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
I am from NY. First, I would not use the contraction. I have sounds much better than I've. Second, If I were to use "have" either in its entirety or as part of a contraction, I would use "pet". I have pet that dog once before and the cute thing licked my hand. If I did not use "have" I would say, "I petted that doggie in the window and she wagged her tail until I scratched her chin."
As for someone who writes, "I text her the information", I do not care on which continent you reside, that is plain and simple, wrong.
posted by AugustWest at 6:14 PM on May 17, 2018
As for someone who writes, "I text her the information", I do not care on which continent you reside, that is plain and simple, wrong.
posted by AugustWest at 6:14 PM on May 17, 2018
Best answer: Wearing an erstwhile linguistic-student cap here for a moment: your example isn't, technically speaking, the morphology for simple past tense.
English verbs mostly have six "forms", which often overlap in actual spelling and pronunciation (I say "mostly", because be, troublesomely enough, has a seventh form). These forms are the singular third person present finite (e.g. John writes), plural/non-third-person present finite (e.g. I/you/we/they write write), past finite (e.g. John/I/you/we/they wrote), nonfinite infinitive (e.g. I'd like to write, I can write, did you write?), nonfinite participial (I find writing relaxing, I am writing), and nonfinite perfective/passive (I have written, the letter is written).
Many verbs, although all possess these forms, have the exact same word in more than one form (almost all verbs have the same word for a singular non-3ps present finite as an infinitive; the obvious exception, again, is that dratted be; many, but not all verbs, have the same word for the simple past and the perfective/passive). A particularly exceptional case is hit, which has "hit" in four of the roles, with "hits" and "hitting" as the only different words.
Anyways, "I've pet" isn't a simple finite past, but a perfect form where "pet" is nonfinite. I would use "petted" here, but not everyone would. I think part of the confusion is than in many dialects, perfect constructions (and maybe passives too) are made with a simple past: consider the folksy, nonstandard but common "I've ate at a lot of good places" or "I've sang when the band needed a replacement" or suchlike) And the simple past of pet is also contentious and dialect-driven---most grammars indicate that "petted" is the correct inflection for both standard American and British English, and encourage its use in written English, but good usage guides also caution that "pet" is a pretty typical informal, spoken usage.
posted by jackbishop at 6:36 PM on May 17, 2018 [25 favorites]
English verbs mostly have six "forms", which often overlap in actual spelling and pronunciation (I say "mostly", because be, troublesomely enough, has a seventh form). These forms are the singular third person present finite (e.g. John writes), plural/non-third-person present finite (e.g. I/you/we/they write write), past finite (e.g. John/I/you/we/they wrote), nonfinite infinitive (e.g. I'd like to write, I can write, did you write?), nonfinite participial (I find writing relaxing, I am writing), and nonfinite perfective/passive (I have written, the letter is written).
Many verbs, although all possess these forms, have the exact same word in more than one form (almost all verbs have the same word for a singular non-3ps present finite as an infinitive; the obvious exception, again, is that dratted be; many, but not all verbs, have the same word for the simple past and the perfective/passive). A particularly exceptional case is hit, which has "hit" in four of the roles, with "hits" and "hitting" as the only different words.
Anyways, "I've pet" isn't a simple finite past, but a perfect form where "pet" is nonfinite. I would use "petted" here, but not everyone would. I think part of the confusion is than in many dialects, perfect constructions (and maybe passives too) are made with a simple past: consider the folksy, nonstandard but common "I've ate at a lot of good places" or "I've sang when the band needed a replacement" or suchlike) And the simple past of pet is also contentious and dialect-driven---most grammars indicate that "petted" is the correct inflection for both standard American and British English, and encourage its use in written English, but good usage guides also caution that "pet" is a pretty typical informal, spoken usage.
posted by jackbishop at 6:36 PM on May 17, 2018 [25 favorites]
I have been made much fun of here in Mississippi for saying "I texted her," which is absolutely maddening because I'M not the stupid one in this case. My harassers say it's clear that "texted" and "petted" are wrong because "it sounds dumb! There are too many consonants!" Which, ugh. I'm getting angry just thinking about it.
I fear usage is going to make them "correct" over time, but you and I know that we are the ones in the right on this.
posted by thebrokedown at 6:40 PM on May 17, 2018 [10 favorites]
I fear usage is going to make them "correct" over time, but you and I know that we are the ones in the right on this.
posted by thebrokedown at 6:40 PM on May 17, 2018 [10 favorites]
I'm from New England and I would say
I pet the cat yesterday.
I've petted cats before.
"I've pet cats before" sounds fine to me but I'd probably say it the above way.
posted by jessamyn at 6:53 PM on May 17, 2018 [12 favorites]
I pet the cat yesterday.
I've petted cats before.
"I've pet cats before" sounds fine to me but I'd probably say it the above way.
posted by jessamyn at 6:53 PM on May 17, 2018 [12 favorites]
Grew up in New England, 15 years CA. I would absolutely say I’ve pet the dog, even though it’s wrong. It’s a toss up if I would remember to correct it in writing. I write for a living, but I’m pretty much only allowed to use present tense, so I feel like tense rules are slipping away from me.
posted by greermahoney at 7:20 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by greermahoney at 7:20 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks, all, for your responses. So it sounds as though this particular construct is not regionally bounded, but is more a question of casual vs. formal usage. I think part of the reason I've found this one so jarring is that I've never actually heard it in conversation. But I keep seeing it written. Probably because ... social media. Casual spoken language is now written everywhere, warts and all.
I may never quite escape the prescriptive grammar tradition that trained me, but I do aspire to think of unfamiliar usage as evolving, not "wrong," so long as it communicates effectively.
Except "would of". Some lines must be drawn. SO, SO WRONG!!
posted by peakcomm at 7:49 PM on May 17, 2018 [8 favorites]
I may never quite escape the prescriptive grammar tradition that trained me, but I do aspire to think of unfamiliar usage as evolving, not "wrong," so long as it communicates effectively.
Except "would of". Some lines must be drawn. SO, SO WRONG!!
posted by peakcomm at 7:49 PM on May 17, 2018 [8 favorites]
It was jarring to me; I had never heard or read "I've pet" before. I had to stop for a few seconds to question whether "pet" was being used as a verb or niun.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:08 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 10:08 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]
“I pet that dog yesterday” and “I’ve pet that dog before” sound very normal to me. Petted sounds like a made-up word.
as if there is an extraneous syllable
Yes this.
I’m from Alaska. My husband is from Philadelphia and agrees with me.
posted by rhapsodie at 11:11 PM on May 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
as if there is an extraneous syllable
Yes this.
I’m from Alaska. My husband is from Philadelphia and agrees with me.
posted by rhapsodie at 11:11 PM on May 17, 2018 [3 favorites]
I agree with rhapsodie and I'm from Canada (the Prairies). I asked a couple of other friends from the PNW and they also find "petted" strange. For the record, we do say "I texted her yesterday", not text.
posted by xiasanlan at 11:19 PM on May 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by xiasanlan at 11:19 PM on May 17, 2018 [2 favorites]
Not only do I say "pet," but "petted" sounds wrong. I'd say "petted" if I was imitating a child.
posted by rhizome at 12:55 AM on May 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 12:55 AM on May 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Definitely “pet”. “Petted” sounds really wrong to me, like when my kids were very little and would add an extra “ed” to things, like “he cookeded dinner.” I would say “texted” though. I’m from New Orleans.
posted by artychoke at 2:10 AM on May 18, 2018
posted by artychoke at 2:10 AM on May 18, 2018
I think there's generally a growing tendency to drop "ed". The one I notice most often is "renown" for renowned. "She is a renown cook who is renown for her delicious baked beans."
posted by Gnella at 3:12 AM on May 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Gnella at 3:12 AM on May 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
As the inverse of the last few posters to whom "petted" sounds childish, "pet" as a past tense to me sounds kind of...not well-read. I think I've only encountered it on the internet, where I assumed the writer was maybe a young teenager who hadn't come across examples of the word being used in their own reading, so they went with what they use for other similar sounding words.
Clawsoon's list above - I've seen some of these use "-ed" in older texts: betted, wetted, letted. (And also stuff like "quitted/quit:" "She quitted the room.") "Met" wouldn't ever have been "metted" because the present tense is "meet" (instead of another "met"). People probably had this same conversation about "betted" and so forth.
My spellchecker says that betted, wetted, letted are errors while "petted" isn't flagged as an error. I wonder if it will be in ten years?
"Set" is interesting though since I've never run across an archaic "setted," even though the present tense is still "set."
posted by frobozz at 4:44 AM on May 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
Clawsoon's list above - I've seen some of these use "-ed" in older texts: betted, wetted, letted. (And also stuff like "quitted/quit:" "She quitted the room.") "Met" wouldn't ever have been "metted" because the present tense is "meet" (instead of another "met"). People probably had this same conversation about "betted" and so forth.
My spellchecker says that betted, wetted, letted are errors while "petted" isn't flagged as an error. I wonder if it will be in ten years?
"Set" is interesting though since I've never run across an archaic "setted," even though the present tense is still "set."
posted by frobozz at 4:44 AM on May 18, 2018 [4 favorites]
I disagree with clawsoon on wet, at least.
I don't know what this says about me, but I would use the two forms in different situations. "I've wet the bed" vs. well... wait... I'm thinking of "whet" for the other usage. "I've whetted the knife."
posted by clawsoon at 5:07 AM on May 18, 2018
I don't know what this says about me, but I would use the two forms in different situations. "I've wet the bed" vs. well... wait... I'm thinking of "whet" for the other usage. "I've whetted the knife."
posted by clawsoon at 5:07 AM on May 18, 2018
Another Australian here. Would it sound odd to Americans to use "pat" or "patted"? I have to admit I always assumed that the use of "pet" was like "carmel" or "sammich" - a winking affectation.
posted by hawthorne at 5:35 AM on May 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by hawthorne at 5:35 AM on May 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
I say 'petted!' (I'm from Virginia with parents from Ohio/Illinois who likely modeled the word to me).
Mostly chiming in to note that for whatever reason I have this whimsical association with 'pet' that since it structurally resembles permanent, states (I have set the table, I have wet a napkin), if you have pet a dog, it stays pet. Like there is some metaphysical state of having been pet(ted) which is now switched forever to the 'on' position.
It is a very cute idea and I always smile when people say that, my brain erroneously reacting as if they are using lolcat speech or something.
posted by space snail at 5:40 AM on May 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Mostly chiming in to note that for whatever reason I have this whimsical association with 'pet' that since it structurally resembles permanent, states (I have set the table, I have wet a napkin), if you have pet a dog, it stays pet. Like there is some metaphysical state of having been pet(ted) which is now switched forever to the 'on' position.
It is a very cute idea and I always smile when people say that, my brain erroneously reacting as if they are using lolcat speech or something.
posted by space snail at 5:40 AM on May 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
From Mississippi, currently living in New England. I would definitely say both "I pet the cat yesterday," and "I've pet cats before," but would not think twice hearing someone use "petted" in either case (though honestly until this thread if I HAD given it a second thought, I'd have thought I was the one using the more correct/formal version).
This whole idea that "text" as a verb would not use 'ed' is bonkers to me, though. This is the first time I've ever been exposed to the possibility, I don't think I've ever heard anyone use "text" as a past tense, or if I have, I must have just assumed I misheard them and forgot about it.
posted by solotoro at 7:52 AM on May 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
This whole idea that "text" as a verb would not use 'ed' is bonkers to me, though. This is the first time I've ever been exposed to the possibility, I don't think I've ever heard anyone use "text" as a past tense, or if I have, I must have just assumed I misheard them and forgot about it.
posted by solotoro at 7:52 AM on May 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Hawthorne, in my personal American (mostly Midwestern) vocabulary, pet and pat are two distinct actions. Petting is a gentle stroking, often accompanied by scratching or massage. Patting is a quickly repeated up-and-down touch and draw back. I might either pet or pat an animal, and would find no strangeness in either word. But I would also pat a pillow to position it or a dough to flatten it. I wouldn't pet either. YMMV.
posted by peakcomm at 8:19 AM on May 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by peakcomm at 8:19 AM on May 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I've heard a number of people who have trouble pronouncing all the consonants at the end of "texts," and end up pronouncing it as "Texas."
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:01 AM on May 18, 2018
posted by The Underpants Monster at 9:01 AM on May 18, 2018
I've definitely heard people use "tex" in the present tense, which would explain "texed" (pronounced "text") as a past tense.
posted by explosion at 8:56 PM on May 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by explosion at 8:56 PM on May 18, 2018 [3 favorites]
I would say "petted."
posted by sarcasticah at 8:31 AM on May 19, 2018
posted by sarcasticah at 8:31 AM on May 19, 2018
This thread is closed to new comments.
I've bet...
I've let...
I've met...
I've set...
I've wet...
posted by clawsoon at 5:28 PM on May 17, 2018 [1 favorite]