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The verb to bet · Conjugation

Past Simple of bet

The answer: bet

A2

A finished action at a definite time in the past.

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Quick answer

The Past Simple of the verb to bet is bet.

Example: He bet ten pounds on the horse.

Full conjugation in the Past Simple

PronounForm
Ibet
Youbet
He / She / Itbet
Webet
You (pl.)bet
Theybet

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Bet → bet → bet

The Past Simple and the past participle are the same as the base form, like cut, put, hit, let, set and shut.

2. Beting ❌

The -ing form doubles the t: betting. The consonant doubles after a short, stressed vowel, like cutting and putting.

3. I bet = I'm sure

I bet he'll come means I'm sure he will come. In the present, I bet shows that you feel certain. Nobody risks any money.

Practice quiz

Question 1 / 3The Big Challenge question bank

Complete with the most common form: He _____ ten pounds on the horse last week.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the past tense of bet?+

The Past Simple of bet is bet, the same as the base form. The past participle is bet too. Bet → bet → bet, like cut, put and hit.

How do you know if bet is present or past?+

The form is the same, so look at the context. I bet you're right is present. With a time word like yesterday or last week, it is the Past Simple: I bet ten pounds on the match last week. With he or she, the present takes -s: he bets.

What does you bet mean in English?+

You bet! is an informal way to say Of course! or Yes, definitely! It is very American. Can you help me? You bet!

How do you make bet negative in the past?+

Use didn't + bet: He didn't bet on that horse. After didn't, use the base form. For bet, it looks the same.

Can you say betted?+

Yes, but it is rare. Betted exists, mostly in British English. Bet is by far the most common Past Simple and past participle, so use bet.

Related pages: bet Past Simple

Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.

Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →

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