What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
pretend
Example
The children pretended to be pirates on their imaginary ship. [pretended: verb]
Example
She pretended to be happy, even though she was feeling sad. [pretending: gerund or present participle]
act
Example
He is a talented actor who has appeared in many movies. [actor: noun]
Example
She acted quickly to save the child from danger. [acted: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Act is more commonly used than pretend in everyday language. Act is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while pretend is less common and refers to a more specific type of behavior.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between pretend and act?
While pretend is typically associated with a more informal or childish tone, act is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
