What Is the Past Tense of Grow?
The past tense of grow is grew. This is an irregular verb, so it does not follow the standard pattern of adding -ed. You use grew when talking about something that increased in size, developed, or changed over a period of time that has already finished. For example: “The plant grew very quickly last spring.” The past participle of grow is grown, which you use with auxiliary verbs like have or has (e.g., “She has grown a lot since I last saw her.”).
Quick Answer: Past Tense of Grow
- Base form: grow
- Past tense: grew
- Past participle: grown
- Present participle / gerund: growing
- Third person singular (present): grows
Use grew for simple past actions. Use grown with helping verbs like have, has, or had.
When to Use “Grew” vs. “Grown”
This is the most common point of confusion for beginners. The choice depends on whether you need the simple past tense or a perfect tense form.
- Grew is the simple past tense. Use it alone to describe a finished action in the past. Example: “The tree grew taller every year.”
- Grown is the past participle. It must be paired with an auxiliary verb (have, has, had) to form perfect tenses. Example: “The tomatoes have grown ripe.”
Comparison Table: Grew vs. Grown
| Tense / Structure | Example | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Past (Grew) | My interest in gardening grew last year. | Action completed in the past. No helper verb. |
| Present Perfect (Grown) | She has grown very confident. | Action from the past with a connection to now. |
| Past Perfect (Grown) | By the time we moved, the ivy had grown over the wall. | Action completed before another past action. |
| Passive Voice (Grown) | These flowers are grown in greenhouses. | Focus on the object, not the doer. |
| Adjective (Grown) | He is a grown man now. | Used as an adjective to describe maturity. |
Natural Examples of “Grew” in Context
Seeing the verb used in everyday situations helps you remember it. Here are examples from different contexts.
Everyday Conversation
- “My daughter grew three inches last year.”
- “The neighborhood grew so fast that they built a new school.”
- “I grew tired of waiting for the bus.”
Email and Formal Writing
- “Our company’s revenue grew by 15% in the last quarter.”
- “The team grew from five members to twenty within two years.”
- “His reputation as a fair leader grew steadily.”
Informal / Storytelling
- “We grew up in a small town near the coast.”
- “The puppy grew into a huge dog almost overnight.”
- “She grew quiet when she heard the news.”
Common Mistakes with “Grow”
Even advanced learners sometimes make these errors. Here are the most frequent ones.
Mistake 1: Using “growed”
Incorrect: “The plant growed very fast.”
Correct: “The plant grew very fast.”
Why: Grow is an irregular verb. Never add -ed to it.
Mistake 2: Confusing “grew” and “grown”
Incorrect: “I have grew tired of this game.”
Correct: “I have grown tired of this game.”
Why: After have, has, or had, you must use the past participle grown.
Mistake 3: Using “grew” with a helping verb
Incorrect: “She had grew up in the city.”
Correct: “She had grown up in the city.”
Why: The past perfect tense requires the past participle.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the past participle in passive sentences
Incorrect: “The vegetables were grew in the garden.”
Correct: “The vegetables were grown in the garden.”
Why: Passive voice uses the past participle.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes grew is the best word, but other verbs can add more precision to your writing or speech. Here are a few alternatives and the nuance they carry.
- Increased: More formal. Good for reports or data. “Sales increased steadily.”
- Developed: Suggests a process of change or improvement. “The situation developed into a crisis.”
- Expanded: Implies getting bigger in size or scope. “The company expanded into new markets.”
- Emerged: Suggests coming into view or becoming known. “A new leader emerged from the group.”
- Matured: Implies reaching a full or developed state. “His skills matured over time.”
When to use “grew”: Use grew for natural, physical growth (plants, people, animals) and for general increase. It is the most common and natural choice in everyday conversation.
When to use an alternative: Use increased in business or academic writing. Use developed when you want to emphasize a process. Use matured when talking about emotional or intellectual growth.
Mini Practice: Past Tense of Grow
Test yourself with these four questions. Write your answers down, then check them below.
- Last summer, the sunflower __________ to over six feet tall.
- She has __________ a lot more patient since she became a teacher.
- By the time the storm hit, the vines __________ over the entire fence.
- My grandfather __________ up during the Great Depression.
Answers
- grew (Simple past, finished action last summer.)
- grown (Present perfect with has.)
- had grown (Past perfect, action completed before the storm.)
- grew (Simple past, finished action in the past.)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is “grow” a regular or irregular verb?
Grow is an irregular verb. Its past tense is grew and its past participle is grown. It does not follow the regular -ed pattern.
2. Can I use “grew” with “has” or “have”?
No. When you use has, have, or had, you must use the past participle grown. For example: “He has grown,” not “He has grew.”
3. What is the difference between “grew up” and “grown up”?
Grew up is the simple past: “I grew up in Canada.” It describes a finished period of childhood. Grown up is the past participle and is often used as an adjective: “He is a grown-up now,” or in perfect tenses: “She has grown up so fast.”
4. How do I use “grow” in the passive voice?
In the passive voice, use the past participle grown with the verb to be. For example: “Rice is grown in many countries.” For the past tense passive: “The flowers were grown in a special greenhouse.”
Final Note on Tone and Context
In formal writing, such as a business email or an academic essay, grew is perfectly acceptable but you might choose increased or expanded for a more professional tone. In casual conversation, grew is the natural choice. For example, you would say “I grew up in Texas” to a friend, but in a biography you might write “He was raised in Texas.” Both are correct, but the nuance changes slightly. Pay attention to the context: physical growth, emotional development, and numerical increase all use grew naturally. If you are ever unsure, remember that grew stands alone, and grown needs a helper verb.
For more help with verb forms, visit our Past Tense Forms section. If you have questions about other irregular verbs, check our FAQ page or contact us for further guidance.
