Grow Verb Forms: Present, Past, and Participle
The verb grow means to increase in size, develop, or become larger over time. Its three main forms are grow (present), grew (past), and grown (past participle). This guide explains each form with clear examples, shows how to use them in real writing and conversation, and helps you avoid common mistakes.
Quick Answer: Grow Verb Forms
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Present (base) | grow |
| Past | grew |
| Past Participle | grown |
| Present Participle / Gerund | growing |
| Third Person Singular (Present) | grows |
Present Form: Grow
Use grow for actions happening now, habits, or general truths. For he/she/it, add -s to make grows.
Examples in Context
- General truth: Plants grow toward sunlight.
- Habit: She grows tomatoes every summer.
- Current action: I grow impatient when I wait too long.
- Email tone (formal): Our company grows steadily each quarter.
- Conversation (informal): Hey, your hair grows so fast!
Past Form: Grew
Grew is the simple past form. Use it for completed actions in the past. There is no auxiliary verb needed.
Examples in Context
- Completed action: He grew up in a small town.
- Email tone (formal): Our revenue grew by 15% last year.
- Conversation (informal): I grew bored during the meeting.
- Nuance: Use grew to describe a change that happened gradually: The child grew taller every month.
Past Participle: Grown
Grown is the past participle. It must be used with a helper verb (have, has, had) for perfect tenses, or with be for passive voice.
Examples in Context
- Present perfect: They have grown a lot since last year.
- Past perfect: She had grown tired of the routine.
- Passive voice: The vegetables are grown without chemicals.
- Email tone (formal): The team has grown to include five new members.
- Conversation (informal): I have grown to like spicy food.
Comparison Table: Grow, Grew, Grown
| Tense | Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | grow / grows | I grow herbs on my balcony. |
| Simple Past | grew | She grew sunflowers last spring. |
| Present Perfect | have/has + grown | We have grown our garden every year. |
| Past Perfect | had + grown | He had grown confident before the speech. |
| Future | will grow | The business will grow next year. |
| Passive | is/are/was/were + grown | These flowers are grown in greenhouses. |
Natural Examples
Here are realistic sentences you might hear or write:
- In conversation: “My son grew three inches this year!”
- In an email: “We have grown our customer base significantly.”
- In a story: “The tree grew so tall it touched the roof.”
- In instructions: “Let the dough grow for one hour before baking.”
- In a report: “The economy grew at a steady pace.”
Common Mistakes with Grow
Mistake 1: Using “growed” as past tense
Wrong: He growed up in Canada.
Right: He grew up in Canada.
Mistake 2: Forgetting the auxiliary verb with “grown”
Wrong: They grown vegetables every year.
Right: They have grown vegetables every year.
Mistake 3: Confusing “grow” with “raise”
Wrong: I grew chickens in my backyard. (Chickens are raised, not grown.)
Right: I raised chickens in my backyard.
Mistake 4: Using “grow” for non-living things incorrectly
Wrong: The city grows new buildings. (Buildings are built, not grown.)
Right: The city builds new buildings.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes another verb fits better than grow. Here are common alternatives:
- Increase – Use for numbers, prices, or statistics. Example: “Sales increased by 10%.” (More formal than grew in business writing.)
- Develop – Use for skills, ideas, or plans. Example: “She developed a new strategy.” (Implies effort or process.)
- Expand – Use for physical space or scope. Example: “The company expanded to three new cities.”
- Raise – Use for children, animals, or money. Example: “They raised funds for the project.”
- Mature – Use for personal development. Example: “He matured after the experience.” (More formal than grew up.)
Mini Practice: Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of grow (grow, grows, grew, grown, growing). Answers are below.
- Last summer, we __________ tomatoes in our backyard.
- She __________ more confident with each presentation.
- They have __________ a successful online store.
- The plants __________ quickly when it rains.
Answers
- grew – Simple past for a completed action.
- grows – Present tense for a current habit or truth.
- grown – Past participle with “have” for present perfect.
- grow – Present tense for a general fact.
FAQ: Grow Verb Forms
1. Is “growed” ever correct?
No. Growed is not a standard English word. Always use grew for past tense and grown for past participle.
2. Can I use “grow” for people?
Yes, but carefully. You can say “She grew taller” or “He grew wiser.” For raising children, use raise instead: “They raised three kids.”
3. What is the difference between “grow” and “grow up”?
Grow means increase in size or develop. Grow up means become an adult. Example: “I grew tomatoes” vs. “I grew up in Texas.”
4. How do I use “grown” in a sentence without “have”?
You can use grown as an adjective. Example: “She is a grown woman.” Or in passive voice: “The rice is grown in Asia.”
For more help with verb forms, visit our Verb Forms Explained section. If you have questions, check our FAQ page or contact us. To learn about other common verb mistakes, see our Common Verb Mistakes category.
