Common Mistakes with the Verb ‘grow’
The verb ‘grow’ is a common source of errors for beginner English learners because its past tense and past participle forms are irregular. The correct forms are: grow (present), grew (past), grown (past participle). Mistakes often happen when learners use ‘growed’ instead of ‘grew’ or confuse ‘grew’ with ‘grown’. This guide will help you use ‘grow’ correctly in writing, conversation, and email.
Quick Answer
- Present: grow (e.g., “Plants grow in spring.”)
- Past: grew (e.g., “She grew tomatoes last year.”)
- Past Participle: grown (e.g., “He has grown a lot since I last saw him.”)
- Common Mistake: Do not say “growed.” Always use “grew” for past simple and “grown” with have/has/had.
Understanding the Verb ‘grow’
‘Grow’ is an irregular verb. This means you cannot simply add ‘-ed’ to make the past tense. The change is internal: ‘grow’ becomes ‘grew’ in the past simple, and ‘grown’ is the past participle used with auxiliary verbs like ‘have’, ‘has’, or ‘had’.
Forms of ‘grow’
| Form | Verb | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Base Form | grow | I want to grow flowers in my garden. |
| Past Simple | grew | She grew up in a small town. |
| Past Participle | grown | They have grown very close over the years. |
| Present Participle | growing | The company is growing quickly. |
| Third Person Singular | grows | He grows vegetables every summer. |
Natural Examples
Here are examples of ‘grow’ used in everyday conversation and writing. Pay attention to the context.
Conversation (Informal)
- “My hair grew so fast this year.” (Past simple, talking about a finished action.)
- “I have grown tired of waiting for the bus.” (Present perfect, describing a change over time.)
- “The kids are growing out of their shoes again.” (Present continuous, happening now.)
Email or Writing (Formal)
- “Our revenue grew by 15% last quarter.” (Past simple, reporting a specific result.)
- “The team has grown to include five new members.” (Present perfect, emphasizing the current state.)
- “We expect the market to grow steadily next year.” (Base form after ‘to’.)
Nuance: ‘grow’ vs. ‘grow up’
‘Grow’ can mean to increase in size, while ‘grow up’ means to become an adult. For example: “The plant grew tall” (size) vs. “I grew up in Canada” (childhood). Be careful not to mix them.
Common Mistakes
Here are the most frequent errors learners make with ‘grow’.
Mistake 1: Using ‘growed’ instead of ‘grew’
Incorrect: “The tree growed very fast.”
Correct: “The tree grew very fast.”
Why: ‘Grow’ is irregular, so the past tense is ‘grew’, not ‘growed’.
Mistake 2: Confusing ‘grew’ and ‘grown’
Incorrect: “I have grew a lot this year.”
Correct: “I have grown a lot this year.”
Why: Use ‘grown’ (past participle) with ‘have’, ‘has’, or ‘had’. Use ‘grew’ (past simple) alone.
Mistake 3: Using ‘grow’ in the past without changing it
Incorrect: “Yesterday, I grow some herbs.”
Correct: “Yesterday, I grew some herbs.”
Why: Past time requires the past tense form ‘grew’.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the past participle in perfect tenses
Incorrect: “She has grew very confident.”
Correct: “She has grown very confident.”
Why: The present perfect always uses the past participle, not the past simple.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes ‘grow’ is not the best word. Here are alternatives for different contexts.
| Context | Instead of ‘grow’ | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Increase in size (plants) | expand, develop | “The business expanded to new cities.” |
| Personal development | improve, mature | “She has matured a lot this year.” |
| Financial growth | rise, increase | “Profits rose by 10%.” |
| Physical growth (people) | get taller, gain weight | “He got taller over the summer.” |
When to use ‘grow’: Use ‘grow’ for natural, gradual changes, especially with living things or abstract qualities (e.g., “grow in confidence”). For sudden or measured changes, alternatives like ‘increase’ or ‘rise’ may be more precise.
Comparison Table: ‘grow’ vs. Common Confusions
| Verb | Past Simple | Past Participle | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| grow | grew | grown | I grew flowers. / I have grown flowers. |
| blow | blew | blown | The wind blew. / The wind has blown. |
| know | knew | known | She knew the answer. / She has known him. |
| throw | threw | thrown | He threw the ball. / He has thrown it. |
Notice that ‘grow’ follows the same pattern as ‘blow’, ‘know’, and ‘throw’—all change ‘-ow’ to ‘-ew’ in the past and ‘-own’ in the past participle. This can help you remember.
Mini Practice Section
Test your understanding. Choose the correct form of ‘grow’ for each sentence. Answers are below.
- Last year, my garden __________ (grow / grew / grown) very well.
- She has __________ (grew / grown / grow) into a confident speaker.
- The children are __________ (grow / grew / growing) so fast.
- I have never __________ (grow / grew / grown) roses before.
Answers
- grew (past simple, finished time)
- grown (present perfect, with ‘has’)
- growing (present continuous, happening now)
- grown (present perfect, with ‘have’)
FAQ
1. Is ‘growed’ ever correct?
No. ‘Growed’ is not a standard English word. Always use ‘grew’ for the past simple and ‘grown’ for the past participle.
2. Can I use ‘grow’ for non-living things?
Yes, but it is figurative. For example, “The company grew quickly” or “Her interest grew over time.” For literal non-living things, use ‘increase’ or ‘expand’.
3. What is the difference between ‘grow’ and ‘raise’?
‘Grow’ is used for things that develop naturally (e.g., “I grow tomatoes”). ‘Raise’ means to care for something until it grows (e.g., “I raise chickens” or “She raised her children”). You raise animals or children, but you grow plants or crops.
4. How do I use ‘grown’ in a sentence without ‘have’?
‘Grown’ can be used as an adjective. For example: “He is a grown man” (meaning adult) or “These are home-grown vegetables” (meaning produced at home).
Final Tips
To master ‘grow’, practice these three rules:
- Use grew for actions that finished in the past (e.g., “She grew up in London”).
- Use grown with have/has/had (e.g., “They have grown apart”).
- Never add ‘-ed’ to ‘grow’.
For more help with verb forms, visit our Past Tense Forms or Past Participle Forms sections. If you have questions, see our FAQ or contact us.