What Is the Past Tense of Grow?
The past tense of grow is grew. This is an irregular verb, meaning it does not follow the standard pattern of adding -ed to form the past tense. You use grew to talk about something that increased in size, developed, or changed in the past. 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 had: “She has grown a lot since I last saw her.”
Quick Answer
- 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 have, has, or had for perfect tenses.
Understanding the Verb “Grow”
Grow is an irregular verb. Its forms change completely, so you cannot guess the past tense by adding -ed. Many English learners mistakenly write “growed”, but the correct form is grew. The verb is used in many contexts: physical growth (plants, people, animals), emotional or professional development, and even financial increase (investments, businesses).
Verb Forms Table
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base (present) | I grow tomatoes every year. |
| Past | Last year, I grew peppers instead. |
| Past Participle | I have grown a lot of vegetables. |
| Present Participle | She is growing sunflowers now. |
| Third Person Singular | He grows impatient when he waits. |
When to Use “Grew” vs. “Grown”
This is the most common point of confusion. Grew is the simple past tense. You use it alone to describe a completed action in the past. Grown is the past participle and must be paired with a helping verb (have, has, had, or be in passive voice).
Comparison Table: Grew vs. Grown
| Situation | Correct Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple past action | grew | The child grew three inches last year. |
| Present perfect | grown | She has grown into a confident speaker. |
| Past perfect | grown | By the time we moved, the tree had grown very tall. |
| Passive voice | grown | These herbs are grown in organic soil. |
Natural Examples
Here are examples that show how grew and grown are used in everyday conversation, writing, and email.
Using “Grew” (Simple Past)
- “My interest in photography grew after I took that class.” (Conversation: talking about a personal change)
- “The company grew its revenue by 20% last quarter.” (Business email: reporting results)
- “We grew up in a small town near the coast.” (Informal: sharing background)
- “The seedlings grew quickly because of the warm weather.” (Formal report: describing a process)
Using “Grown” (Past Participle)
- “I have grown to appreciate classical music.” (Conversation: gradual change)
- “The team has grown from five to twenty members.” (Email: updating on progress)
- “She had grown tired of the same routine.” (Narrative: describing a feeling before a change)
- “These flowers are grown in a greenhouse.” (Passive: stating a fact)
Common Mistakes
Even advanced learners sometimes make errors with grow. Here are the most frequent ones and how to fix them.
Mistake 1: Using “Growed”
Incorrect: “The tree growed very fast.”
Correct: “The tree grew very fast.”
Why: Grow is irregular. Never add -ed.
Mistake 2: Confusing “Grew” and “Grown”
Incorrect: “I have grew a lot this year.”
Correct: “I have grown a lot this year.”
Why: After have, you must use the past participle (grown).
Mistake 3: Using “Grown” Without a Helping Verb
Incorrect: “She grown taller last summer.”
Correct: “She grew taller last summer.”
Why: Grown cannot stand alone as the main verb in a simple past sentence.
Mistake 4: Forgetting the Past Participle in Perfect Tenses
Incorrect: “They have grew their business quickly.”
Correct: “They have grown their business quickly.”
Why: Present perfect always uses the past participle.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes grow is the best word, but in other contexts, a different verb might be more precise. Here are some alternatives and the nuance they carry.
- Increase – Use for numbers, amounts, or statistics. More formal than grow. Example: “Sales increased by 15%.”
- Expand – Use for physical space, scope, or operations. Example: “The company expanded into new markets.”
- Develop – Use for skills, ideas, or processes. Example: “She developed her leadership abilities.”
- Mature – Use for emotional or intellectual growth. Example: “He matured after that experience.”
- Evolve – Use for gradual, complex change. Example: “The design evolved over several months.”
When to Use “Grow”
Use grow when you want a natural, general word for increase or development. It works in both formal and informal contexts. In emails, grow is common for discussing business growth, personal development, or literal growth. In conversation, it is the most natural choice.
Formal vs. Informal Tone
Informal (conversation, casual email):
“My garden grew like crazy this summer.”
“I’ve grown to really like that band.”
Formal (business report, academic writing):
“The organization grew its donor base by 30%.”
“The research has grown in scope over the past decade.”
Notice that the verb form itself does not change. The difference is in the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure. In formal writing, you might pair grew or grown with more precise nouns and adjectives.
Mini Practice: 4 Questions
Test your understanding. Choose the correct form of grow for each sentence.
- Last year, my daughter _____ three inches. (grew / grown)
- We have _____ our team to include two new designers. (grew / grown)
- The plants _____ very well in that sunny spot. (grew / grown)
- By the time the meeting ended, the list of ideas _____ longer. (had grew / had grown)
Answers
- grew – Simple past action.
- grown – Present perfect with have.
- grew – Simple past describing a completed action.
- had grown – Past perfect with had.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is “growed” ever correct?
No. Growed is not a standard English word. The correct past tense is always grew, and the past participle is always grown.
2. Can I use “grew” with “have”?
No. After have, has, or had, you must use the past participle grown. “I have grew” is incorrect.
3. What is the difference between “grew up” and “grown up”?
Grew up is the simple past: “I grew up in Chicago.” Grown up is the past participle: “She has grown up so fast.” Also, grown-up (with a hyphen) can be a noun meaning an adult.
4. Is “grow” used differently in British and American English?
No. The verb forms grow, grew, grown are the same in both British and American English. Usage is also identical.
Final Tips for Learners
To master grow, practice using it in sentences about your own life. Write three sentences using grew and three using grown. For example: “I grew my hair long last year.” and “I have grown more patient over time.” This personal connection helps you remember the forms naturally.
For more help with irregular verbs, explore our Past Tense Forms and Past Participle Forms sections. If you have questions, visit our FAQ page or contact us.
