Common Mistakes with the Verb ‘grow’

The verb grow is one of the most frequently misused verbs in English, especially when learners confuse its past tense and past participle forms. The simple past tense is grew, and the past participle is grown. The most common mistake is using grew where grown is required, or vice versa. For example, saying “I have grew tomatoes” is incorrect; the correct form is “I have grown tomatoes.” This guide will help you avoid these errors and use grow correctly in any context.

Quick Answer: Past Tense of ‘grow’

Use grew for actions completed in the past. Use grown with auxiliary verbs like have, has, or had, or in passive constructions.

Understanding the Verb ‘grow’

Grow can be used both transitively (with an object) and intransitively (without an object). When you grow something, you cause it to increase in size. When something grows, it increases by itself. This distinction affects how you form sentences, but the past tense and past participle rules remain the same.

Transitive use (with an object)

You grow plants, a business, or your skills. Example: “She grew a beautiful garden.”

Intransitive use (without an object)

Something grows on its own. Example: “The tree grew taller every year.”

Common Mistakes with ‘grow’

Mistake 1: Confusing ‘grew’ and ‘grown’

This is the most frequent error. Learners often say “I have grew” instead of “I have grown.” Remember: grew is for simple past; grown is for perfect tenses.

• Incorrect: “She has grew a lot since last year.”
• Correct: “She has grown a lot since last year.”

Mistake 2: Using ‘growed’ as a past form

Some learners add -ed to form the past tense, but grow is an irregular verb. Never say “growed.”

• Incorrect: “The plant growed quickly.”
• Correct: “The plant grew quickly.”

Mistake 3: Forgetting the auxiliary verb with ‘grown’

When using grown as a past participle, you must include a form of have or be.

• Incorrect: “They grown vegetables in their backyard.”
• Correct: “They have grown vegetables in their backyard.”

Mistake 4: Misusing ‘grow’ in passive voice

In passive sentences, use grown with be.

• Incorrect: “The flowers were grew by my grandmother.”
• Correct: “The flowers were grown by my grandmother.”

Comparison Table: ‘grew’ vs ‘grown’

Natural Examples

In conversation (informal)

• “I grew up in a small town.” (simple past)
• “Have you grown any vegetables this year?” (present perfect)
• “My hair grew really long during the lockdown.” (simple past)

In email or writing (formal)

• “The company has grown significantly over the past decade.” (present perfect)
• “Revenue grew by 15% last quarter.” (simple past)
• “The project was grown from a small idea into a major initiative.” (passive)

Nuance: ‘grow’ in different contexts

When talking about personal development, grow often implies gradual change. For example, “She grew as a leader” suggests a process over time. In business writing, grow can be used actively: “We grew our customer base.” In casual conversation, you might say, “I grew tired of waiting,” which uses grew as a linking verb meaning “became.”

Better Alternatives and When to Use Them

Sometimes grow is not the best word. Here are alternatives depending on the context:

Use grow when you want a simple, direct verb. Use alternatives when you need more precision or a different tone. For example, in a formal report, “expand” may sound more professional than “grow.”

Common Mistakes in Context

Mistake: Using ‘grew’ with ‘have’

Incorrect: “I have grew a lot.”
Correct: “I have grown a lot.”

Mistake: Using ‘grown’ without an auxiliary

Incorrect: “She grown tired of the noise.”
Correct: “She grew tired of the noise.” (simple past) or “She has grown tired of the noise.” (present perfect)

Mistake: Confusing ‘grow’ and ‘raise’

Grow is for plants or things; raise is for children or animals. However, in informal American English, people sometimes say “grow kids,” but this is considered nonstandard.

• Standard: “They raised three children.”
• Nonstandard: “They grew three children.”

Mini Practice: Test Yourself

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of grow (grow, grew, grown, growing).

1. She __________ a lot since I last saw her.
2. Last year, we __________ our own vegetables.
3. The company has __________ rapidly in the last five years.
4. He is __________ a beard for the first time.

Answers:

1. has grown
2. grew
3. grown
4. growing

FAQ: Common Questions About ‘grow’

1. Is it “grew up” or “grown up”?

Use “grew up” for simple past: “I grew up in Chicago.” Use “grown up” with have or has: “She has grown up so fast.” As an adjective, use “grown-up”: “He is a grown-up now.”

2. Can I say “I have grew”?

No. “I have grew” is always incorrect. The correct form is “I have grown.”

3. What is the past tense of ‘grow’ in passive voice?

In passive voice, use grown with a form of be. Example: “The roses were grown in a greenhouse.”

4. Is ‘grow’ used differently in British and American English?

The past tense and past participle forms are the same in both varieties. However, in British English, “grow” is less commonly used for business contexts than in American English. For example, an American might say “grow the business,” while a British speaker might prefer “expand the business.”

Final Tips for Using ‘grow’ Correctly

To avoid mistakes with grow, remember these three rules:

• Use grew for completed past actions without an auxiliary verb.
• Use grown only with have, has, had, or forms of be.
• Never add -ed to grow.

Practice by writing a few sentences about something that grew in your life—a plant, a skill, or a relationship. Check each sentence to see if you need grew or grown. With consistent practice, these forms will become natural.

For more help with verb forms, explore our guides on Past Tense Forms and Past Participle Forms. If you have questions about other common verb mistakes, visit our Common Verb Mistakes section. For general inquiries, see our FAQ page.