Grow Verb Forms: Present, Past, and Participle
The verb grow changes form depending on tense: the present tense is grow (or grows for third-person singular), the past tense is grew, and the past participle is grown. These three forms are essential for talking about growth in plants, people, businesses, and abstract ideas. This guide explains each form with clear examples, common mistakes, and practical usage tips.
Quick Answer: Grow Verb Forms
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form (present) | I grow tomatoes every summer. |
| Third-person singular present | She grows herbs on her balcony. |
| Past tense | He grew a beard last year. |
| Past participle | They have grown the business quickly. |
Present Tense Forms of Grow
The present tense of grow is used for actions that happen regularly, are happening now, or are generally true. Use grow with I, you, we, and they. Use grows with he, she, and it.
Examples of Present Tense Grow
- I grow vegetables in my backyard every year.
- You grow more confident with each presentation.
- She grows orchids in a special greenhouse.
- The company grows its revenue steadily.
- We grow closer as friends over time.
Formal vs. Informal Use
In formal writing, such as business reports or academic papers, use grow to describe measurable expansion: The market grows at 5% annually. In informal conversation, grow often describes personal development: I grow tired of the same routine. The present tense is also common in instructions and recipes: Grow the seedlings in indirect sunlight.
Past Tense: Grew
The past tense of grow is grew. Use it for actions that started and finished in the past. This form does not change with the subject—everyone uses grew.
Examples of Past Tense Grew
- Last summer, the corn grew taller than expected.
- She grew up in a small town in Vermont.
- They grew their savings account by investing wisely.
- He grew frustrated with the slow internet connection.
- We grew tired of waiting and left.
Context and Nuance
Grew is straightforward in storytelling and past descriptions. In emails, you might write: Our team grew by three members last quarter. In conversation, grew often pairs with adjectives: I grew bored during the lecture. Note that grew can describe physical growth, emotional change, or numerical increase.
Past Participle: Grown
The past participle of grow is grown. It is used with auxiliary verbs (have, has, had) to form perfect tenses, and with be to form passive voice.
Examples of Past Participle Grown
- She has grown a beautiful rose garden.
- They had grown the company before the recession hit.
- The seedlings were grown in a controlled environment.
- He has grown more patient over the years.
- By 2020, the population had grown by 15%.
Formal and Informal Use
In formal writing, grown appears in reports and analyses: Revenue has grown steadily since 2018. In casual conversation, it is common in perfect tenses: I have grown to like spicy food. The passive form is typical in scientific or agricultural contexts: These crops are grown without pesticides.
Comparison Table: Grow, Grew, Grown
| Tense | Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | grow / grows | Children grow fast. |
| Present continuous | am / is / are growing | The plant is growing well. |
| Past simple | grew | He grew a lot last year. |
| Past continuous | was / were growing | They were growing tomatoes when it rained. |
| Present perfect | have / has grown | We have grown our team. |
| Past perfect | had grown | She had grown tired before the trip ended. |
| Future perfect | will have grown | By next year, it will have grown larger. |
Natural Examples in Context
Here are examples that show how grow, grew, and grown appear in real writing and speech.
- Email context: “Our client base has grown significantly since the new campaign launched.”
- Conversation: “I grew up in a house with a big garden.”
- Instruction: “You should grow the plants in a sunny spot.”
- Report: “The economy grew by 2.3% in the third quarter.”
- Personal reflection: “She has grown more confident since starting the new job.”
Common Mistakes with Grow
Even advanced learners sometimes confuse the past tense and past participle. Here are the most frequent errors.
Mistake 1: Using “growed” instead of “grew”
Incorrect: He growed up in Chicago.
Correct: He grew up in Chicago.
Grow is an irregular verb; never add -ed.
Mistake 2: Using “grew” as a past participle
Incorrect: They have grew the business.
Correct: They have grown the business.
Always use grown after have, has, or had.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the -s for third person
Incorrect: She grow vegetables.
Correct: She grows vegetables.
Remember: he/she/it takes grows in present simple.
Mistake 4: Confusing “grow” with “increase”
While grow can mean increase, it is not always interchangeable. For example, grow often implies natural development, while increase is more neutral. Saying Prices grew is acceptable but less common than Prices increased in formal contexts.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Depending on context, you might choose a synonym for grow to be more precise.
- Expand – Use for businesses, territories, or influence: The company expanded into Asia.
- Develop – Use for skills, ideas, or processes: She developed her writing style.
- Increase – Use for numbers, amounts, or intensity: Sales increased by 10%.
- Mature – Use for people or living things reaching full development: He matured after college.
- Evolve – Use for gradual, complex change: The design evolved over several years.
When you want to emphasize natural, organic change, grow is the best choice. For more mechanical or numerical change, consider increase or expand.
Mini Practice: Test Your Knowledge
Fill in the blank with the correct form of grow (grow, grows, grew, grown). Answers are below.
- Every spring, the flowers _____ in the garden.
- Last year, the tree _____ three feet taller.
- She has _____ very skilled at negotiation.
- He _____ impatient when the meeting ran late.
Answers
- grow
- grew
- grown
- grew
Frequently Asked Questions
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 “grow” be used as a transitive verb?
Yes. Transitive use means it takes a direct object: She grows tomatoes. Intransitive use has no object: The tomatoes grow quickly. Both are common.
3. What is the difference between “grew” and “grown”?
Grew is the simple past tense, used alone for finished actions: I grew up here. Grown is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs: I have grown up here.
4. Is “grow” used in passive voice?
Yes. For example: These vegetables are grown organically. The past participle grown is used with forms of be to form the passive.
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