What Is the Past Tense of Grow?

The past tense of grow is grew. This is an irregular verb, so it does not follow the standard pattern of adding -ed. You use grew when talking about something that increased in size, developed, or changed over a period of time that has already finished. For example: Last year, the plant grew very tall. The past participle of grow is grown, which you use with auxiliary verbs like have or had (e.g., 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: grows

Use grew for completed actions in the past. Use grown when forming perfect tenses (e.g., has grown, had grown) or the passive voice (e.g., was grown).

Understanding the Verb “Grow”

The verb grow is irregular, which means its past tense form does not end in -ed. Many English learners mistakenly add -ed to make it growed, but that is incorrect. The correct past tense is grew. The change from ow to ew is a common pattern in English irregular verbs (compare know → knew, throw → threw).

Meanings of “Grow”

Grow has several common meanings, and the past tense grew applies to all of them:

• Increase in size or amount: The tree grew three feet last summer.
• Develop or mature: She grew more confident after the training.
• Become gradually: The noise grew louder as we approached.
• Cultivate or produce: They grew vegetables in their backyard.

Comparison Table: Grow vs. Grew vs. Grown

Natural Examples of “Grew” in Context

Here are practical examples showing how grew is used in everyday conversation, writing, and email:

Everyday Conversation

• “My son grew out of his shoes so fast.”
• “The company grew quickly after the new product launch.”
• “I grew tired of waiting for the bus.”

Formal Writing and Email

• “The startup grew its revenue by 40% in the first quarter.”
• “As the project grew in scope, we hired additional staff.”
• “Her reputation as a reliable manager grew steadily over time.”

Descriptive or Narrative Context

• “The garden grew wild after the rain.”
• “He grew more interested in photography as he traveled.”
• “The tension between them grew until they finally talked.”

Common Mistakes with “Grew”

Even advanced learners sometimes make errors with this verb. Here are the most frequent mistakes and how to fix them:

Mistake 1: Using “growed” instead of “grew”

Incorrect: The plant growed very fast.
Correct: The plant grew very fast.

Mistake 2: Confusing “grew” with “grown”

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

Tip: Use grew alone for simple past. Use grown only with a helper verb like have, has, had, or was.

Mistake 3: Using “grew” with a present perfect context

Incorrect: I grew up in this town, and I still live here. (If you still live there, use present perfect.)
Correct: I have grown up in this town, and I still live here.

Note: If the action is still relevant or continuing, use have grown.

Better Alternatives and When to Use Them

While grew is the correct past tense, sometimes you may want a more precise word depending on the context. Here are some alternatives and when they fit better:

• Increased: Use in formal or business contexts. Sales increased by 20%. (More specific than grew for numbers.)
• Developed: Use for skills, ideas, or processes. She developed her leadership skills over time.
• Expanded: Use for physical size or scope. The company expanded into new markets.
• Matured: Use for personal growth or aging. He matured a lot during college.
• Evolved: Use for gradual, complex change. The design evolved from a simple sketch.

However, grew remains the most natural and common choice for everyday English.

Formal vs. Informal Tone

Grew works in both formal and informal settings, but the surrounding language changes the tone:

• Informal: “The kids grew like weeds this summer.”
• Formal: “The organization grew its membership base significantly.”
• Email example (neutral): “I grew concerned about the project timeline after the delay.”

In professional emails, grew is perfectly acceptable. For very formal reports, you might choose increased or expanded for precision.

Mini Practice: Test Your Knowledge

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of grow (grow, grew, or grown). Answers are below.

1. Last summer, the tomatoes in our garden _____ very large.
2. She has _____ more patient with her students over the years.
3. I hope the business _____ steadily next year.
4. By the time we moved, the ivy had _____ up the entire wall.

Answers

1. grew
2. grown
3. grows (or will grow, depending on context; here grows is simple present for a general hope)
4. grown

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is “growed” ever correct?

No. Growed is not a standard English word. The correct past tense is always grew. Some dialects or informal speech may use it, but it is considered incorrect in standard English.

2. What is the difference between “grew” and “grown”?

Grew is the simple past tense, used for actions that finished in the past. Grown is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs (have, has, had, was, were) to form perfect tenses or the passive voice.

3. Can “grew” be used as a transitive verb?

Yes. Grew can be transitive (taking a direct object) or intransitive. For example: She grew roses in her garden (transitive). The roses grew quickly (intransitive).

4. How do I use “grew up” correctly?

Grew up is a phrasal verb meaning to become an adult or to spend childhood. Example: I grew up in a small town. Do not say I grown up unless using a perfect tense: I have grown up in this city.

Final Tips for Using “Grew”

• Memorize the pattern: grow → grew → grown.
• Practice by writing three sentences about something that grew in your life (a plant, a skill, a relationship).
• When in doubt, check if the action is finished (use grew) or connected to now (use has grown).
• For more help with verb forms, visit our Past Tense Forms section or explore Common Verb Mistakes.

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