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. For example: “The plant grew quickly last spring.” The past participle of grow is grown, which is used with auxiliary verbs like have or had (e.g., “She has grown a lot this year”).

Quick Answer

• Base form: grow
• Past tense: grew
• Past participle: grown
• Present participle / gerund: growing
• Third person singular: grows

Use grew when talking about a completed action in the past. Use grown when forming perfect tenses or the passive voice.

Verb Forms Explained

Understanding the different forms of grow helps you use it correctly in writing and conversation. Here is a breakdown:

When to Use “Grew” vs. “Grown”

This is one of the most common points of confusion. Here is a simple rule:

• Grew is always the simple past tense. It stands alone without an auxiliary verb. Example: “The child grew three inches last year.”
• Grown is the past participle. It must be paired with a form of have (has, have, had) or be (is, are, was, were) in passive constructions. Example: “The business has grown rapidly.”

Formal vs. Informal Tone

Grew and grown are neutral and work in both formal and informal contexts. However, the surrounding language changes the tone:

• Informal / conversation: “My garden grew like crazy this summer.”
• Formal / email or report: “The company’s revenue grew by 15% in the third quarter.”
• Formal / written: “The relationship has grown stronger over the years.”

In emails, grew is common for past results, while has grown is used to describe ongoing progress up to the present.

Natural Examples

Here are examples that show how grow is used in everyday situations:

• Personal growth: “I grew more confident after the training.”
• Gardening: “We grew sunflowers in the backyard last year.”
• Business: “The startup grew from five to fifty employees in two years.”
• Emotions: “Her affection for the city grew with each visit.”
• Physical change: “The puppy grew into a large dog within months.”
• Perfect tense example: “They have grown accustomed to the cold weather.”
• Passive example: “These vegetables were grown without pesticides.”

Common Mistakes

Even advanced learners sometimes mix up grew and grown. Here are the most frequent errors:

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

This is a common error among beginners. Grow is irregular, so growed is never correct.

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

Mistake 2: Using “grew” with a helping verb

Incorrect: “She has grew a lot this year.”
Correct: “She has grown a lot this year.”

Mistake 3: Using “grown” without a helping verb

Incorrect: “The child grown quickly.”
Correct: “The child grew quickly.” or “The child has grown quickly.”

Mistake 4: Confusing “grow” with “increase” in specific contexts

While grow can mean increase, it is not always interchangeable. For example, we say “the price rose” more naturally than “the price grew.”

Better Alternatives and When to Use Them

Sometimes grew is fine, but a more precise word can improve your writing. Here are some alternatives depending on context:

• Increased – Use for numbers, prices, or statistics. “Sales increased by 10%.” (More formal than grew.)
• Expanded – Use for physical size or scope. “The company expanded into new markets.”
• Developed – Use for skills, ideas, or relationships. “She developed a new approach.”
• Matured – Use for emotional or intellectual growth. “He matured after the experience.”
• Evolved – Use for gradual, complex change. “The design evolved over several years.”

When to stick with grew: Use it for natural, physical growth (plants, children, animals) and when you want a simple, direct verb. In conversation, grew is almost always the best choice.

Mini Practice Section

Test your understanding with these four questions. Choose the correct form of grow.

1. The tree in our backyard _____ over ten feet tall last summer.
   a) grew
   b) grown
   c) growed
2. She has _____ very skilled at public speaking.
   a) grew
   b) grown
   c) growing
3. We _____ our own vegetables when we lived on the farm.
   a) grown
   b) grew
   c) grows
4. The company _____ from a small startup into a global brand.
   a) has grown
   b) grew
   c) both are possible depending on context

Answers and Explanations

1. a) grew – Simple past action completed last summer.
2. b) grown – Present perfect with has.
3. b) grew – Simple past describing a past habit.
4. c) both are possible – “Has grown” emphasizes the connection to the present; “grew” simply states a past fact. Both are correct.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is “growed” ever correct?

No. Growed is not a standard English word. The correct past tense is always grew.

2. Can I use “grew” in formal writing?

Yes. Grew is appropriate in formal reports, academic writing, and business emails. For example: “The population grew steadily over the decade.”

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

Grew up is the simple past: “I grew up in a small town.” 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. How do I use “grow” in the passive voice?

Use the past participle grown with a form of be. Example: “Organic rice is grown in this region.” The agent can be included with by: “The flowers were grown by my neighbor.”

Final Tip

If you are unsure whether to use grew or grown, ask yourself: Is there a helping verb like has, have, had, is, are, was, or were before the verb? If yes, use grown. If no, use grew. This simple check will help you avoid the most common mistakes.

For more help with verb forms, visit our Past Tense Forms or Verb Forms Explained sections. If you have questions, feel free to contact us.