Common Mistakes with the Verb ‘grow’

The verb grow is irregular, and its past forms are a frequent source of errors. The correct forms are grow (present), grew (past simple), and grown (past participle). The most common mistake is using growed or confusing grew with grown. This guide will help you use grow correctly in writing, email, and conversation.

Quick Answer: The Forms of ‘grow’

Never write growed. It is not a standard English word. Use grew for past simple actions and grown with auxiliary verbs like have, has, or had.

Understanding the Verb ‘grow’

Grow can mean to increase in size, to develop, or to cultivate something. It can be used both transitively (with an object) and intransitively (without an object). The meaning changes slightly depending on the context, but the verb forms stay the same.

Transitive Use (with an object)

When you grow something, you cause it to develop. This is common in gardening, business, and personal development contexts.

• We grow organic vegetables on our farm.
• She grew her small business into a large company.
• They have grown their customer base by 20%.

Intransitive Use (without an object)

When something grows, it changes or increases on its own. This is common for people, plants, and abstract concepts.

• Children grow quickly during puberty.
• The tree grew taller every year.
• Her confidence has grown since she started the new job.

Comparison Table: ‘grow’ vs. Other Similar Verbs

Notice the pattern: these verbs all change the vowel sound in the past simple and add -n or -en for the past participle. This is a common irregular verb group.

Natural Examples of ‘grow’ in Context

Here are examples showing how grow is used in different situations, from casual conversation to formal writing.

Everyday Conversation (Informal)

• “My son grew out of his shoes again.”
• “I’ve grown tired of waiting for the bus.”
• “The grass grew so fast after the rain.”

Email and Professional Writing (Formal)

• “Our revenue has grown steadily over the past quarter.”
• “The team grew from five to fifteen members last year.”
• “We have grown our partnership with several key suppliers.”

Nuance: ‘grow up’ vs. ‘grow’

The phrasal verb grow up means to become an adult or to mature. It is different from grow, which simply means to increase in size.

• Correct: “She grew up in Canada.” (She became an adult there.)
• Correct: “She grew taller every year.” (She increased in height.)
• Incorrect: “She grew in Canada.” (This sounds like she was a plant.)

Common Mistakes with ‘grow’

Here are the most frequent errors learners make, along with corrections and explanations.

Mistake 1: Using ‘growed’

This is the most common error. Growed is not a word in standard English.

• Incorrect: “The flowers growed beautifully.”
• Correct: “The flowers grew beautifully.”
• Correct: “The flowers have grown beautifully.”

Mistake 2: Confusing ‘grew’ and ‘grown’

Use grew for simple past actions. Use grown only with a helping verb like have, has, or had.

• Incorrect: “I have grew tired of this.”
• Correct: “I have grown tired of this.”
• Incorrect: “He grown a beard last month.”
• Correct: “He grew a beard last month.”

Mistake 3: Forgetting the auxiliary verb with ‘grown’

In perfect tenses, grown must follow have, has, or had. In passive voice, it follows be.

• Incorrect: “The plants grown very tall.” (Missing auxiliary)
• Correct: “The plants have grown very tall.”
• Correct: “The plants were grown in a greenhouse.” (Passive voice)

Mistake 4: Using ‘grow’ for past actions

Some learners use the base form grow for past events.

• Incorrect: “Yesterday, I grow some herbs.”
• Correct: “Yesterday, I grew some herbs.”

Better Alternatives and When to Use Them

Sometimes grow is not the best word. Here are alternatives for different contexts.

For physical increase: ‘increase’, ‘expand’, ‘enlarge’

• “The company’s profits grew.” → “The company’s profits increased.” (More formal)
• “The city grew rapidly.” → “The city expanded rapidly.” (Focus on area)

For personal development: ‘develop’, ‘mature’, ‘improve’

• “She grew as a leader.” → “She developed as a leader.” (More specific)
• “He has grown more patient.” → “He has become more patient.” (Natural alternative)

For cultivation: ‘cultivate’, ‘raise’, ‘produce’

• “We grow wheat.” → “We cultivate wheat.” (More formal, agricultural)
• “They grew chickens.” → “They raised chickens.” (For animals)

Mini Practice: Test Your Knowledge

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of grow. Answers are below.

1. Last year, the tree __________ (grow) five feet.
2. She has __________ (grow) a lot since I last saw her.
3. We __________ (grow) our own vegetables every summer.
4. The company had __________ (grow) too fast and struggled.

Answers

1. grew (past simple for a completed action last year)
2. grown (present perfect with has)
3. grow (present simple for a regular habit)
4. grown (past perfect with had)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is ‘growed’ ever correct?

No. Growed is not standard English in any dialect. Always use grew for past simple and grown for past participle.

2. Can I use ‘grow’ for people?

Yes, but be careful. You can say “She grew taller” or “He has grown wiser.” However, for becoming an adult, use the phrasal verb grow up: “She grew up in London.”

3. What is the difference between ‘grew’ and ‘grown’ in a sentence?

Grew is used alone for past actions. Grown needs an auxiliary verb like have or has. Compare: “I grew tomatoes” (simple past) vs. “I have grown tomatoes” (present perfect).

4. How do I use ‘grown’ in passive sentences?

Use be + grown. For example: “These flowers are grown in greenhouses.” Or in past passive: “The crops were grown without pesticides.”

Final Tips for Using ‘grow’ Correctly

To avoid mistakes with grow, remember these three rules:

• Never use growed. It is always wrong.
• Use grew for simple past actions that are finished.
• Use grown only with a helping verb: have grown, has grown, had grown, or is grown.

Practice by writing a few sentences about things that have grown in your life—plants, skills, relationships, or businesses. Check each sentence for the correct verb form. With regular practice, using grew and grown will become automatic.

For more help with verb forms, visit our Verb Forms Explained section. If you have questions about other common mistakes, check our Common Verb Mistakes category. For general inquiries, see our FAQ page or contact us.