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Understanding the difference between grew and grown is a common challenge for English learners and native speakers alike. Because “grow” is an irregular verb, it doesn’t follow the standard “-ed” ending rule. To use these words correctly, you need to distinguish between the simple past tense and the past participle.
Table of Contents
Grew vs. Grown: The Basic Difference
The verb “grow” has three primary forms: the base form (grow), the simple past (grew), and the past participle (grown). The choice between them depends entirely on the tense of the sentence and whether you are using a helping verb.
The Golden Rule: Use grew when the action happened and finished in the past. Use grown when you have a helping verb like has, have, had, or is/was (passive voice).
When to Use “Grew” (Simple Past)
Grew is the simple past tense. It stands alone without any helping verbs. Use it to describe an action that was completed at a specific time in the past.
Examples:
- “I grew up in a small town in Ohio.”
- “The sunflower grew three inches over the weekend.”
- “Last year, our company grew its revenue by 20%.”
When to Use “Grown” (Past Participle)
Grown is the past participle. It cannot stand alone as a verb in a sentence; it requires an auxiliary (helping) verb. It is used in perfect tenses or as an adjective.
1. With “Have,” “Has,” or “Had” (Perfect Tenses)
This indicates an action that started in the past and may still be relevant now.
- “The kids have grown so much since I last saw them!”
- “By the time we arrived, the corn had grown tall.”
2. With “Is,” “Was,” or “Were” (Passive Voice)
In the passive voice, the subject receives the action.
- “These organic tomatoes were grown in our backyard.”
3. As an Adjective
Grown can also describe the state of a person or thing.
- “She is a grown woman now.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The most frequent error is using “grown” without a helping verb or using “growed” (which is not a word in standard English).
- He grown very tall. He grew very tall. (Simple past needs no helper)
- I have grew tired of this. I have grown tired of this. (Perfect tense needs the participle)
- The plant growed fast. The plant grew fast. (“Growed” is incorrect)
Quick Reference Table
| Tense | Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Grow / Grows | Plants grow with water and light. |
| Simple Past | Grew | The business grew rapidly last year. |
| Past Participle | Grown | He has grown into a fine leader. |
| Continuous | Growing | The puppy is growing every day. |
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blanks with either grew or grown:
- I ________ some herbs in my kitchen window last summer.
- Has the beard ________ in yet?
- We ________ apart over the years.
- The city ________ significantly during the 1990s.
Answers:
1. grew | 2. grown | 3. have grown (or grew) | 4. grew
Pro Tip: If you can put “has” or “have” before the word, use grown. If you cannot, use grew.
Is “growed” a word?
No, “growed” is considered non-standard or a dialectal error. While children often say it while learning language patterns, the correct forms are always grew or grown.
Can “grown” be used as a noun?
No, “grown” is typically a verb or an adjective. However, the phrase “grown-up” can function as a noun referring to an adult.
