Grow Verb Forms: Present, Past, and Participle
The verb grow changes form depending on tense: present tense is grow (or grows for third-person singular), past tense is grew, and the past participle is grown. This guide explains each form with clear examples, common usage contexts, and practical tips to help you use grow correctly in writing, conversation, and email.
Quick Answer: Grow Verb Forms
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base form (present) | grow |
| Third-person singular present | grows |
| Past tense | grew |
| Past participle | grown |
| Present participle / gerund | growing |
Use grow for present actions or general truths, grew for completed past actions, and grown with auxiliary verbs (have, has, had) or in passive constructions.
Present Tense Forms of Grow
The present tense of grow is used for actions happening now, habitual actions, or general facts. The base form is grow, and the third-person singular is grows.
Examples in Present Tense
- I grow tomatoes in my backyard every summer.
- She grows orchids in a small greenhouse.
- Plants grow toward sunlight.
- The company grows its revenue year after year.
Context note: In informal conversation, you might hear “I grow my own herbs” as a simple statement of habit. In formal writing or email, the present tense works well for stating ongoing processes: “Our team grows its expertise through continuous training.”
Past Tense Form: Grew
The past tense of grow is grew. It describes an action that started and finished in the past. There is no change for person or number—grew works for I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.
Examples with Grew
- Last year, I grew sunflowers that reached six feet tall.
- He grew up in a small town in Ohio.
- The business grew quickly after the new product launch.
- We grew tired of the constant delays.
Nuance: Grew can describe physical growth, emotional change, or business expansion. In email, you might write: “Our partnership grew stronger over the quarter.” In conversation, “I grew up watching those movies” is natural and informal.
Past Participle Form: Grown
The past participle grown is used with auxiliary verbs (have, has, had) to form perfect tenses, and in passive voice. It never stands alone as a main verb.
Examples with Grown
- I have grown peppers in this garden for five years.
- She has grown more confident since joining the team.
- By the time we moved, the tree had grown over the fence.
- The vegetables were grown without pesticides.
Context note: In formal writing, “The company has grown substantially” is common. In casual conversation, “I’ve grown to like that song” uses the participle naturally. Be careful not to confuse grown with grew—grown always needs a helper verb.
Comparison Table: Grow, Grew, Grown
| Tense | Form | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | grow / grows | They grow organic vegetables. |
| Past simple | grew | They grew organic vegetables last season. |
| Present perfect | have/has grown | They have grown organic vegetables for years. |
| Past perfect | had grown | They had grown organic vegetables before the drought. |
| Future perfect | will have grown | By next month, they will have grown enough for the market. |
| Passive voice | is/are/was/were grown | These herbs are grown indoors. |
Natural Examples in Context
Here are realistic sentences showing grow in everyday situations:
- Conversation: “My hair grows really fast in the summer.”
- Email: “We have grown our client base by 20% this year.”
- Narrative: “The child grew curious about the stars.”
- Instruction: “Grow the seedlings in indirect light.”
- Reflection: “I grew to appreciate her patience over time.”
Notice how grow can be literal (plants, hair) or figurative (skills, relationships, understanding). The figurative use is very common in professional and personal contexts.
Common Mistakes with Grow
Even advanced learners sometimes mix up these forms. Here are the most frequent errors:
Mistake 1: Using “growed” instead of “grew”
Incorrect: “The plant growed very tall.”
Correct: “The plant grew very tall.”
Mistake 2: Using “grew” as a past participle
Incorrect: “I have grew tired of waiting.”
Correct: “I have grown tired of waiting.”
Mistake 3: Forgetting the auxiliary verb with “grown”
Incorrect: “She grown more confident.”
Correct: “She has grown more confident.”
Mistake 4: Confusing “grow” with “raise”
Incorrect: “We grow our children to be kind.” (This is acceptable in some dialects but less standard.)
Better: “We raise our children to be kind.” Use grow for plants and figurative development; use raise for children or animals.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Depending on the nuance you want, you can replace grow with more specific verbs:
- Expand – Use for businesses, influence, or scope. “The company expanded into new markets.”
- Develop – Use for skills, ideas, or relationships. “She developed a strong work ethic.”
- Increase – Use for numbers, size, or intensity. “Sales increased by 15%.”
- Evolve – Use for gradual, complex change. “The project evolved over several months.”
- Mature – Use for personal or emotional growth. “He matured after the experience.”
When to use grow: It is the most natural choice for literal plant growth, general increase, and figurative personal development. Use alternatives when you need more precision or a different tone—for example, expand sounds more formal in a business report.
Mini Practice: Test Your Knowledge
Fill in the blank with the correct form of grow (grow, grows, grew, grown, growing). Answers are below.
- These tomatoes _____ better in full sun.
- Last summer, we _____ basil on the balcony.
- She has _____ into a talented musician.
- The company is _____ rapidly this year.
Answers
- grow (present tense, general fact)
- grew (past tense, completed action)
- grown (past participle with “has”)
- growing (present participle, ongoing action)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is “growed” ever correct?
No. Growed is nonstandard and considered incorrect in formal and informal English. Always use grew for past tense and grown for the past participle.
2. Can I use “grow” for people?
Yes, but usually in figurative ways. For example, “I grew as a person” or “She grew in confidence.” For literal physical growth of children, grow is fine: “He grew three inches last year.” For raising children, raise is more common.
3. What is the difference between “grown” and “grew” in perfect tenses?
Grew is only for simple past. Grown is the past participle used with have/has/had. Compare: “I grew tomatoes last year” (simple past) vs. “I have grown tomatoes for years” (present perfect).
4. Is “growing” a verb or an adjective?
It can be both. As a verb: “The plant is growing fast.” As an adjective: “The growing concern about climate change.” In the adjective form, it means increasing or developing.
For more help with verb forms, explore our guides on Past Tense Forms and Past Participle Forms. If you have questions, visit our FAQ page or contact us.
