The verb “grow” can be used for living things, personal development, or even abstract ideas. It changes form depending on the tense and grammatical structure. The past simple form is “grew,” used for finished actions in the past. The past participle is “grown,” used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses or the passive voice.
Conjugation
Here are the main forms of “grow”:
| Pronoun | Present | Past Simple | Past Participle | Example (Past Simple) | Example (Present Perfect) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | grow | grew | grown | I grew tomatoes last summer. | I have grown a lot this year. |
| You | grow | grew | grown | You grew up quickly. | You have grown more confident. |
| He/She/It | grows | grew | grown | She grew a beautiful garden. | She has grown tired. |
| We | grow | grew | grown | We grew vegetables together. | We have grown closer. |
| They | grow | grew | grown | They grew old gracefully. | They have grown their business. |
Fill in the blank with the correct past participle form: She has ______ tired after the long walk. (she grow)
grown
'Grown' is the past participle form, used here with 'has' to form the present perfect tense.
Usage
. Growing Plants or Things
Use “grow” to talk about cultivation or natural growth.
- I grow herbs on my windowsill.
- Tomatoes grew quickly in the garden.
- The sunflowers have grown two feet tall.
. Personal Growth or Development
Use “grow” to describe maturing or improving.
- She grew more confident over time.
- I grew tired after the long walk.
- They have grown into responsible adults.
. Increasing or Expanding
Use “grow” to talk about something getting bigger or more.
- The company grew rapidly last year.
- My savings have grown steadily.
- The city has grown a lot in the past decade.
. Figurative or Abstract Growth
Use “grow” for less literal meanings, like feelings or situations.
- Anger grew inside him.
- Our friendship has grown stronger.
- Interest in the topic is growing.
Common Expressions
Here are some common phrases and idioms that use “grow”:
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| grow up | become an adult | I grew up in Canada. |
| grow out of | stop doing something as you get older | She grew out of her childhood fears. |
| grow apart | slowly become less close | We grew apart after college. |
| grow on someone | start liking something or someone | That song really grew on me. |
| grow tired of | become bored or annoyed | I’m growing tired of this routine. |
Summary
- grow = base form / present tense (he/she/it grows)
- grew = past simple (finished actions in the past)
- grown = past participle (used with have/has/had or in passive voice)
- “grow” can be literal (plants, size) or figurative (feelings, relationships)
- Useful for talking about change, development, and improvement over time
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
