Conjugations
- Base form: show
- Past: showed
- Past participle: shown (more common) / showed (also used)
- Present participle: showing
Show Conjugation Table
| Tense | English Example | English Example (Personal) | English Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | I show him the photo. | I show him the photo every day. | Regular present tense for habitual actions. |
| Past | She showed me her new dress. | She showed me her new dress yesterday. | Simple past indicating a completed action. |
| Present Perfect | They have shown us the secret door. | They have shown us the secret door. | Past participle shown with have/has to indicate a past action with present relevance. |
| Past Perfect | I had shown the report before the meeting. | I had shown the report before the meeting. | Past participle shown with had to indicate an action completed before another past action. |
| Present Participle | Showing gratitude is important. | Showing gratitude is important. | Verb form used for continuous tenses and gerunds. |
Grammar Rules
- Showed is the simple past form.
- Shown is the more common past participle used with auxiliary verbs (have, has, had).
- Showed can also be a past participle in some contexts, especially in older or informal usage.
- The verb is regular in the present and past simple, irregular only in the past participle.
Past Tense and Past Participle
- Use showed for simple past.
- Use shown for past participle in perfect tenses and passive voice.
- Example:
- Past: She showed me the way.
- Perfect: She has shown me the way.
Passive Voice
- Use past participle shown with appropriate form of be.
- Example: The movie was shown last night.
Perfect Tenses
- Use shown with have, has, or had.
- Example: They have shown great improvement.
Examples
Here are examples of show in different tenses and contexts:
- Present Simple: I show my ID at the counter.
- Past Simple: He showed me a trick.
- Present Perfect: We have shown them the new system.
- Past Perfect: She had shown us the correct route.
- Passive: The results were shown on the screen.
- Continuous: She is showing her artwork today.
Personal Pronouns Examples
| Pronoun | Simple Past Example | Present Perfect Example | Example with Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I showed you the calendar. | I have shown you the calendar. | Simple past vs. present perfect using show. |
| You | You showed me the letter. | You have shown me the letter. | Direct object usage with personal pronouns. |
| He/She | She showed her ID. | She has shown her ID. | Third-person singular agreement with shows/showed. |
| We | We showed our tickets. | We have shown our tickets. | Plural subject with have shown. |
| They | They showed their badges. | They have shown their badges. | Plural subject with perfect tense. |
Summary
- Show means to present or reveal something.
- Past tense: showed (always used).
- Past participle: shown (more common, used in perfect tenses and passive voice); showed (less common, sometimes used).
- Use shown with auxiliary verbs have, has, had, or be (for passive).
- Usage example: I showed her the photo, and she has shown it to everyone.
Which pair correctly uses "show" with the pronoun "you"?
- You showed me the letter.
- You have shown me the letter.
"You showed" is simple past, and "have shown" forms the present perfect.
Complete the sentences: "They _____ their badges. / They _____ their badges."
- showed
- have shown
"Showed" is simple past; "have shown" is present perfect, indicating a past action with current relevance.
Flashcards (1 of 5)
- Tense: Present
- English Example: I show him the photo.
- English Example (Personal): I show him the photo every day.
- English Explanation: Regular present tense for habitual actions.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
