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. These three forms are essential for clear business writing, emails, and everyday conversation. Below you will find a quick reference, detailed explanations, and practical usage notes.
Quick Answer: Grow Verb Forms
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| Base (Present) | grow |
| Third-person singular | grows |
| Past tense | grew |
| Past participle | grown |
| Present participle / Gerund | growing |
Present Tense Forms of Grow
Use the present tense to describe habits, facts, or current situations. In business, you often use it for ongoing processes or general truths.
- I/You/We/They grow – “Our team grows revenue every quarter.”
- He/She/It grows – “The company grows its client base steadily.”
In informal conversation, you might say, “I grow tired of these meetings.” In formal emails, you could write, “Our department grows its expertise through continuous training.”
Past Tense: Grew
The past tense grew describes a completed action in the past. It is irregular and does not take an -ed ending.
- “Sales grew by 15% last year.”
- “She grew the team from three to twelve people.”
In emails, you might write, “Our partnership grew stronger after the conference.” In conversation, you could say, “I grew up in a small town.” Notice the nuance: grew often implies a natural or gradual change, not a sudden event.
Past Participle: Grown
The past participle grown is used with auxiliary verbs (have, has, had) for perfect tenses and in passive voice.
- Present perfect: “We have grown our market share significantly.”
- Past perfect: “They had grown the business before the recession.”
- Passive voice: “The company was grown from a startup.”
In formal writing, you might see, “The fund has grown to over $2 million.” In everyday speech, “I have grown to appreciate her work ethic.”
Comparison Table: Grow vs. Grew vs. Grown
| Tense | Form | Example Sentence | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present | grow / grows | “Our team grows every month.” | Habit or current fact |
| Past | grew | “Revenue grew last quarter.” | Completed past action |
| Past Participle | grown | “We have grown our network.” | Perfect tense or passive |
| Present Participle | growing | “The company is growing fast.” | Continuous action |
Natural Examples in Business Contexts
Here are realistic examples you might encounter in emails, reports, or conversations:
- “Our customer base grows by about 5% each month.” (present fact)
- “Last year, our profits grew despite the market downturn.” (past event)
- “We have grown our international presence since 2020.” (present perfect)
- “The project is growing more complex every day.” (present continuous)
- “She had grown the department before she left.” (past perfect)
Notice the tone: in formal emails, you might use perfect tenses (“has grown”) to show relevance to the present. In casual conversation, simple past (“grew”) is more common.
Common Mistakes with Grow
Even advanced learners sometimes make errors with this verb. Here are the most frequent mistakes:
- Using “growed” instead of “grew” – Incorrect: “The company growed quickly.” Correct: “The company grew quickly.”
- Confusing past tense and past participle – Incorrect: “I have grew tired of the delays.” Correct: “I have grown tired of the delays.”
- Forgetting the third-person -s – Incorrect: “The market grow fast.” Correct: “The market grows fast.”
- Using “grow” as a transitive verb incorrectly – Incorrect: “We grow the meeting.” (This sounds unnatural.) Correct: “We grow the business.” Use grow with things that can expand, like revenue, team, or skills.
Better Alternatives and When to Use Them
Sometimes grow is not the best word. Consider these alternatives for more precise business English:
- Expand – Use for physical size or scope. “We plan to expand our office space.”
- Increase – Use for numbers or quantities. “Sales increased by 10%.”
- Develop – Use for skills or products. “We need to develop new software.”
- Improve – Use for quality. “Our customer service has improved.”
- Evolve – Use for gradual, complex change. “The market has evolved over the decade.”
When you want to emphasize natural, organic change, grow is perfect. For deliberate, controlled change, choose expand or develop.
Mini Practice: Test Your Knowledge
Complete each sentence with the correct form of grow (grow, grows, grew, grown, growing). Answers are below.
- Our team ______ from five to twenty members last year.
- The company ______ its revenue every quarter.
- We have ______ our client list significantly.
- She is ______ the department into a major division.
Answers: 1. grew, 2. grows, 3. grown, 4. growing
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is “grow” a regular or irregular verb?
It is irregular. The past tense is grew, not “growed.” The past participle is grown.
2. Can I use “grow” with abstract nouns?
Yes. You can grow your knowledge, confidence, or reputation. It works well for intangible things that increase gradually.
3. What is the difference between “grow” and “raise”?
Grow often implies natural development, while raise implies active effort. For example, you grow a plant, but you raise a child. In business, you might grow a brand, but raise funds.
4. Is “grown” used as an adjective?
Yes. For example, “a grown company” or “a fully grown market.” It means mature or fully developed.
For more help with verb forms, visit our Verb Forms Explained section. If you have questions, check our FAQ or contact us. You can also explore Past Tense Forms and Past Participle Forms for other verbs.
