Growing from childhood into adulthood

The idea

Grow up means develop from a child into an adult. It takes no object and is common in everyday speech. The past is grew up.

Examples

• I grew up near a lake.
• They grew up in a small village.
• Where did your parents grow up?
• My children are growing up quickly.
• She wants to be a pilot when she grows up.
• We grew up together on the same street.

Watch out

After did, use grow up, not grew up.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. My uncle ___ up by the sea as a child. (grew / grown)

   Show answer or example answer

   grew

   grew tells us the childhood was in the past.

2. Choose the correct option. Did you ___ up in this town? (grow / grew)

   Show answer or example answer

   grow

   grow follows the past question word did.

3. Choose the correct option. The twins are ___ up fast. (growing / grew)

   Show answer or example answer

   growing

   growing follows are to describe a process.

Use it today

Say where you grew up and what you wanted to be as an adult.