Word Family Worksheets

I hear this mistake all the time in class and now I will set the record straight! 

➡ Grow = to increase in size or height/plants develop 

- Puppies grow so fast when they are young 

- These plants grow better if you don't put Domestos on them. 

- "Money doesn't grow on trees" 

✅ You CAN say: I like to grow plants and flowers (as a hobby) 

🚧 You CAN'T say: I grow my children (that means they live in the garden and you pour water on them) 

Grow can also be passive: These plants were grown outside. 

➡ Grow up (intransitive verb) = mature in age (a person) 

- My kids are growing up so fast these days. 

- Stop being an idiot! Just grow up, grandpa! 

- I grew up in London 

Because this verb is intransitive, it CAN'T be passive. 

✅ You CAN say: I was brought up in London 

🚧 You CAN'T say: I was grown up in London (Horrible English!)

And you can only grow up YOURSELF.

✅ You CAN say: Joining the army made me really grow up! (correct) 

✅ You CAN say: My 10 kids grew up in a loving family (correct) 

🚧 You CAN'T say: I grew up 10 children alone (wrong! Better: bring up/raise) 

➡ Raise and bring up = to feed, clothe, educate, discipline, teach respect from a baby to adult 

Raise is the more formal version of the phrasal verb bring up. They mean the same. And both can be active and passive: 

- I was raised in the forest by wolves 

- I was brought up by 3 magic fairies. 

- I raised 10 children by only giving them grechka. 

- Bringing up children can be very hard. 

- Raising children can be very hard. 

We can convert the phrasal verb into a useful noun: Upbringing. 

- I had a fantastic upbringing; I got everything I wanted. 

● So, compare the following: 

I was raised in London 

I was brought up in London 

I was grown in London 

I was grown up in London