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Common mistakes by English learners: Raise/bring up/grow/grow up

Common mistakes by English learners: Raise/bring up/grow/grow up

    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 

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