Show, showed, or shown?
How should you know when to use showed vs. shown?
My colleague showed me the new report yesterday.
The company has shown consistent growth over the past year.
My colleague shown me the new report yesterday.
The company has showed consistent growth over the past year.
Starting off with a definition, the irregular verb ‘show‘ describes ‘if something shows that a state of affairs exists, it gives information that proves it or makes it clear to people.’ As in, ‘research shows that a high-fibre diet may protect you from bowel cancer‘ (third-person present singular).
The word show can also refer to a noun meaning “a play or other stage performance, especially a musical”. More commonly, people refer to a television show as simply a show.
Forms of “show”
| present | past | future | |
|---|---|---|---|
| simple | I show | I showed | I will show |
| continuous | I am showing | I was showing | I will be showing |
| perfect | I have shown | I had shown | I will have shown |
| perfect continuous | I have been showing | I had been showing | I will have been showing |
| Examples: “show“, present tense | |||
| The government’s popularity is declining, as the polls show.What made you decide to show your paintings?Why did you show me this?You need to show me your new paintings!Let me show you to my study. |
“Showed” / “shown”, used in sentences
| Examples: showed / shown, in sentences |
|---|
| Our research showed us that women were more interested in their health than men.He showed me his collection.I could forgive him for what he did if he showed some remorse.We’d shown up exactly on time.He’d shown up with roses and an apology that he had clearly memorized in his head.The drama will be shown on American TV. |
Synonyms of show
- prove
- present
- demonstrate
- display
- illustrate
- sketch out
“Showed” is used like “played” (simple past), while “shown” needs a helper verb like “has” or “was” (present perfect).
Practice questions: verb forms of ‘show’
| Questions | Answer options: |
|---|---|
| 1. True or false: “Showed” is a regular verb. | a. true b. false |
| 2. True or false: Regular verbs end in “ed” to denote the past. | a. true b. false |
| 3. True or false: The verb, “show” looks the same in the simple past and as a past participle. | a. true b. false |
| 4. Which tense is this sentence in: He’s shown the house to many potential buyers. | a. past b. present perfect c. past perfect |
| 5. The sentence is in which tense: I’m showing you something that’s really important to me! | a. future continuous b. present continuous c. past continuous |
| 6. Choose the form of ‘show’ to complete the sentence: I can ___ it to you later. | a. showing b. will show c. Show |
Answers:
- a
- a
- b
- b
- b
- c
Idioms with “show”
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| show of hands | a method of voting or indicating agreement by raising one’s hand. |
| show the ropes | to teach someone how to do a job or task |
| show off | to open yourself to a variety of options |
| show someone the door | to ask someone to leave or to dismiss them. |
| show the way | to guide or lead someone in the right direction |
| to show no mercy | to be extremely harsh or unforgiving. |
| go to show | to demonstrate or prove something |
| to show one’s true colors | to reveal one’s true character or intentions |
| show-stopper | something that is particularly impressive, captivating or stunning |
| show business | i.e., the entertainment industry, particularly theatre and television |
| to show a clean pair of heels | to run away or escape quickly |
Origin of the word/verb show
From etymology online on show (v.):
Middle English sheuen, from Old English sceawian “to look at, see, gaze, behold, observe; inspect, examine; look for, choose,” from Proto-Germanic skauwojanan from Proto-Germanic root skau- “behold, look at,” from PIE skou-, variant of root Other commonly confused verb tenses
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Learn more about verbs
Work Sheet
Question 1 of 10According to the post, which form of ‘show’ is typically used for a completed action at a specific time, similar to ‘played’?
Which form of ‘show’ is the past participle and requires a helper verb like ‘has’, ‘had’, or ‘was’?
Which sentence demonstrates the correct use of the simple past tense according to the post?
Which sentence correctly uses the past participle form of ‘show’ in a perfect tense?
According to the blog post’s examples of incorrect usage, which option represents a common mistake?
She me the photos from her trip yesterday.
The company has remarkable resilience during the recession.
By the time we arrived, they had already their support for the proposal.
The documentary was on public television last night.
He great courage under pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use ‘showed’?
+Use “showed” for the simple past tense. It describes a completed action at a specific past time. For example, the post says, “My colleague showed me the new report yesterday.”
When do I use ‘shown’?
+Use “shown” as the past participle. It requires a helper verb (like has, have, had, was, is) for perfect tenses or passive voice. Example from the post: “The company has shown consistent growth”.
What’s the difference? Shown vs showed?
+“Showed” is the simple past tense, used alone for completed actions. “Shown” is the past participle, always used with a helper verb in perfect tenses or passive voice, as the post shows.
Is the verb ‘show’ regular?
+No, the post identifies “show” as an irregular verb. Regular verbs typically form their past tense and past participle by adding “-ed,” which “show” does not consistently do for both forms.
Can I use ‘showed’ with ‘has’?
+No, according to the post, using “showed” with a helper verb like “has” is incorrect. “Showed” is the simple past form. You need the past participle “shown” in perfect tenses (e.g., “has shown”).
Yash, D. "Showed or Shown? What’s the Past Tense of Show?." Grammarflex, Jun 20, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/showed-or-shown-which-is-the-past-tense-and-past-participle-of-show/.
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