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Showed or Shown? What’s the Past Tense of Show?

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Elan Yash

Elan is head of design and tech. He's also a contributor at Grammarflex.

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Forms of the verb 'show' in text.
Forms of the verb ‘show’ in text. By Gflex on Canva.

Show, showed, or shown?

How should you know when to use showed vs. shown?

👍🏼Usage Note

✓ I have known her for five years. (present perfect)
✓ She knew the answer immediately. (simple past)
✗ I have knew her for five years. (incorrect past participle)
✗ She has know the answer. (incorrect verb form)

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).

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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.

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Forms of “show”

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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.

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Synonyms of show

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  • prove
  • present
  • demonstrate
  • display
  • illustrate
  • sketch out
💡Study Tip

Practice using the verb in different tenses with example sentences to memorize the correct forms.

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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:

  1. a
  2. a
  3. b
  4. b
  5. b
  6. c

Idioms with “show”

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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

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Origin of the word/verb show

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From etymology online on show (v.):

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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

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Worksheet

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are literary devices?
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Techniques writers use to enhance their writing and convey messages effectively.

How do literary devices differ from rhetorical devices?
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Literary devices are specific to creative writing, while rhetorical devices are broader.

Why should I learn about literary devices?
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They help you understand and appreciate literature more deeply.

Can I use literary devices in my own writing?
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Yes, they can make your writing more engaging and effective.

What’s the best way to remember different devices?
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Practice identifying them in texts you read regularly.

Sources

  1. 1. Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of show.” Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/show. Accessed 7 March, 2023.
  2. ‍2. Definition of show from the Collins English Dictionary

Grammar Expert. "Showed Or Shown Which Is The Past Tense And Past P." GrammarFlex, May 31, 2025, https://www.grammarflex.com/showed-or-shown-which-is-the-past-tense-and-past-p/.

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