GROW vs RAISE – What’s the Difference? | English Vocabulary Explained with Examples & QUIZ

Explanations + Extra Practice

✅ What’s the Difference Between GROW and RAISE?

In English, GROW and RAISE can sometimes be confusing because they both talk about something getting bigger or increasing. But they are used in different ways.

Here’s an easy guide to understand them.

🌱 GROW – when something changes by itself

GROW means that something becomes bigger, older, or stronger naturally. It happens on its own over time.

Examples:

  • The baby is growing fast. 👶
  • My son grew to be 6 feet tall. 📏
  • Corn grows well in this region. 🌽
  • My business is growing every year. 📊
  • The economy grew by 5% last year. 💵

🧑‍🌾 RAISE – when a person makes something grow or increase

RAISE means that you (or someone) make something grow, go up, or improve. It takes action or effort.

Examples:

  • I raised three children. 👶
  • Farmers raise cows and chickens. 🐄
  • They raise corn and potatoes. 🌽
  • The company raised prices last week. 💵
  • She raised $10,000 for charity. 💰

📍 GROW or RAISE – sometimes both are possible

Sometimes you can use either GROW or RAISE, but the meaning is slightly different:

Plants and Crops 🌽

  • “Corn grows quickly in summer.” (the corn grows by itself)
  • “Farmers raise corn for food.” (the farmer helps it grow)

Animals 🐄

  • “Chickens grow fast.” (the animals grow by themselves)
  • “We raise chickens on our farm.” (you take care of them)

👶 Children

You can use both, but they mean different things:

  • “My son is growing so tall!” (he’s getting taller naturally)
  • “I raised my children in Canada.” (you took care of them and helped them grow up)

📈 Businesses and Money

  • “Our company is growing fast.” (the company is becoming bigger naturally)
  • “We raised our prices this year.” (you decided to make the prices go up)

🛑 Grammar Tip

  • GROW is often intransitive (no object):
    ✅ My son grows every day.
    🚫 My son grows him. ❌
  • RAISE is always transitive (needs an object):
    ✅ She raises chickens.
    🚫 Chickens raise. ❌

⚠️ Common Mistakes

🚫 “I grow two kids.” ❌
✅ “I raise two kids.” ✔️
✅ “My kids are growing.” ✔️

🚫 “We grow our prices.” ❌
✅ “We raise our prices.” ✔️

🎯 Final Tip

  • Use GROW when something gets bigger by itself.
  • Use RAISE when you help it grow or increase.

Extra Practice!

🌿 GROW vs RAISE Quiz

Choose the correct word: GROW or RAISE

✅ EASY (Beginner)

  1. My baby is starting to __________.
  2. Farmers __________ cows on this farm.
  3. She wants to __________ tomatoes in her garden.
  4. Look how tall you have __________!
  5. He __________ three kids on his own.
  6. I want to __________ some flowers this spring.
  7. The puppy is __________ fast!
  8. They __________ chickens for eggs.
  9. You’ve really __________ up since last year!
  10. My grandparents used to __________ vegetables.

✅ Easy – Answers and Notes

  1. grow
  2. raise
  3. ✅ grow (raise is also possible, but “grow” is more natural for home gardening)
  4. grown
  5. raised
  6. ✅ grow (raise is possible, but “grow” is more common for flowers)
  7. growing
  8. raise
  9. grown
  10. ✅ grow (farmers can “raise” crops, but everyday English uses “grow” here)

💬 INTERMEDIATE

  1. I __________ my voice because no one was listening.
  2. Prices have __________ a lot in the past year.
  3. He wants to __________ his own business someday.
  4. Your children have really __________ into polite young adults.
  5. They __________ money for the local hospital.
  6. This plant won’t __________ without water.
  7. My uncle __________ sheep and goats.
  8. You can’t __________ good kids without spending time with them.
  9. She __________ three boys after her husband passed away.
  10. This tree can __________ to 20 meters.

✅ Intermediate – Answers and Notes

  1. raised
  2. grown
  3. grow
  4. grown
  5. raised
  6. grow
  7. raises
  8. raise
  9. raised
  10. grow

🎓 ADVANCED

  1. The bank decided to __________ interest rates again.
  2. I’ve watched my students __________ into confident speakers.
  3. They plan to __________ awareness about the problem.
  4. Most children __________ quickly in a safe environment.
  5. You need to __________ your standards if you want better results.
  6. The town is trying to __________ its economy after the crisis.
  7. I __________ my hand to ask a question.
  8. Some parents don’t know how to properly __________ teenagers.
  9. It takes time and patience to __________ a strong brand.
  10. The number of tourists has __________ every year since 2020.

✅ Advanced – Answers and Notes

  1. raise
  2. grow
  3. raise
  4. grow
  5. raise
  6. grow
  7. raised
  8. raise
  9. ✅ grow (“Grow a brand” is the common phrase in business. “Raise” is not usually used here.)
  10. grown