Whats the Past Tense of Draw: Drew or Drawn? Unveiling the Correct Usage
Quick Answer
The past tense of draw is drew. The form used with have/has/had is drawn. For example: “She drew a picture yesterday” and “She has drawn many pictures.” There is no such word as “drawed.”
Draw, Drew, Drawn — See the Pattern
Look at these four sentences. Can you see how the word changes?
- I draw pictures every day. (now)
- I drew a picture yesterday. (the past)
- I have drawn many pictures this year. (with have)
- She is drawing a picture right now. (happening now)
Did you see the pattern? The word draw changes its shape depending on when the action happens. Here are all the forms in one table:
| Form | Word | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Present | draw / draws | Now or every day |
| Past | drew | Finished actions in the past |
| With have/has/had | drawn | Actions connected to now |
| -ing form | drawing | Happening right now |
When to Use Drew and When to Use Drawn
Use drew when you talk about something that happened and finished in the past. It stands alone — no helping word needed:
- She drew a map last night.
- The children drew pictures in art class yesterday.
- He drew the curtains before bed.
Use drawn when you use it with a helping word — have, has, or had:
- She has drawn a beautiful map.
- They had drawn pictures before lunch started.
- I have never drawn a portrait before.
Easy way to remember: Drew stands alone. Drawn needs a helper (have, has, or had).
The Rule in One Line: Drew = past. Drawn = with have/has/had. Never “drawed.”
Real-Life Examples With Draw, Drew, and Drawn
Here are sentences you might use in everyday life:
- My daughter drew a picture of our family at school. (she did it in the past)
- I have never drawn a portrait before. (my experience until now)
- He drew the curtains when it got dark outside. (past action — “drew” also means “pulled”)
- The football match was drawn 1–1. (the result — with “was”)
- Her art has drawn attention from many schools. (with “has” — her art attracted notice)
You are doing great. Now let us look at the mistakes many learners make.
Three Mistakes to Avoid With Draw
Even native speakers’ children say “drawed” when they are learning to talk — so if you have made this mistake, you are not alone.
✗ She drawed a picture.
✓ She drew a picture.
✗ I have drew a picture.
✓ I have drawn a picture.
✗ She has drew the curtains.
✓ She has drawn the curtains.
How to remember: Think of it like “fly, flew, flown” → “draw, drew, drawn.” The pattern is the same! These verbs all change their vowel sound in the past.
Other verbs that follow this pattern: fly → flew → flown, grow → grew → grown, know → knew → known, throw → threw → thrown, blow → blew → blown.
Test Yourself: Drew, Drawn, or Drawed?
Choose the correct answer for each sentence. Click Check to see if you are right.
1. She _______ a picture of her cat last weekend.
2. I have _______ this shape many times before.
3. He _______ the curtains when it got dark.
4. The match was _______ 2–2 at full time.
5. Yesterday, the children _______ pictures in art class.
Keep Going — You Are Building Something
You just learned draw, drew, and drawn. That is one more irregular verb you will never get wrong again.
But here is a question — what about the word drive? You probably know the past tense is drove. But when do you say driven? Is it “I have drove” or “I have driven”? And why do so many English verbs follow this strange pattern?
Next lesson: Past Tense of Drive — Drove or Driven?
Source
Harper, Douglas. “Etymology of draw.” Online Etymology Dictionary
My name is Khamis Maiouf. I am the creator of the English Teacher Site, dedicated to providing valuable resources and insights for students around the world. With a passion for education and a commitment to helping students enhance their skills, I aim to make English teaching more effective and enjoyable for both educators and students.
