Blew or Blown: Mastering the Past Tense of “Blow”

Blew or Blown: Mastering the Past Tense of “Blow”

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Understanding the correct past tense forms of irregular verbs can be challenging for English language learners. One such verb is “blow,” which has two common past tense forms: “blew” and “blown.” Knowing when to use each form is crucial for accurate and fluent communication. This comprehensive guide will break down the differences between “blew” and “blown,” providing clear explanations, examples, and practice exercises to help you master their usage. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will equip you with the knowledge you need to confidently use the past tense of “blow” in any situation.

Table of Contents

Definition of “Blow,” “Blew,” and “Blown”

The verb “blow” means to expel air from the mouth, or to be moved by the wind. It is an irregular verb, meaning its past tense and past participle forms do not follow the standard “-ed” ending. Understanding the different forms is essential for using the verb correctly in various tenses.

  • Blow (Present Tense): To expel air, to be moved by wind. Example: I blow bubbles.
  • Blew (Simple Past Tense): The action of blowing happened in the past. Example: The wind blew fiercely last night.
  • Blown (Past Participle): Used with auxiliary verbs (have, has, had, is, are, was, were) to form perfect tenses or passive voice. Example: The leaves have been blown off the trees.

In essence, “blow” is the base form, “blew” describes a completed action in the past, and “blown” is used to form more complex tenses and passive constructions.

Structural Breakdown

The verb “blow” follows an irregular conjugation pattern, which can be summarized as follows:

  • Base Form: blow
  • Simple Past: blew
  • Past Participle: blown
  • Present Participle: blowing

The simple past tense (“blew”) is used to describe actions that started and finished in the past. The past participle (“blown”) requires an auxiliary verb such as “have,” “has,” “had,” “is,” “are,” “was,” or “were” to form perfect tenses (e.g., present perfect, past perfect, future perfect) or passive voice constructions.

For example:

  • Simple Past: The whistle blew loudly.
  • Present Perfect: The athlete has blown his chance at the gold medal.
  • Past Perfect: By the time I arrived, the storm had blown over.
  • Passive Voice: The candles were blown out by the wind.

Types and Categories of Usage

Simple Past: “Blew”

The simple past tense “blew” is used to describe a completed action in the past. It stands alone as the main verb in the sentence and does not require any auxiliary verbs.

Examples:

  • She blew out the candles on her cake.
  • The wind blew the door shut.
  • He blew a kiss to his mother.

Past Participle: “Blown”

The past participle “blown” is used in conjunction with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. It cannot stand alone as the main verb in a sentence.

Examples:

  • The leaves have been blown off the trees (present perfect passive).
  • He had blown all his money at the casino (past perfect).
  • The glass was blown by a skilled artisan (past passive).

Examples

Examples of “Blew”

The following table provides examples of “blew” used in various contexts. Each sentence showcases the simple past tense, indicating a completed action in the past.

Sentence Context
The referee blew the whistle to start the game. Sports
A strong gust of wind blew my hat off. Weather
She blew bubbles for the children. Recreation
The dynamite blew the safe open. Action/Crime
He blew his nose loudly. Personal Action
The storm blew all night long. Weather
She blew a kiss to her grandmother. Affection
The candle flame blew out in the wind. Environment
The train blew its horn as it approached the crossing. Transportation
The scandal blew up overnight. News/Politics
He blew all his savings on a new car. Finance
The wind blew the curtains into the room. Weather/Home
She blew on her hot coffee to cool it down. Daily Life
The tire blew out on the highway. Transportation
He blew a fuse when he saw the bill. Emotion/Reaction
The whistle blew to signal the end of the shift. Work
The gossip blew through the town like wildfire. Social
She blew smoke rings into the air. Habit
He blew his cover by accident. Espionage
The volcano blew its top. Nature
The wind blew the snow into drifts. Weather
She blew a raspberry at the rude driver. Gesture
The balloon blew up when he overfilled it. Accident
He blew his chances of winning the game. Opportunity
The trumpet player blew a high note. Music
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Examples of “Blown”

The following table provides examples of “blown” used in perfect tenses and passive voice. Notice the presence of auxiliary verbs such as “have,” “has,” “had,” “is,” “are,” “was,” and “were.”

Sentence Tense/Voice
The leaves have been blown off the trees. Present Perfect Passive
He had blown all his money at the casino. Past Perfect
The glass was blown by a skilled artisan. Past Passive
The whistle has been blown to signal the end of the game. Present Perfect Passive
My secret is blown! Present Passive
The bridge had already blown apart. Past Perfect
She had blown her diet for the day. Past Perfect
His cover had been blown, endangering the mission. Past Perfect Passive
The fuse had blown because of the power surge. Past Perfect
All the clouds appear to be blown far away. Present Perfect Passive
The opportunities had been blown due to his laziness. Past Perfect Passive
The evidence had been blown away by the storm. Past Perfect Passive
The surprise has been blown, so there’s no point now. Present Perfect Passive
The balloon is blown up ready for the party. Present Passive
His reputation had been blown due to the scandal. Past Perfect Passive
The deal had been blown because of the disagreement. Past Perfect Passive
My hopes had been blown away by the sad news. Past Perfect Passive
The surprise party had been blown by her sister. Past Perfect Passive
Her chances of winning had been blown. Past Perfect Passive
The leaves have been blown all over the yard. Present Perfect Passive
The money had been blown on frivolous things. Past Perfect Passive
The game was blown because of the bad weather. Past Passive
The plan had been blown because of a leak. Past Perfect Passive
The final whistle had been blown by the referee. Past Perfect Passive
All his chances were blown away. Past Passive

Examples in Perfect Tenses

This table focuses specifically on perfect tenses, showing how “blown” is used with “have,” “has,” and “had” to indicate actions completed at a point in time (present perfect) or before another point in time (past perfect).

Sentence Tense Explanation
She has blown all her savings. Present Perfect The action of spending savings is completed and has a present result.
He had blown his chance at glory. Past Perfect The action of missing the chance happened before another point in the past.
They have blown up the bridge. Present Perfect The action of destroying the bridge is completed.
The storm has blown away the clouds. Present Perfect The action of the storm clearing the clouds is completed.
The scandal had blown over by the time he returned. Past Perfect The scandal had subsided before he returned.
The whistle has blown several times today. Present Perfect The whistle has made a sound many times.
He has blown everyone’s mind with his performance. Present Perfect He’s impressed everyone.
She had blown off the meeting to go for a walk. Past Perfect She skipped the meeting.
My secret has blown up and everyone knows it now. Present Perfect The secret is now public.
The company has blown their marketing budget. Present Perfect The allocated money is finished.
He had blown his top when he heard the news. Past Perfect He lost his temper.
The team has blown their chances of winning the championship. Present Perfect The team no longer has a chance of winning.
She has blown the competition away. Present Perfect She completely outdid the competition.
He had blown a gasket after arguing with his supervisor. Past Perfect He got angry.
The plan had blown up in their faces. Past Perfect The plan failed and caused them problems.
We have blown through our vacation fund already. Present Perfect The vacation fund is already used up.
They have blown their chance at a promotion. Present Perfect They no longer have a chance at a promotion.
She has blown her cover as an undercover agent. Present Perfect She has revealed her identity.
He had blown the assignment and was fired. Past Perfect He messed up the assignment.
The project has blown up in complexity. Present Perfect The project is now more complex.
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Usage Rules

The correct usage of “blew” and “blown” depends on the tense and voice of the sentence. Here’s a summary of the rules:

  • Use “blew” for the simple past tense. This form describes a completed action in the past without the need for auxiliary verbs.
  • Use “blown” for the past participle. This form requires an auxiliary verb (e.g., have, has, had, is, are, was, were) to form perfect tenses or passive voice constructions.

Key Reminders:

  • “Blew” never uses an auxiliary verb.
  • “Blown” always requires an auxiliary verb.

Consider these examples:

  • Correct: The wind blew the leaves across the yard.
  • Incorrect: The wind has blew the leaves across the yard.
  • Correct: The leaves have been blown across the yard.
  • Incorrect: The leaves have been blew across the yard.

Common Mistakes

One of the most common mistakes is using “blown” in place of “blew” in the simple past tense, and vice versa. Here are some examples of common errors and their corrections:

Incorrect Correct Explanation
The wind has blew. The wind has blown. “Blew” is simple past; “blown” is the past participle and requires an auxiliary verb.
She blown out the candles. She blew out the candles. “Blown” needs an auxiliary verb; “blew” is the simple past form.
He was blew away by the performance. He was blown away by the performance. “Blown” is the past participle form used in the passive voice.
They blew all their money. They have blown all their money. This sentence is grammatically correct as is, but changing it to the present perfect adds a sense of immediacy or relevance to the present.
The fuse blew. The fuse had blown. This sentence is grammatically correct as is, but switching to the past perfect tense makes the action further in the past

Always double-check whether you need the simple past (blew) or a perfect tense/passive construction (blown) based on the presence or absence of auxiliary verbs.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Form

Choose the correct form of the verb “blow” (“blew” or “blown”) to complete each sentence.

  1. The referee ______ the whistle to start the game.
  2. The wind has ______ the leaves off the trees.
  3. She ______ out all the candles on her birthday cake.
  4. He had ______ his chances of winning the competition.
  5. The storm ______ through the town last night.
  6. The balloon was ______ up for the party.
  7. They have ______ all their money on vacation.
  8. The secret was accidentally ______.
  9. The wind ______ so hard it knocked over trees.
  10. She has ______ everyone away with her singing.

Answer Key:

  1. blew
  2. blown
  3. blew
  4. blown
  5. blew
  6. blown
  7. blown
  8. blown
  9. blew
  10. blown

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of “blow” (blow, blew, blown).

  1. I like to ______ bubbles on a sunny day.
  2. The wind ______ fiercely during the hurricane.
  3. The thief had ______ the safe open with explosives.
  4. She will ______ out the candles when it’s time for cake.
  5. They have ______ their opportunity to invest wisely.
  6. The horn ______ loudly as the train approached.
  7. He ______ a kiss to his girlfriend.
  8. The whistle had ______ to signal halftime.
  9. The scandal ______ over quickly.
  10. The leaves have been ______ off the trees.

Answer Key:

  1. blow
  2. blew
  3. blown
  4. blow
  5. blown
  6. blew
  7. blew
  8. blown
  9. blew
  10. blown

Exercise 3: Sentence Construction

Construct sentences using the given words, ensuring you use the correct form of “blow.”

  1. wind / blew / trees
  2. she / has / blown / opportunity
  3. they / blew / whistle / game
  4. it / had / blown / before / arrive
  5. balloons / were / blown / party
  6. he / blew / savings / trip
  7. news / blown / everyone
  8. storm / blew / all night
  9. leaves / have / blown / yard
  10. plan / had / blown / their faces

Answer Key:

  1. The wind blew down the trees.
  2. She has blown her opportunity.
  3. They blew the whistle to start the game.
  4. It had blown over before we arrived.
  5. The balloons were blown up for the party.
  6. He blew all his savings on the trip.
  7. The news has blown everyone away.
  8. The storm blew all night long.
  9. The leaves have been blown all over the yard.
  10. The plan had blown up in their faces.
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Advanced Topics

Idiomatic Expressions with “Blow”

The verb “blow” is used in many idiomatic expressions, which add color and nuance to the English language. Understanding these expressions can significantly enhance your comprehension and fluency.

Here are some common idioms with “blow”:

  • Blow someone away: To impress someone greatly. Example: Her performance blew everyone away.
  • Blow off steam: To release pent-up energy or frustration. Example: He goes to the gym to blow off steam after a stressful day.
  • Blow something off: To ignore or dismiss something. Example: She blew off the meeting to go shopping.
  • Blow up: To explode or to become very angry. Example: The bomb blew up, or He blew up when he heard the news.
  • Blow the whistle: To report illegal or unethical activity. Example: He blew the whistle on the company’s fraudulent practices.
  • Blow over: To fade away or be forgotten. Example: The scandal eventually blew over.
  • Have a blow out: To have an argument. Example: John and Mary had a blow out last night.

These idioms often have figurative meanings that are different from the literal meaning of “blow,” so it’s important to learn them in context.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference between “blew” and “blown”?

A: “Blew” is the simple past tense of “blow,” used for actions completed in the past. “Blown” is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses (e.g., “has blown,” “had blown”) or passive voice constructions (e.g., “was blown,” “have been blown”).

Q: When should I use “blew” instead of “blown”?

A: Use “blew” when you are describing a completed action in the past and do not need an auxiliary verb (have, has, had, is, are, was, were). For example: “The wind blew the leaves off the trees.”

Q: Can “blown” be used without an auxiliary verb?

A: No, “blown” cannot be used without an auxiliary verb. It always requires an auxiliary verb to form perfect tenses or passive voice constructions. For example: “The leaves have been blown off the trees,” not “The leaves blown off the trees.”

Q: Is “blowed” ever a correct form of the past tense of “blow”?

A: No, “blowed” is not a standard or correct past tense form of “blow.” The correct forms are “blew” (simple past) and “blown” (past participle).

Q: How can I remember when to use “blew” and “blown”?

A: Think of “blew” as the simple past – it stands alone. Think of “blown” as needing help from an auxiliary verb (like “have,” “has,” or “had”) to create more complex tenses.

Q: What are some common mistakes people make with “blew” and “blown”?

A: Common mistakes include using “blown” in place of “blew” in the simple past tense (e.g., “She blown out the candles” instead of “She blew out the candles”) or using “blew” with an auxiliary verb (e.g., “The wind has blew” instead of “The wind has blown”).

Q: Can you give me an example of “blown” used in the passive voice?

A: Certainly. An example of “blown” used in the passive voice is: “The candles were blown out by the wind.” Here, “were” is the auxiliary verb, and “blown” indicates the action that was performed on the candles.

Q: Are there any regional variations in the usage of “blew” and “blown”?

A: No, there are no significant regional variations in the standard usage of “blew” and “blown.” These forms are consistent across different dialects of English.

Conclusion

Mastering the correct usage of “blew” and “blown” is essential for accurate and fluent English communication. Remember that “blew” is the simple past tense, used for completed actions in the past, while “blown” is the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. By understanding these distinctions and practicing with examples, you can confidently use these forms in your writing and speaking.

Pay attention to the presence or absence of auxiliary verbs, and always double-check your sentences to ensure you’ve chosen the correct form. With consistent practice and a solid understanding of the rules, you’ll be able to avoid common mistakes and communicate effectively. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon master the nuances of “blew” and “blown.”