Understanding the correct past tense forms of irregular verbs is crucial for effective communication in English. The verb “blow,” with its past simple “blew” and past participle “blown,” often causes confusion for English language learners.
This article provides a comprehensive guide to mastering the usage of “blew” and “blown,” clarifying their functions, structural differences, and proper application. This guide will benefit students, writers, and anyone seeking to improve their English grammar skills, ensuring clear and accurate expression in both speech and writing.
Definition of “Blow,” “Blew,” and “Blown”
The verb “blow” is an irregular verb that describes the act of expelling air, moving something with air, or sounding a horn. Understanding its various forms is essential for accurate grammar.
“Blow” – The Base Form
The base form, “blow,” is used in the present tense and with modal verbs. It signifies the action in its simplest form.
For example, “I blow bubbles” or “He will blow out the candles.”
“Blew” – The Simple Past Tense
“Blew” is the simple past tense form of “blow.” It indicates that the action happened and was completed at a specific time in the past. It’s used to narrate past events.
For example, “The wind blew fiercely last night.”
“Blown” – The Past Participle
“Blown” is the past participle of “blow.” It is used with auxiliary verbs such as “have,” “has,” “had,” “is,” “are,” “was,” and “were” to form perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect) and passive voice constructions. For example, “The leaves have been blown off the trees” or “The whistle was blown loudly.”
Structural Breakdown
Understanding the structure of verb tenses helps clarify the usage of “blew” and “blown.” Let’s break down the structures where these forms are used.
Simple Past Tense with “Blew”
The simple past tense structure is straightforward: Subject + Blew + (Object/Complement). This structure indicates a completed action in the past. For example, “The storm blew down the old oak tree.”
Perfect Tenses with “Blown”
Perfect tenses use auxiliary verbs with the past participle “blown.” Here are the main perfect tense structures:
- Present Perfect: Subject + Have/Has + Blown + (Object/Complement) – e.g., “The wind has blown the leaves away.”
- Past Perfect: Subject + Had + Blown + (Object/Complement) – e.g., “By the time I arrived, the candles had been blown out.”
- Future Perfect: Subject + Will Have + Blown + (Object/Complement) – e.g., “By tomorrow, the storm will have blown over.”
Passive Voice with “Blown”
In passive voice constructions, the past participle “blown” is used with a form of the verb “be”: Subject + Is/Are/Was/Were/Been + Blown + (By + Agent). The agent (the one performing the action) is often omitted. For example, “The glass was blown by a skilled artisan.”
Types and Categories of Verb Tenses
To fully grasp the usage of “blew” and “blown,” it’s essential to understand the different verb tenses and their functions.
Simple Tenses
Simple tenses describe actions without indicating completion or duration. The simple past tense, using “blew,” falls into this category.
Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses indicate that an action is completed or has a result in relation to a specific time. These tenses use “blown” as the past participle.
Continuous Tenses
While “blow” can be used in continuous tenses (e.g., “is blowing”), “blew” and “blown” are not directly used in continuous tenses. Instead, the present participle “blowing” is used.
For example, “The wind was blowing fiercely.”
Perfect Continuous Tenses
Perfect continuous tenses indicate an action that started in the past, continued for some time, and is still ongoing or has just finished. Although not as common, “blown” doesn’t feature in this tense directly.
The present participle “blowing” is used alongside “been.” For example, “The wind has been blowing all day.”
Examples of “Blew” and “Blown” in Sentences
Here are extensive examples illustrating the proper usage of “blew” and “blown” in various contexts. These examples are categorized by tense and voice for clarity.
Examples of “Blew” (Simple Past Tense)
The following table provides examples of “blew” used in simple past tense sentences. Notice how it describes a completed action in the past.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The wind blew through the trees. | Describes the wind’s action in the past. |
| He blew out all the candles on his cake. | Indicates a completed action of extinguishing candles. |
| She blew a kiss to her departing friend. | Describes the action of sending a kiss. |
| The referee blew his whistle to start the game. | Indicates the referee’s action of signaling the start. |
| The storm blew down the old shed. | Describes the storm’s destructive action. |
| He blew up the balloon until it burst. | Indicates the action of inflating the balloon. |
| She blew on her hot tea to cool it down. | Describes the action of cooling the tea. |
| The musician blew a beautiful melody on his flute. | Indicates the musician’s performance. |
| The scandal blew up and caused a lot of controversy. | Describes the sudden escalation of the scandal. |
| He blew his chance at winning the competition. | Indicates that he lost his opportunity. |
| The detective blew the cover of the undercover agent. | Describes how the detective exposed the agent. |
| She blew all her money on a shopping spree. | Shows she spent her money quickly. |
| He blew a tire on the highway. | Describes the tire exploding. |
| The company blew its budget for the year. | Indicates the company exceeded its budget. |
| The athlete blew past the competition. | Describes the athlete quickly overtaking others. |
| The manager blew his top when he found out about the mistake. | Indicates the manager became very angry. |
| The police blew open the door to the suspect’s hideout. | Describes the police forcing the door open. |
| The actor blew his lines during the performance. | Indicates the actor forgot his lines. |
| The chef blew everyone away with his culinary skills. | Describes the chef impressing everyone. |
| The team blew a lead in the final minutes of the game. | Shows the team losing their advantage. |
| He blew the dust off the old book. | Describes the action of removing dust. |
| The whistle blew loudly at the factory. | Indicates the whistle sounded. |
| She blew bubbles for the children. | Describes her entertaining the children. |
Examples of “Blown” (Past Participle in Perfect Tenses)
The following table provides examples of “blown” used in perfect tenses. Notice how it is always accompanied by an auxiliary verb (have, has, had, will have).
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The wind has blown the leaves all over the yard. | Present perfect tense indicating a completed action with present relevance. |
| He had blown out the candles before the power went out. | Past perfect tense indicating an action completed before another past action. |
| By the time we arrive, the storm will have blown over. | Future perfect tense indicating an action completed before a future time. |
| She has blown all her savings on unnecessary items. | Present perfect, indicating a completed action that has implications now. |
| The glass has been blown by skilled artisans for centuries. | Present perfect passive, indicating a continuous process. |
| The whistle had been blown to signal the end of the shift. | Past perfect passive, indicating an action completed before a past event. |
| All the secrets had been blown wide open by the scandal. | Past perfect passive, indicating that secrets were revealed. |
| He has blown his chance to impress the boss. | Present perfect, indicating a lost opportunity. |
| The athlete had blown past his competitors in the final lap. | Past perfect, describing how the athlete overtook others. |
| The company has blown its budget on the new marketing campaign. | Present perfect, indicating the company exceeded its budget. |
| The tire had blown out on the highway, causing a major delay. | Past perfect, describing a completed event that led to further consequences. |
| The actor has blown his lines multiple times during rehearsal. | Present perfect, indicating recurring mistakes. |
| The chef had blown everyone away with his innovative dishes. | Past perfect, indicating a prior impressive performance. |
| The team has blown a significant lead in several games this season. | Present perfect, indicating a recurring issue. |
| The police have blown the cover of several undercover agents. | Present perfect, indicating that agents’ identities have been revealed. |
| She has blown through all the money her parents gave her. | Present perfect, meaning she quickly spent all the money. |
| He has blown his reputation due to his reckless behavior. | Present perfect, meaning he has ruined his reputation. |
| The movie has blown everyone’s expectations. | Present perfect, meaning the movie exceeded expectations. |
| The storm has blown debris all over the city. | Present perfect, describing widespread damage. |
| The balloon had been blown up before the party. | Past perfect passive, meaning the balloon was inflated before the party. |
| The news of the scandal has been blown out of proportion. | Present perfect passive, meaning the scandal has been exaggerated. |
| My dreams have been blown away by reality. | Present perfect passive, meaning dreams have been shattered. |
Examples of “Blown” (Past Participle in Passive Voice)
The following table provides examples of “blown” used in passive voice constructions. Notice how the subject receives the action.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| The candles were blown out by the wind. | Passive voice indicating the wind caused the action. |
| The glass was blown by a skilled artisan. | Passive voice indicating the artisan performed the action. |
| The whistle was blown to signal the start of the race. | Passive voice indicating the purpose of the action. |
| The old shed was blown down by the storm. | Passive voice indicating the cause of the destruction. |
| The balloon was blown up for the party. | Passive voice, indicating someone inflated the balloon. |
| The dust was blown off the ancient manuscript. | Passive voice, indicating the dust was removed. |
| The secrets were blown wide open during the investigation. | Passive voice, indicating the secrets were revealed. |
| His cover was blown by a careless mistake. | Passive voice, indicating his identity was exposed. |
| The budget was blown by unexpected expenses. | Passive voice, indicating the budget was exceeded. |
| The competition was blown away by his performance. | Passive voice, indicating his performance was impressive. |
| The door was blown open by the explosion. | Passive voice, indicating the explosion forced the door open. |
| The game was blown due to the terrible weather. | Passive voice, indicating the weather ruined the game. |
| The sand was blown across the dunes by the wind. | Passive voice, describing the wind’s action. |
| The leaves were blown into piles by the gardener. | Passive voice, indicating who did the action. |
| The ship was blown off course by the storm. | Passive voice, describing the storm’s impact. |
| The snow was blown into drifts by the blizzard. | Passive voice, describing the blizzard’s action. |
| The rumour was blown out of proportion by the media. | Passive voice, meaning the media exaggerated the rumour. |
| Her chances were blown by her poor decisions. | Passive voice, indicating her choices ruined her chances. |
| The secret was accidentally blown by a careless comment. | Passive voice, meaning someone accidentally revealed the secret. |
| The opportunity was blown by a missed deadline. | Passive voice, indicating the deadline was missed. |
Usage Rules
Understanding the rules governing the use of “blew” and “blown” is critical for avoiding errors. Here are the key rules to remember.
Rule 1: Use “Blew” for Simple Past Tense
Always use “blew” when describing a completed action in the past without the use of auxiliary verbs. For example: “The wind blew hard yesterday.”
Rule 2: Use “Blown” with Auxiliary Verbs in Perfect Tenses
Use “blown” with auxiliary verbs like “have,” “has,” “had,” and “will have” to form perfect tenses. For example: “The leaves have been blown away.”
Rule 3: Use “Blown” in Passive Voice Constructions
Use “blown” with forms of the verb “be” (is, are, was, were, been) to form passive voice constructions. For example: “The whistle was blown by the referee.”
Rule 4: Be Mindful of Context
Pay attention to the context of the sentence to determine the correct tense and voice. This will help you choose between “blew” and “blown.”
Rule 5: Avoid Mixing Tenses
Ensure consistency in tense usage within a sentence or paragraph. Avoid switching between past simple and perfect tenses without a clear reason.
Special Cases and Exceptions
There aren’t significant exceptions to these rules, but it’s important to note idiomatic expressions. For instance, “blow a fuse” (meaning to become very angry) uses “blow” in its base form even when referring to a past event: “He blew a fuse when he heard the news.” It’s also important to note phrasal verbs such as “blow up” and “blow out”, which follow the same rules for tense as “blow”.
Common Mistakes
Here are some common mistakes people make when using “blew” and “blown,” along with corrections.
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| The wind has blew strongly. | The wind has blown strongly. | “Blown” is the correct past participle to use with “has.” |
| He blown out the candles. | He blew out the candles. | “Blew” is the correct simple past tense form. |
| The whistle was blew. | The whistle was blown. | “Blown” is the correct past participle for passive voice. |
| She had blew all her money. | She had blown all her money. | “Blown” is the correct past participle to use with “had.” |
| They will have blew the horn. | They will have blown the horn. | “Blown” is the correct past participle to use with “will have”. |
| I am blew away by the performance. | I am blown away by the performance. | “Blown” is the correct past participle after the verb “to be”. |
| The tire was blew on the highway. | The tire was blown on the highway. | “Blown” is the correct past participle in passive voice. |
| He has blew his chance. | He has blown his chance. | “Blown” is the correct past participle to use with “has.” |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with these practice exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of “blow” (blow, blew, or blown).
Exercise 1: Simple Past Tense (“Blew”)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The wind ______ fiercely during the storm. | blew |
| 2. She ______ a kiss to her mother before leaving. | blew |
| 3. The referee ______ his whistle to end the game. | blew |
| 4. He ______ out all the candles on his birthday cake. | blew |
| 5. The storm ______ down several trees in the park. | blew |
| 6. The children ______ bubbles in the garden. | blew |
| 7. The train ______ its whistle as it approached the station. | blew |
| 8. He ______ his nose loudly into a handkerchief. | blew |
| 9. She ______ on her coffee to cool it down. | blew |
| 10. The scandal ______ up after the documents were leaked. | blew |
Exercise 2: Perfect Tenses (“Blown”)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The wind has ______ all the leaves off the trees. | blown |
| 2. He had ______ his chance at winning the competition. | blown |
| 3. By the time we arrive, the storm will have ______ over. | blown |
| 4. She has ______ all her savings on a luxury vacation. | blown |
| 5. The glass has been ______ by skilled artisans for generations. | blown |
| 6. The secret had been ______ long before the investigation started. | blown |
| 7. I have ______ up all the balloons for the party. | blown |
| 8. The factory whistle has ______ at the end of every shift. | blown |
| 9. The cyclist has ______ past all his competitors. | blown |
| 10. He has ______ a fuse after hearing the news. | blown |
Exercise 3: Passive Voice (“Blown”)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. The candles were ______ out by the gust of wind. | blown |
| 2. The whistle was ______ to signal the start of the game. | blown |
| 3. The old tree was ______ down by the strong winds. | blown |
| 4. The dust was ______ off the ancient artifacts. | blown |
| 5. The secret was ______ by a careless remark. | blown |
| 6. The opportunity was ______ because of his lack of preparation. | blown |
| 7. The budget was ______ due to unforeseen expenses. | blown |
| 8. The case was ______ wide open by the new evidence. | blown |
| 9. The door was ______ off its hinges by the explosion. | blown |
| 10. The competition was ______ away by her talent. | blown |
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, here are more complex aspects of using “blew” and “blown.”
Idiomatic Expressions
English is full of idiomatic expressions that use “blow” in various ways. Understanding these idioms can enrich your vocabulary and comprehension.
For instance, “blow your own trumpet” means to boast about yourself, and “blow off steam” means to release pent-up energy or frustration.
Phrasal Verbs
“Blow” is often used in phrasal verbs, which combine a verb with a preposition or adverb to create a new meaning. Examples include: “blow up” (to explode or inflate), “blow out” (to extinguish or fail), and “blow over” (to pass without serious consequences).
The correct past tense forms (“blew up,” “blew out,” “blown over”) should still be used according to the context.
Subjunctive Mood
In subjunctive mood constructions, the base form “blow” might be used even when referring to past hypothetical situations. While rare, it’s important to recognize.
For example, “If the wind were to blow harder, the bridge could collapse.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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Q: When should I use “blew” instead of “blown”?
A: Use “blew” for the simple past tense to describe a completed action in the past. It does not require any auxiliary verbs. For example, “The wind blew all night.”
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Q: What auxiliary verbs are used with “blown”?
A: “Blown” is used with auxiliary verbs such as “have,” “has,” “had,” “will have,” “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,” and “been” to form perfect tenses and passive voice constructions. These help indicate the timing and completion of the action.
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Q: Can “blown” be used without an auxiliary verb?
A: No, “blown” is the past participle and always requires an auxiliary verb to function correctly in a sentence. Using it without an auxiliary verb is grammatically incorrect.
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Q: How do I identify when to use the passive voice with “blown”?
A: Use the passive voice when the subject of the sentence is receiving the action, rather than performing it. The structure is typically “Subject + is/are/was/were/been + blown.” For instance, “The candles were blown out by the wind.”
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Q: What are some common idioms that use “blow”?
A: Common idioms include “blow your own trumpet” (to boast), “blow off steam” (to release frustration), “blow a fuse” (to become angry), and “blow someone away” (to impress greatly). Understanding these idioms adds nuance to your English.
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Q: How can I avoid confusing “blew” and “blown”?
A: Remember that “blew” is for simple past actions, while “blown” requires an auxiliary verb. Practice using them in different contexts to reinforce your understanding. Review example sentences and do practice exercises regularly.
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Q: Is it ever correct to use “blowed”?
A: No, “blowed” is not a standard English word and is considered grammatically incorrect. Always use “blew” as the simple past tense and “blown” as the past participle.
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Q: Are there any regional variations in the use of “blew” and “blown”?
A: While standard English grammar rules apply universally, some regional dialects may have variations in pronunciation or colloquial usage. However, in formal writing and speech, stick to the standard forms “blew” and “blown.”
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Q: What is the difference between “blow,” “blew,” and “blowing?”
A: “Blow” is the base form used in the present tense and with modal verbs. “Blew” is the simple past tense, indicating a completed action. “Blowing” is the present participle used in continuous tenses, describing an ongoing action.
Conclusion
Mastering the correct usage of “blew” and “blown” is essential for clear and accurate communication in English. 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 the structural rules, practicing with examples, and avoiding common mistakes, you can confidently use these forms in your writing and speech. Continuous practice and attention to context will solidify your understanding and enhance your overall grammar skills.