Have you ever asked yourself whether to use “shown” or “showed” while writing or speaking? If you have, you are not the only one. Many English learners and even some native speakers get confused by these two verb forms. Both words come from the base verb ‘to show;’ however, they serve different grammatical functions, and knowing the difference can help you communicate effectively.
Understanding the difference between “shown” and “showed,” is equally important when writing a professional email as when composing an academic paper or engaging in small talk. Here, I will explain their meaning, and grammatical functions, give examples, and tackle the complex world of perfect tenses and passive voice usage along with the most common pitfalls that one should be aware of.
At the end of the guide, all doubts about using “shown” and “showed” in any sentence will be eliminated, thus increasing the level of one’s proficiency in English.
What’s the Difference Between ‘Shown’ and ‘Showed’?
Before diving into the details, let’s look at a quick summary:
| Word | Grammatical Function | Example Sentence |
| Showed | Simple past tense | “She showed me her new phone.” |
| Shown | Past participle (used with “has,” “have,” or “had”) | “I have shown him the report.” |
The key difference lies in how and where you use them in a sentence. “Showed” is used as the simple past tense without any auxiliary verbs, while “shown” is strictly used as the past participle with helping verbs such as “has,” “have,” or “had.” Furthermore, “shown” often appears in passive constructions, whereas “showed” does not. Let’s explore each one in detail to understand their correct application.
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What Does ‘Showed’ Mean? (Simple Past Tense Usage)
“Showed” is the past tense of the verb “to show.” It is used to describe an action that was completed in the past and does not require a helping verb.
✅ Correct Usage of “Showed”
- “He showed me his artwork yesterday.”
- “They showed great teamwork during the competition.”
- “I showed my teacher my homework before class.”
- “She showed up late to the meeting, causing a delay.”
- “The guide showed us around the museum and explained its history.”
- “He showed patience while waiting for his turn to speak.”
🚫 Incorrect Usage of “Showed”
- “I have showed my project to the team.” ❌ (should be “have shown”)
- “She had showed me the directions before we left.” ❌ (should be “had shown”)
- “The report was showed to the manager.” ❌ (should be “was shown”)
- “The results have showed a clear improvement.” ❌ (should be “have shown”)
- “We had showed the documents to the supervisor earlier.” ❌ (should be “had shown”)
💡 Tip: Use “showed” when there is no helping verb (has, have, had) in the sentence. If you need a helping verb, then “shown” is the correct choice.
What Does ‘Shown’ Mean? (Past Participle Usage)
“Shown” is the past participle of “to show” and is used in two main cases:
- Perfect Tenses (with has/have/had)
- Passive Voice (with “be” verbs like is, was, has been, etc.)
1. ‘Shown’ in Perfect Tenses
Perfect tenses use a form of “have” (has, have, or had) before the past participle to indicate an action’s relationship to time.
✅ Present Perfect Tense (has/have + past participle)
- “She has shown great improvement in her writing.”
- “I have shown my work to the professor.”
- “They have shown their skills in the competition.”
- “The research has shown significant progress over the years.”
- “He has shown kindness to everyone around him.”
✅ Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle)
- “He had shown me this place before we moved here.”
- “They had shown their designs to the client earlier.”
- “The study had shown a correlation between diet and health.”
- “She had shown her dedication long before she got promoted.”
- “We had shown the evidence to the authorities.”
✅ Future Perfect Tense (will have + past participle)
- “By next year, we will have shown our research at three conferences.”
- “He will have shown his ability to lead by the end of the project.”
- “The company will have shown great growth in the coming decade.”
- “They will have shown their work to the board by tomorrow.”
- “She will have shown her talent on the big stage.”
💡 Tip: Always use “shown” after has, have, or had in perfect tenses.
2. ‘Shown’ in Passive Voice
The passive voice places emphasis on the object rather than the subject performing the action.
✅ Correct Usage in Passive Sentences
- “The results were shown to the students.”
- “Has the information been shown to the board?”
- “The evidence was shown to the jury during the trial.”
- “The film was shown in theaters worldwide.”
- “The data has been shown to be accurate.”
- “His talent was shown to a global audience.”
- “The findings were shown to support the hypothesis.”
🚫 Incorrect Usage of “Shown” in Passive Sentences
- “The movie was showed to the audience.” ❌ (should be “was shown”)
- “The figures have showed a decline.” ❌ (should be “have shown”)
- “The information was showed to the class.” ❌ (should be “was shown”)
💡 Tip: Use “shown” in passive voice with a form of ‘to be’ (was, were, has been, etc.).
Common Grammar Mistakes with ‘Shown’ and ‘Showed’
Many English learners mistakenly swap “shown” and “showed,” especially when using perfect tenses or passive voice. Here are some common errors:
❌ Incorrect: “She has showed me her work.” (wrong auxiliary verb) ✅ Correct: “She has shown me her work.”
❌ Incorrect: “The painting was showed at the gallery.” ✅ Correct: “The painting was shown at the gallery.”
❌ Incorrect: “They have showed great enthusiasm.” ✅ Correct: “They have shown great enthusiasm.”
❌ Incorrect: “The photos were showed to the guests.” ✅ Correct: “The photos were shown to the guests.”
💡 Tip: Always double-check for helping verbs before deciding whether to use “shown” or “showed.”
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‘Has Showed’ or ‘Has Shown’? Which One is Correct?
One of the biggest grammar mistakes is using “has showed” instead of “has shown.”
🚫 Wrong: “She has showed the document to the manager.” ✅ Right: “She has shown the document to the manager.”
🚫 Wrong: “He had showed us the results.” ✅ Right: “He had shown us the results.”
💡 Rule: Always use ‘shown’ after “has,” “have,” or “had.” “Has showed” is incorrect.
Synonyms for ‘Shown’ and ‘Showed’
If you want to avoid repetition, here are some alternative words:
🔹 Synonyms for “Showed”
- Displayed
- Presented
- Revealed
- Demonstrated
🔹 Synonyms for “Shown”
- Illustrated
- Exhibited
- Disclosed
- Expressed
Example: Instead of “He showed his skills,” you could say “He demonstrated his skills.”
Key Insight
What is the difference between ‘shown’ and ‘showed’?
“Showed” is the past tense of “show,” used without helping verbs. “Shown” is the past participle and must be used with “has,” “have,” or “had.”
Can I say ‘has showed’?
No, “has showed” is incorrect. The correct phrase is “has shown.”
When should I use ‘showed’ in a sentence?
Use “showed” when talking about a completed action in the past without a helping verb. Example: “She showed me her new dress.”
When should I use ‘shown’ in a sentence?
Use “shown” when there is a helping verb like “has,” “have,” or “had.” Example: “She has shown me her new dress.”
Can ‘shown’ be used without ‘has,’ ‘have,’ or ‘had’?
No, “shown” always needs a helping verb. Without it, use “showed” instead.
Is it correct to say ‘was showed’?
No, “was showed” is incorrect. The correct phrase is “was shown.”
Final Thoughts
Having clarity on when to say “shown” or “showed” can be very useful when it comes to writing. We can say that “shown” is a past participle which uses a helping verb like “has”, “have”, or “had” while “showed” is a simple past without auxiliary verbs. Moreover, “shown” is characteristic of the passive voice.
Take these distinctions into account and you will be able to eliminate common grammar errors and, consequently, increase your fluency. Academic, professional, or casual writing, these verb forms become essential when trying to communicate clearly.
Would you like to learn more about grammar? Please keep trying, and don’t hesitate to ask questions in the comments below.
