Shown vs Showed: Which Is Correct?
Both showed and shown are correct — but they are used in different places. Showed is the simple past tense of show. Shown is the past participle, used after have, has, had or in the passive voice (was shown, is shown).
Quick Answer
| Form | Use it when | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Showed | simple past, no helper verb | She showed me her new car. |
| Shown | after have/has/had | She has shown great progress. |
| Shown | passive voice | The film was shown in cinemas. |
When to Use “Showed”
Use showed to describe a finished action in the past when there is no helping verb.
- He showed us the way to the station.
- The results showed a clear improvement.
- They showed up late to the meeting.
When to Use “Shown”
Use shown with perfect tenses and the passive voice.
- The data has shown steady growth.
- I had never been shown such kindness.
- Prices are shown in US dollars.
Is “Have Showed” Correct?
You may see have showed in older texts, and some dictionaries list it as a variant. However, in modern standard English, have shown is strongly preferred, especially in formal writing, exams and professional emails.
Memory Trick
If you can put have in front of it, use the word that ends in -n: have shown, has shown, had shown.
Similar Verbs
| Verb | Past | Past participle |
|---|---|---|
| show | showed | shown |
| grow | grew | grown |
| know | knew | known |
| throw | threw | thrown |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is “was showed” correct?
No. In the passive voice, use was shown: “The video was shown to all staff.”
Can I say “has showed”?
It is understood but considered non-standard. Use has shown instead.
Final Thoughts
Use showed on its own for the past, and shown after have, has, had, is, was or been. Follow that rule and your grammar will always look polished.
