Both express a change of state ("to become"), but "grow" implies gradual change; "get" is more immediate and informal.
To become something gradually and organically. Also: to grow physically.
She grew more confident as the months passed.
Ella se volvio mas segura de si misma a medida que pasaban los meses.
The city has grown dramatically over the past decade.
La ciudad ha crecido dramaticamente en la ultima decada.
He grew tired of waiting and left without her.
El se canso de esperar y se fue sin ella.
To become something (change of state). Informal and very common. Also: to obtain, to receive.
It is getting late. We should probably head home soon.
Se esta haciendo tarde. Probablemente deberiamos ir a casa pronto.
She got angry when she found out what had happened.
Ella se enojo cuando descubrio lo que habia pasado.
He got lost in the city and had to call for directions.
El se perdio en la ciudad y tuvo que llamar para pedir indicaciones.
Common mistake
Using "grow" in contexts where "get" is more natural in everyday English: "I grow tired" exists and is correct, but "I get tired" is much more common in informal speech. Another issue: "grow angry/confused/lost" are correct but sound more literary; in daily conversation you say "get angry/confused/lost". "Grow" for physical body changes: "he grew three inches" — there you cannot use "get".
Trick to remember it
Register: "grow + adjective" is formal or literary (grow old, grow weary, grow impatient). "Get + adjective" is informal and very common (get old, get tired, get angry, get lost, get ready, get better, get worse). In daily conversation: almost always "get". In writing, narrative, or formal speech: "grow" sounds elegant. For physical growth (plants, children, cities): always "grow", never "get".
Quick rule
Grow = become something gradually (formal/literary or physical growth). Get = become something (informal, very common in everyday speech).
Did you know?
"Get" is probably the most productive verb in English for phrasal verbs: get up, get down, get in, get out, get on, get off, get over, get through, get by, get away, get back, get along, get ahead, get behind, get together... Each combination has its own meaning, often idiomatic. A student who masters phrasal verbs with "get" has a huge fluency advantage.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
Over the years, she _____ more comfortable speaking in public.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
The tomatoes in the garden _____ really fast this year. The weather helped.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Grow = become something gradually (formal/literary or physical growth). Get = become something (informal, very common in everyday speech).
Using "grow" in contexts where "get" is more natural in everyday English: "I grow tired" exists and is correct, but "I get tired" is much more common in informal speech. Another issue: "grow angry/confused/lost" are correct but sound more literary; in daily conversation you say "get angry/confused/lost". "Grow" for physical body changes: "he grew three inches" — there you cannot use "get".
Register: "grow + adjective" is formal or literary (grow old, grow weary, grow impatient). "Get + adjective" is informal and very common (get old, get tired, get angry, get lost, get ready, get better, get worse). In daily conversation: almost always "get". In writing, narrative, or formal speech: "grow" sounds elegant. For physical growth (plants, children, cities): always "grow", never "get".
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy