"Grow" is to increase or develop naturally; "raise" is to bring up or cause growth in something else.
To increase in size, mature, or develop. Intransitive — the subject grows on its own.
Children grow so fast. I cannot believe how tall she is now.
Los ninos crecen tan rapido. No puedo creer lo alta que esta ahora.
The company grew 40% in its second year.
La empresa crecio un 40% en su segundo ano.
He grew up in a small town in Mexico.
El crecio en un pequeno pueblo de Mexico.
To bring up, nurture, or cause something to increase. Transitive — the subject causes growth in another.
She raised three children on her own after the divorce.
Ella crio a tres hijos sola despues del divorcio.
The government raised the minimum wage this year.
El gobierno subio el salario minimo este ano.
Can you raise your hand if you have a question?
¿Puedes levantar la mano si tienes una pregunta?
Common mistake
The classic confusion is raise/rise (see separate pair), but also mixing up "grow" and "raise" for bringing up children. "My parents grew me" is wrong. Correct: "My parents raised me." Parents do not "grow" you — they raise you. You grow on your own.
Trick to remember it
Ask: who is in control? If the thing grows on its own (plant, child, company), use "grow". If someone else makes it grow (parent, farmer, government raising prices), use "raise". Raise always needs an object: raise + [something/someone].
Quick rule
Grow = grow on its own (intransitive). Raise = make something/someone grow (transitive, needs object).
Did you know?
In American English it is "raise children" but in classical British English it used to be "rear children" ("rear" = to bring up, related to "rear end" = back end, where offspring come from). Today "raise" is universal in both variants for bringing up children.
Exercise 1 · Pick the right one
She _____ up in a bilingual household and speaks both languages perfectly.
Exercise 2 · Pick the right one
Her grandparents _____ her after her parents passed away.
Exercise 3 · Form the word
Grow = grow on its own (intransitive). Raise = make something/someone grow (transitive, needs object).
The classic confusion is raise/rise (see separate pair), but also mixing up "grow" and "raise" for bringing up children. "My parents grew me" is wrong. Correct: "My parents raised me." Parents do not "grow" you — they raise you. You grow on your own.
Ask: who is in control? If the thing grows on its own (plant, child, company), use "grow". If someone else makes it grow (parent, farmer, government raising prices), use "raise". Raise always needs an object: raise + [something/someone].
Bryan López
Founder of SpeakUP Academy