The verb “sew” means to join or repair fabric or other materials using a needle and thread. It’s a common verb in everyday language, whether you’re talking about making clothes, patching a tear, or describing manufacturing processes. However, what makes “sew” particularly interesting—and sometimes confusing—is that it has two accepted past participle forms: “sewed” and “sewn”. Choosing between these can be tricky for learners.
Mastering the past tense forms of “sew” is important for clear communication, especially in writing, storytelling, instructions, exams, and professional settings. Understanding the differences helps you avoid mistakes and express yourself accurately.
This article is designed for ESL/EFL learners, teachers, writers, editors, and anyone who wants clarity on using “sew” in the past tense. We will take a comprehensive approach—covering definitions, verb structures, detailed examples, usage rules, common errors, practice exercises, advanced insights, and FAQs—so you can use “sew” confidently and correctly.
Table of Contents
- 3. Definition Section
- 4. Structural Breakdown
- 5. Types or Categories
- 6. Examples Section
- 7. Usage Rules
- 8. Common Mistakes
- 9. Practice Exercises
- 10. Advanced Topics
- 11. FAQ Section
- 12. Conclusion
3. Definition Section
3.1. Introduction to “Sew”
To sew is a verb meaning to join, attach, or repair something using stitches made with a needle and thread. It is mainly a transitive verb, requiring a direct object (e.g., “She sews clothes”). The base form is simply sew.
3.2. What Is Past Tense?
The past tense typically indicates that an action or event was completed at some time before now. It can appear in different forms:
- Simple Past: describes completed actions in the past (e.g., “She sewed a shirt”).
- Past Participle: used with auxiliary verbs in perfect tenses (e.g., “She has sewn a shirt”) and passive voice (“The shirt was sewn“).
3.3. The Irregularity of “Sew”
“Sew” is considered a semi-irregular verb because it has two alternative past participle forms: sewed (regular) and sewn (irregular). This duality is common in some English verbs, reflecting historical evolution.
In English grammar, verbs are often classified as:
- Regular (weak) verbs: add -ed (e.g., “walk” → “walked”).
- Irregular (strong) verbs: change the vowel or end differently (e.g., “sing” → “sang” → “sung”).
“Sew” is a hybrid: its simple past is regular (“sewed”), but its past participle can be regular or irregular (“sewed” or “sewn”).
3.4. Contexts of Use
We need the past tense of “sew” in many situations:
- Storytelling: “Yesterday, she sewed a dress.”
- Describing past events: “The patch was sewn on last week.”
- Giving instructions: “Once you have sewn the seam, press it flat.”
- Passive voice: “The badge was sewn onto the uniform.”
4. Structural Breakdown
4.1. Verb Forms of “Sew”
| Form | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Base Form | sew | I sew my own clothes. |
| Simple Past | sewed | She sewed a quilt yesterday. |
| Past Participle | sewed / sewn | The dress was sewn by hand. |
| Present Participle / Gerund | sewing | He is sewing a patch. |
4.2. The Simple Past: “Sewed”
The form “sewed” is the standard simple past tense of “sew.” It is used to describe completed actions in the past:
- Affirmative: “She sewed a new dress yesterday.”
- Negative: “I didn’t sew the patch correctly.”
- Interrogative: “Did you sew that button on?”
4.3. The Past Participle: “Sewed” vs. “Sewn”
The past participle of “sew” has two acceptable forms:
- “Sewed”: the regular participle, often used informally or in American English.
- “Sewn”: the traditional irregular participle, preferred in formal contexts and passive constructions.
Examples:
- “She has sewn all the costumes.”
- “The patches were sewn on carefully.”
- “I have sewed these curtains myself.” (less common, but acceptable)
4.4. Pronunciation Notes
- sew: /soʊ/ (rhymes with “go”)
- sewed: /soʊd/ (rhymes with “road”)
- sewn: /soʊn/ (rhymes with “own”)
Be careful not to confuse “sewn” /soʊn/ with “sown” (past participle of “sow” meaning to plant seeds), which is pronounced identically.
5. Types or Categories
5.1. Regular vs. Irregular Past Forms
“Sew” is semi-irregular because it combines regular past tense formation (sewed) with an irregular past participle (sewn).
Historically, “sewn” was the original past participle, but over time, “sewed” became common, especially in American English.
| Verb | Base | Simple Past | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| walk (regular) | walk | walked | walked |
| sing (irregular) | sing | sang | sung |
| sew (semi-irregular) | sew | sewed | sewn / sewed |
5.2. Simple Past vs. Past Participle Usage
“Sewed” is mainly used as the simple past (“Yesterday, I sewed a shirt”).
“Sewn” is primarily the past participle, used with auxiliary verbs in:
- Perfect tenses: “She has sewn her dress.”
- Passive voice: “The patch was sewn on.”
5.3. Active vs. Passive Voice
The choice of participle affects voice construction:
- Active: “I sewed the costume.”
- Passive: “The costume was sewn by me.”
6. Examples Section
6.1. Simple Past Examples (with “sewed”)
- Last week, he sewed a quilt for his grandmother.
- I sewed the button back on my shirt this morning.
- She sewed a beautiful dress for the competition.
- We sewed the costumes ourselves.
- They sewed new curtains for the living room.
- Did you sew that patch on your jacket?
- No, I didn’t sew it; my mom did.
- He sewed a tear in his jeans yesterday.
- The tailor sewed the hem perfectly.
- My sister sewed a stuffed animal for her child.
- We didn’t sew the costumes until last week.
- Did they sew those flags by hand?
6.2. Present Perfect and Past Perfect Examples
- She has sewn all morning.
- They have sewn the patches onto the uniforms.
- He has sewed many costumes for the theater. (acceptable, but less common)
- By noon, he had sewn five patches.
- Have you ever sewn your own clothes?
- I have never sewn anything before.
- We had sewn the quilt before the winter came.
- She has sewn a new cover for the couch.
- They’ve sewn all the costumes already.
- He had sewn the badge on before the event.
6.3. Passive Voice Examples
- The name was sewn on the uniform.
- The button had been sewn incorrectly.
- The quilt was sewn entirely by hand.
- All the patches have been sewn onto the jacket.
- The dress was sewn by a famous designer.
- The curtains were sewn last week.
- The badge has been sewn on securely.
- Those costumes were sewn in just two days.
- The tear has been sewn up neatly.
- Each letter was carefully sewn onto the banner.
6.4. Mixed Context Examples
- By the time the show began, all the costumes had been sewn.
- I sewed my first dress last month, and since then, I have sewn three more.
- The patch was sewn on yesterday, but it’s already coming loose.
- Have you ever sewn a quilt by hand?
- She sewed the button herself, but it wasn’t sewn very well.
- Once he had sewn the hem, he pressed it flat.
- The costumes are being sewn right now.
- They sewed some flags last year, which have since been sewn onto the poles.
- Before the meeting, the patches had already been sewn on.
- She has never sewn with silk before, but yesterday she sewed a silk scarf.
6.5. Comparative Examples Table
| Correct | Incorrect | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I have sewn the patch. | I have sewed the patch. | Use “sewn” as past participle in perfect tense. |
| She sewed a skirt yesterday. | She sewn a skirt yesterday. | Use “sewed” for simple past. |
| The badge was sewn on. | The badge was sewed on. | “Sewn” preferred in passive voice. |
| They have sewn all the flags. | They have sewed all the flags. | “Sewn” is more standard in perfect tense. |
| Did you sew the button? | Did you sewed the button? | Use base form after “did”. |
7. Usage Rules
7.1. When to Use “Sewed”
- For simple past tense: “Yesterday, I sewed a shirt.”
- Sometimes as a past participle in informal speech: “I have sewed many costumes.” (less formal)
7.2. When to Use “Sewn”
- Primarily as the past participle, especially in:
- Perfect tenses: “She has sewn a dress.”
- Passive voice: “The patch was sewn on.”
- More common and preferred in formal English.
7.3. Common Style Preferences
- American English: accepts both “sewed” and “sewn” as past participles, with “sewn” preferred in writing.
- British English: prefers “sewn” as past participle, “sewed” mainly for simple past.
- In formal contexts, prefer “sewn” for past participle.
7.4. Exceptions and Special Cases
- In some dialects or informal speech, “sewed” may be used as participle, though less standard.
- Historical texts may favor “sewn”.
- Fixed expressions: e.g., “cut and sewn” (meaning finished garments in manufacturing).
- When emphasizing the act vs. the result, variations may occur, but “sewn” remains safer for participle.
7.5. Summary Table of Usage Rules
| Context | Preferred Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Past | sewed | He sewed a quilt last week. |
| Past Participle (Perfect Tenses) | sewn | She has sewn a dress. |
| Past Participle (Passive Voice) | sewn | The patch was sewn on. |
| Informal Past Participle | sewed | I have sewed many costumes. |
| Formal Writing | sewn | The label was sewn in. |
8. Common Mistakes
8.1. Confusing “Sewed” with “Sewn”
Incorrect: “I have sewed the patch on.”
Correct: “I have sewn the patch on.”
8.2. Overusing “Sewed” as Past Participle
While some dialects accept “sewed” as a past participle, “sewn” is generally preferred in perfect tenses and passive constructions.
8.3. Pronunciation Errors
- Confusing “sewn” (/soʊn/) with “sown” (also /soʊn/, but from “sow”)
- Mispronouncing “sewn” as /suːn/ (incorrect)
8.4. Spelling Mistakes
- Writing “seawn” or “sewnn” (incorrect)
- Leaving off the “n” in “sewn”
- Confusing “sew” with “sow”
Tip: Remember, “sewn” has an n at the end, like “known”.
8.5. Wrong Tense Usage
- “Yesterday, I sew a dress.” → Incorrect
- “Yesterday, I sewed a dress.” → Correct
- “I have sewed the badge.” → Acceptable but “I have sewn” is better.
8.6. Practice Table: Correct vs. Incorrect Sentences
| Incorrect | Correct |
|---|---|
| The curtains were sewed yesterday. | The curtains were sewn yesterday. |
| I have sewed the badge on. | I have sewn the badge on. |
| She sewn a dress last week. | She sewed a dress last week. |
| Did you sewed the button? | Did you sew the button? |
| The patch has been sewed on. | The patch has been sewn on. |
| He had sewed all the flags. | He had sewn all the flags. |
| Have you ever sewed a quilt? | Have you ever sewn a quilt? |
| The hem was sewed neatly. | The hem was sewn neatly. |
| He sewn the patch yesterday. | He sewed the patch yesterday. |
| They have sewed all the costumes. | They have sewn all the costumes. |
9. Practice Exercises
9.1. Fill-in-the-Blank
Fill in the blanks with “sewed” or “sewn”.
| No. | Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | She has ____ new buttons on the shirt. | sewn |
| 2 | I ____ a pillowcase last weekend. | sewed |
| 3 | The flag was ____ by the scouts. | sewn |
| 4 | Have you ever ____ a dress before? | sewn |
| 5 | They ____ costumes for the play yesterday. | sewed |
| 6 | The patch has been ____ on carefully. | sewn |
| 7 | He ____ a button back on his coat this morning. | sewed |
| 8 | All the patches were ____ on last week. | sewn |
| 9 | We had ____ five curtains before lunch. | sewn |
| 10 | My grandmother ____ her own wedding dress. | sewed |
| 11 | The badge was ____ onto the uniform. | sewn |
| 12 | He has ____ many costumes over the years. | sewn |
| 13 | I ____ a patch on my jeans last night. | sewed |
| 14 | All the costumes have been ____ already. | sewn |
| 15 | She ____ a new dress for the party last week. | sewed |
9.2. Correct the Mistake
Identify and correct the mistake.
| Incorrect Sentence | Corrected Sentence |
|---|---|
| The curtains were sewed yesterday. | The curtains were sewn yesterday. |
| She has sewed the badge on. | She has sewn the badge on. |
| He sewn a patch last night. | He sewed a patch last night. |
| The button was sewed incorrectly. | The button was sewn incorrectly. |
| They have sewed all the costumes. | They have sewn all the costumes. |
| Did you sewed the button? | Did you sew the button? |
| The patches were all sewed on time. | The patches were all sewn on time. |
| I have never sewed a dress before. | I have never sewn a dress before. |
| The quilt was sewed by hand. | The quilt was sewn by hand. |
| She had sewed five blankets before noon. | She had sewn five blankets before noon. |
9.3. Identify the Tense and Form
Label each sentence as simple past or past participle.
| Sentence | Answer |
|---|---|
| He had sewn the patch before class. | Past participle, past perfect |
| She sewed a dress last week. | Simple past |
| The badge was sewn on yesterday. | Past participle, passive voice |
| Have you ever sewn a quilt? | Past participle, present perfect |
| They sewed the curtains themselves. | Simple past |
| All the costumes have been sewn. | Past participle, present perfect passive |
9.4. Sentence Construction
Write sentences with the prompts:
- Sewed / last night / patch → “I sewed a patch last night.”
- Sewn / has / the badge / she → “She has sewn the badge.”
- Sewn / had / before lunch / five flags / they → “They had sewn five flags before lunch.”
- Sewed / yesterday / curtains / we → “We sewed the curtains yesterday.”
- Sewn / was / by hand / the dress → “The dress was sewn by hand.”
9.5. Matching Exercise
Match the sentence to its explanation.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| She sewed a dress. | Simple past, completed action |
| The patch was sewn on. | Passive voice, past participle |
| They have sewn many costumes. | Present perfect, past participle |
| He had sewn the badge. | Past perfect, past participle |
| We sewed the curtains last week. | Simple past, completed action |
10. Advanced Topics
10.1. Historical Development of “Sewed” and “Sewn”
“Sew” originates from Old English siwan, related to Old Norse syja and German nähen. Historically, the past tense forms were irregular, with “sewn” as the participle. Over time, the regular form “sewed” emerged and gained acceptance, especially in American English.
10.2. “Sewn” vs. “Sewed” in Dialects and Registers
- American English: Both “sewn” and “sewed” accepted as past participles, but “sewn” preferred in writing.
- British English: Favors “sewn” as past participle, “sewed” for simple past.
- Formal English: Strong preference for “sewn” as past participle.
- Informal/dialectal speech: “sewed” sometimes used as participle.
10.3. Passive Voice Nuances
In passive constructions, “sewn” is nearly always preferred:
- “The letter was sewn onto the fabric.” (natural)
- “The letter was sewed onto the fabric.” (less natural)
Using “sewn” helps maintain clarity and aligns with traditional passive formation.
10.4. Contrast with Similar Verbs
| Verb | Base | Simple Past | Past Participle | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sew | sew | sewed | sewn / sewed | To stitch fabric |
| sow | sow | sowed | sown / sowed | To plant seeds |
Because “sewn” and “sown” are homophones (/soʊn/), context is crucial to avoid confusion.
10.5. Corpus Analysis Insight
Analysis of contemporary English corpora (e.g., COCA, BNC) shows:
| Form | Frequency (approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| sewed (simple past) | High | Standard past tense |
| sewn (past participle) | High | Preferred participle |
| sewed (past participle) | Low-Moderate | Acceptable but less common |
11. FAQ Section
1. Is “sewed” or “sewn” the correct past tense of “sew”?
Both are correct, but for different uses. “Sewed” is the simple past tense, while “sewn” is primarily the past participle used in perfect tenses and passive voice.
2. When should I use “sewn” instead of “sewed”?
Use “sewn” when forming perfect tenses (e.g., “has sewn”) or passive constructions (e.g., “was sewn”).
3. Are both “sewed” and “sewn” acceptable as past participles?
Yes, but “sewn” is preferred, especially in formal or written English.
4. Is there a difference between American and British English usage of “sewn”?
Slightly. Both use “sewn” as the preferred past participle, but American English sometimes accepts “sewed” as a participle in informal contexts.
5. Can I say “I have sewed a dress”?
Technically yes, but “I have sewn a dress” is more standard.
6. Why does “sew” have two past participle forms?
Because of historical language change—from an original irregular form (“sewn”) to an added regular form (“sewed”). Both coexist now.
7. How do I pronounce “sewn”?
Like “own” with an /s/ at the start: /soʊn/.
8. What is the plural of “sew”? (Clarify it’s a verb, not a noun)
“Sew” is a verb and does not have a plural. Its third person singular form is “sews.”
9. Is “sewn” ever used as simple past?
No, “sewn” is not used as a simple past; use “sewed” instead.
10. What are common mistakes learners make with “sew” in past tense?
Mixing up “sewed” and “sewn,” overusing “sewed” as participle, pronunciation errors, and incorrect tense usage.
11. Are there idioms or fixed phrases using “sewn”?
Yes, like “cut and sewn” (meaning fully manufactured garments).
12. How can I practice distinguishing between “sewed” and “sewn”?
Use grammar exercises, analyze example sentences, focus on perfect/passive forms for “sewn,” and simple past for “sewed.”
12. Conclusion
The verb “sew” has two accepted past forms: “sewed” (simple past, sometimes participle) and “sewn” (primarily past participle). To communicate clearly, use “sewed” for past actions (“Yesterday, I sewed a shirt”) and “sewn” in perfect tenses or passive voice (“The shirt was sewn by hand”).
Remember:
- Use “sewed” for simple past tense.
- Prefer “sewn” as the past participle.
- Context matters—formal writing favors “sewn.”
- Avoid common mistakes by checking examples and practicing often.
Review the examples, tables, and exercises in this article regularly. Applying this knowledge in writing and speaking will help you master the past tense forms of “sew” with confidence.