Sowed vs. Sown
“Sowed” is the simple past of “sow.” For the past participle, Cambridge records both “sown” and “sowed,” so “sown” is participial only while “sowed” can serve either past role.
Use “sowed” for the simple past. For the past participle, both “sown” and “sowed” are documented, so “has sown” and “has sowed” can both be standard.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Sentence need | Form | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| simple past of “sow” | sowed | Use “sowed.” |
| past participle after have/has/had or in a passive | sown | “Sown” is a documented participle. |
| past participle where the regular alternative is preferred | sowed | Cambridge also records “sowed” as a past participle. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the verb a standalone simple past rather than a past participle?
If yes: Use “sowed.”
If no: For a past participle, both “sown” and “sowed” are documented.
Caveat: The usual past-versus-participle shortcut is not absolute here because “sowed” can also serve as a past participle.
Examples
They sowed the field in early spring.
“Sowed” is the simple-past form.
The field had been sown before the rain arrived.
“Sown” is a documented past participle in a perfect passive construction.
They have sowed this variety before.
Cambridge also records “sowed” as a past participle, so this form is not automatically an error.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Sowed” is the simple-past form and can also be a past participle; “sown” is a past-participle form.
Fast Test
A simple past takes “sowed.” After have/has/had, either “sown” or “sowed” is documented, so do not mark “has sowed” wrong merely because “sown” is more familiar.
Variation Boundary
Because “sowed” is also an accepted past participle, the usual simple-past-versus-participle shortcut is not absolute for this verb.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- SOW — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct dictionary evidence for sow / sowed / sown or sowed verb forms