Strove vs. Striven
“Strove” is a simple-past form of “strive”; “striven” is a past participle. “Strived” is also an accepted alternative for both forms. The guide preserves documented regional or alternate forms rather than treating the pair as an absolute binary.
“Strove” is a simple-past form of “strive”; “striven” is a past participle. “Strived” is also an accepted alternative for both forms.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Grammar need | Use | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| simple past | strove | Use the irregular simple-past form. |
| past participle after have/has/had | striven | Use the irregular participle. |
| alternative form in either slot | strived | Also documented for both past and participle. |
Quick tests
Auxiliary test
Is the form after have, has, or had?
If yes: Use “striven” or the accepted alternative “strived,” not “strove.”
If no: For a simple past, “strove” or “strived” can be used.
Caveat: This page distinguishes verb form, not meaning; “strived” remains an accepted alternative in both grammatical slots.
Examples
They strove to make the explanation shorter.
“Strove” is a simple-past form.
They have striven to make the explanation shorter.
“Striven” is the past participle after “have.”
They have strived to make the explanation shorter.
“Strived” is also documented as a past participle.
Usage notes
“Strived” is an accepted alternative past tense and past participle, so “strove” and “striven” are not the only standard forms.
Further guidance
Core difference
“Strove” functions as a simple-past form of “strive,” while “striven” functions as a past participle. Cambridge also records “strived” for both the past tense and past participle.
Fast Test
Use “strove” for the traditional simple past and “striven” after have/has/had; do not mark “strived” wrong merely for being regular, because authoritative dictionaries also record it.
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.
- strive — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Strive + to-infinitive and strive for + noun patterns