Irregular verb
The verb to draw
draw → drew → drawn
B1Meaning: to make a picture with a pencil or pen; to pull something, like curtains; to end a game with equal scores · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 100 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they draw·he/she/it draws - Past Simple:
drew(pronounced /druː/) - Past participle:
drawn(different from the Past Simple) - -ing form:
drawing
Conjugation of the verb to draw
Present Simple
| I | draw |
| You | draw |
| He / She / It | draws |
| We | draw |
| You (pl.) | draw |
| They | draw |
Past Simple
| I | drew |
| You | drew |
| He / She / It | drew |
| We | drew |
| You (pl.) | drew |
| They | drew |
All the forms of the verb to draw
Present Simple
Full pagedraw / draws
“She draws beautiful pictures.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are drawing
“I am drawing a picture right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagedrew
“I drew a picture.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were drawing
“I was drawing a picture when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has drawn
“I have already drawn a picture.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad drawn
“She had already drawn a picture when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill draw
“I will draw a picture tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to draw
“I'm going to draw a picture this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould draw
“I would draw a picture if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to draw
1. Drawing a picture
- I drew a house.
- Can you draw a cat?
2. Pulling (curtains, a line)
Draw the curtains means to open or close them. Draw a line means to make a line with a pen or a pencil.
- Draw the curtains.
- She drew a line.
3. Ending a match with the same score
Draw a match means that nobody wins: both teams have the same score.
- They drew 1-1.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Draw does not mean paint
Draw means to make lines with a pencil, a pen or ink. With a brush and paint, the verb is paint. Different tools, different verbs.
2. Drawing is also a noun
A drawing is a picture made with a pencil or a pen: a beautiful drawing. The drawing of a winner is the moment when a winner is chosen by chance.
What's next?
You can conjugate to draw. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of draw?+
The Past Simple of draw is drew. The past participle is drawn. Draw → drew → drawn.
What is the difference between draw and paint?+
Draw means to make lines with a pencil, a pen or ink. Paint means to use a brush and paint, for colours. Different tools, different verbs.
What does draw mean in sport?+
In sport, draw means to finish with the same score. They drew 1-1. The match ended in a draw. It is also a noun: a draw is a game that nobody wins.
What is the difference between draw and drawer?+
Draw is a verb. A drawer is a noun with two meanings. (1) A box in a desk that you pull out, pronounced /drɔː/ in British English. (2) A person who draws, pronounced /ˈdrɔːə/. Learners often mix them up when they write.
Is it drew or drawed?+
Draw is an irregular verb. Its Past Simple is drew, and its past participle is drawn. Never say drawed.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/draw
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.