Strove vs. Strived vs. Striven – Which is Correct?

Strove is the traditional simple past tense of “strive,” and striven is its traditional past participle. Strived is a regularized form that serves as both the simple past and past participle, offering a simpler alternative to the irregular forms.

Strove, Strived, or Striven – Which is Correct?

All three words—strove, strived, and striven—are grammatically correct forms of the verb “to strive,” but they are used in different tenses or contexts. “Strive” is an irregular verb, traditionally following a pattern similar to “drive” (drive, drove, driven). However, “strived” represents a regularization of these irregular forms, making it increasingly common.

Strove is the traditional simple past tense. Use it when describing an action of striving that was completed in the past, without an auxiliary verb.

Striven is the traditional past participle. It is used with auxiliary verbs (e.g., “have,” “has,” “had”) to form perfect tenses, or as an adjective.

Strived is a more modern, regularized form that can function as both the simple past tense and the past participle. While “strove” and “striven” are often preferred in formal writing, “strived” is perfectly acceptable and widely used, especially in less formal contexts.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

To remember the traditional forms, think of the verb drive: drive, drove, driven. Similarly, strive traditionally follows strove for the simple past and striven for the past participle. The key is the “v” sound followed by “o” for simple past and “en” for past participle. If you see or hear “strived,” recognize it as the regularized, simpler version that fits both past tense roles.

Word	Part of Speech	Meaning / Usage	Example
Strove	Verb (Simple Past Tense)	The traditional past tense of “strive”; to make great efforts to achieve or obtain something in the past.	She strove for excellence in all her endeavors.
Strived	Verb (Simple Past Tense or Past Participle)	A regularized form of the past tense or past participle of “strive”; used to describe past efforts or completed actions.	He has strived to overcome every obstacle.
Striven	Verb (Past Participle)	The traditional past participle of “strive”; used with auxiliary verbs to form perfect tenses or as an adjective.	They had striven tirelessly for peace.

How to Use Strove

“Strove” is the traditional simple past tense of the verb “to strive.” It is used to describe an action of making a great effort or struggling that happened and was completed in the past. You use “strove” on its own, without an auxiliary verb like “have” or “had.” It often conveys a sense of earnest effort or struggle.

Example 1: She strove to finish the marathon despite her injury.

Example 2: For years, the community strove against the proposed development.

Example 3: The artist strove for perfection in every brushstroke.

What are the different forms of Strive?

The verb “to strive” is an irregular verb, though it also has regularized forms. Here are its principal parts:

• Base Form: strive
• Simple Past Tense: strove (traditional), strived (regularized)
• Past Participle: striven (traditional), strived (regularized)
• Present Participle: striving
• Third-Person Singular Present: strives

Etymology of the word Strive

The verb “strive” originates from the Old French word estriver, meaning “to quarrel, dispute, resist, struggle,” which itself has Germanic roots (possibly from Frankish *strīban). It entered English around the 13th century. The irregular past tense “strove” and past participle “striven” reflect its historical conjugation, similar to other strong verbs in English.

Understanding the relationship between the base form and its simple past is crucial, as explored in Strive vs. Strove.

How to Use Strived

“Strived” is a regularized form of the verb “to strive” and can be used as both the simple past tense and the past participle. While “strove” and “striven” are the older, traditional irregular forms, “strived” is increasingly common and accepted, particularly in American English and less formal contexts. It offers a simpler, more consistent conjugation pattern, adhering to the standard “-ed” ending for past tenses.

Example 1: They strived to create a more inclusive environment.

Example 2: The team has strived for years to win the championship.

Example 3: He had always strived to be a good role model.

What are the different forms of Strived?

As “strived” itself is a form of the verb “to strive,” its “forms” refer to its role within the broader conjugation. It serves as both the simple past tense and the past participle. For the full conjugation of “strive,” refer to the “What are the different forms of Strive?” section above.

Etymology of the word Strived

The form “strived” represents a linguistic process called regularization, where irregular verbs adopt the more common “-ed” ending for their past tense and past participle forms. This trend is seen in many English verbs over time. While the root “strive” shares the same Old French and Germanic origins as “strove” and “striven,” the “-ed” ending for “strived” is a later development reflecting simplification in verb conjugation.

How to Use Striven

“Striven” is the traditional past participle of the verb “to strive.” It is primarily used in perfect tenses (present perfect, past perfect, future perfect) with auxiliary verbs like “have,” “has,” or “had.” It can also function as an adjective. This form emphasizes an action that has been completed or has continued up to a certain point.

Example 1: They have striven for equality for decades.

Example 2: Having striven tirelessly, she finally achieved her dream.

Example 3: The goals they had striven towards were now within reach.

What are the different forms of Striven?

“Striven” is the traditional past participle form of the verb “to strive.” It does not have further forms in the same way the base verb does. For the complete conjugation of “strive,” including “striven,” refer to the “What are the different forms of Strive?” section above.

Etymology of the word Striven

Like “strove,” “striven” shares the same etymological roots from Old French estriver and Germanic origins. Its “-en” ending is characteristic of strong verbs in English, reflecting an ancient Indo-European pattern for forming past participles (e.g., “driven,” “written,” “eaten”). This form has been part of the English language for centuries, representing the irregular conjugation of “strive.”

Related Concepts

Understanding these broader grammatical concepts can help clarify the nuances between “strove,” “strived,” and “striven.”

• Irregular Verbs: These are verbs that do not follow the standard pattern of adding “-ed” to form their simple past tense and past participle (e.g., “sing, sang, sung” instead of “sing, singed, singed”). “Strive” is traditionally an irregular verb.
• Regularization: This is a linguistic process where irregular forms of words, particularly verbs, begin to adopt the more common, regular patterns over time (e.g., “strived” becoming an accepted alternative to “strove” and “striven”).
• Principal Parts of Verbs: These are the base form, simple past tense, and past participle, which are essential for conjugating verbs into various tenses. For “strive,” these are strive, strove/strived, and striven/strived.

Examples from Media and Literature

These examples illustrate the correct usage of “strove,” “strived,” and “striven” in various contexts.

• “He strove with himself to remain calm, but his heart pounded.” – From a novel depicting intense internal struggle.
• “The company has always strived for innovation and customer satisfaction.” – A corporate mission statement emphasizing ongoing effort.
• “For generations, they had striven against the harsh conditions of the land.” – A historical account highlighting sustained effort over time.
• “In her youth, she strove tirelessly to master her craft.” – A biographical detail about past dedication.
• “Every athlete has striven to achieve their personal best at the games.” – A sports commentary on universal dedication.

Practice Exercises

Choose the most appropriate word (strove, strived, or striven) to complete each sentence.

1. She has always ______ to be a compassionate leader.
2. Yesterday, he ______ to lift the heavy box, but it was too much.
3. The pioneers had ______ for survival in the wilderness.
4. After years of hard work, they finally ______ their goal.
5. The team ______ to perfect their routine before the competition.

Answer Key

1. striven / strived (Both past participle forms are acceptable with “has always”)
2. strove / strived (Both simple past forms are acceptable for a completed past action)
3. striven / strived (Both past participle forms are acceptable with “had”)
4. strove / strived (Both simple past forms are acceptable for a completed past action)
5. strove / strived (Both simple past forms are acceptable for a completed past action)

Strive Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
Endeavor	To try hard to do or achieve something.
Toil	Work extremely hard or incessantly.
Exert oneself	To make a great effort or put forth great energy.
Labor	To work hard; make great efforts.
Struggle	To make great efforts to achieve or obtain something, often against difficulties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “strived” ever incorrect?
“Strived” is generally considered correct and acceptable in modern English, serving as both the simple past and past participle. While “strove” and “striven” are the traditional irregular forms, “strived” is a recognized regularized alternative. Some highly formal or traditional contexts might still prefer the irregular forms, but “strived” is not inherently incorrect.

Question 2: Can I use “striven” as a simple past tense?
No, “striven” is exclusively the past participle of “strive.” It must be used with an auxiliary verb (e.g., “have striven,” “had striven”) or as an adjective. You should use “strove” or “strived” for the simple past tense.

Question 3: Which form is more common, “strove” or “strived”?
Usage varies, but “strived” has become increasingly common, especially in American English, as part of a general trend towards verb regularization. However, “strove” remains widely used and preferred by many, particularly in formal writing, for the simple past tense. Both are correct, and the choice often comes down to style and regional preference.

Conclusion

Navigating the forms of “strive” — strove, strived, and striven — reveals the dynamic nature of the English language. While “strove” (simple past) and “striven” (past participle) represent the traditional irregular conjugations, “strived” has emerged as a widely accepted regularized form for both roles. All three are correct, with “strived” offering a simpler, more consistent option that is gaining prevalence.

Pro Tip: When choosing between “strove,” “strived,” and “striven,” consider your audience and the formality of your writing. For formal or academic contexts, adhering to the traditional irregular forms (“strove” for simple past, “striven” for past participle) often demonstrates a nuanced understanding of English grammar. For general communication, “strived” is a perfectly acceptable and clear choice. Consistency in your chosen form is always key to maintaining a professional reputation.