Strived or Strove – What Is the Past Tense of Strive?

Understanding whether the past tense of strive is strived or strove can be tricky for many English learners, even seasoned speakers. In regular verbs, forming the past is usually easy, just adding -ed or -d, but strive is mostly irregular, which can cause occasional confusion. 

Traditionally, strove was the predominant past form appearing in literary, formal, and historical texts, from Shakespeare to Early Modern English works, while strived has become widely accepted in modern, American, British, and casual writing, talk, and online exercises. 

Both forms are correct, but choosing the right one depends on context, style, and audience, whether academic, professional, or casual. A simple mnemonic is to think of strove as the older, poetic, or literary version, while strived feels more natural and safe for modern examples like students, athletes, or workers completing tasks and achievements.

For practical usage, consider examples in sentences: “She strove to achieve perfection in her studies” versus “He strived to complete all his tasks before the deadline.” Striving can appear in plural or singular forms (I/we/you/he/she/it/they) and follow regular conjugation patterns, but older forms like striveth or strivest are archaic and best avoided in modern writing. 

Many teachers, authorities, and dictionaries like Oxford, Cambridge, and Merriam-Webster provide charts and guidelines to conjugate this verb correctly, helping English-speaking and non-English learners navigate tenses, examples, and usage without erroneous patterns. 

Over time, both forms have coexisted, and understanding their meaning, significance, and message in personal, academic, or professional contexts ensures clarity and correct grammar.

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Understanding the Verb “Strive”

The verb “strive” means to make great efforts to achieve a goal. It implies persistence, hard work, and determination. People strive for success, peace, knowledge, or personal growth.

• Example: Residents of the coastal town of Ceredigion strive to balance tourism and local life during Summer festivals.
  
• Example: Worker and caregiver Ross strives to spend time with both his patients and family.
  

Key points about “strive”:

• It is irregular in some forms.
  
• It’s often used in formal, literary, or motivational contexts, though you’ll hear it in everyday speech too.
  
• It emphasizes effort and perseverance rather than simple action.
  

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Strived vs. Strove: Key Differences

The main confusion arises when we try to use the past tense of “strive.”

Form	Usage	Example
Strived	More common in modern English, especially in American English	Jackson strived to win the championship despite peaking competition.
Strove	Traditional, formal or literary English, more common in the 19th century	Ms. Addison strove to connect with the local tenants and freeholders.

✅ Tip: If you’re writing for formal publications like the New York Times or documenting historical events in the 1800s, “strove” often sounds more polished. In casual conversation, “strived” works perfectly.

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Grammar Rules for Using Strived and Strove

Here’s a simple breakdown to help you remember:

1. Present Tense: strive
   
   • Example: We strive to produce annual budgets that support social programs.
     
2. Past Tense: strived OR strove
   
   • Example (Strived): Ryan strived to advise the government on infrastructure investments.
     
   • Example (Strove): The philosopher strove to explain his ethic of devout militancy.
     
3. Past Participle: striven
   
   • Example: The owner-operators have striven to outlast the competition in medical and agricultural sectors.
     
4. Third Person Singular Present: strives
   
   • Example: She strives to maintain a serious balance between work and leisure.
     

Quick Memory Tip:

• Strived = modern, everyday English
  
• Strove = formal, literary English
  

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Real-Life Examples of Strived and Strove

Let’s see some practical examples, including your requested words:

• Jackson strived to tackle the ferocious challenges of the disco industry, balancing fun and serious work.
  
• During Springsteen’s concert in New York, fans strove to connect with every lyric and rhythm.
  
• The Ceredigion coastal town residents strove to maintain their traditions despite annual budget surpluses and criticism.
  
• Ms. Addison strived to advise tenant farmers and caregiver workers on ethical investments.
  
• Duma pleads that government programs should invest money in medical infrastructure to outlast temporary fads.
  

Notice how both strived and strove fit naturally, depending on context and tone.

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Common Mistakes ESL Learners Make

Many learners make these mistakes:

1. Mixing up past tense and past participle
   
   • ❌ Incorrect: I have strove to complete my work.
     
   • ✅ Correct: I have striven to complete my work.
     
2. Using “strove” in casual speech
   
   • ❌ Incorrect: Yesterday, I strove to go to the disco.
     
   • ✅ Correct (informal): Yesterday, I strived to go to the disco.
     
3. Overusing “strived” in literary contexts
   
   • ❌ Incorrect: The 19th-century philosopher strived to tackle militancy and heretics.
     
   • ✅ Correct: The 19th-century philosopher strove to tackle militancy and heretics.
     

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Correct vs. Incorrect Sentence Comparisons

Sentence	Correct / Incorrect	Explanation
Jackson strove to win the championship.	✅ Correct	Literary or formal style; perfectly acceptable.
Jackson strived to win the championship.	✅ Correct	Modern English; casual style.
Ms. Addison has strove to advise tenants.	❌ Incorrect	Past participle should be “striven.”
Ms. Addison has striven to advise tenants.	✅ Correct	Proper use of past participle.
Residents strived to maintain balance during Summer.	✅ Correct	Informal context fits “strived.”
Residents strove to maintain balance during Summer.	✅ Correct	Formal, polished style.

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Usage in Different Tenses and Sentence Structures

1. Simple Past: strived / strove

• Ross strived to spend time with his family despite illness.
  
• The soldier strove to learn new skills for the ferocious competition.
  

2. Present Perfect: have/has striven

• Jackson has striven to invest money wisely in social programs.
  
• Philosophers have striven to explain ethical disciplines for centuries.
  

3. Future: will strive

• We will strive to produce annual reports that advise government investments.
  
• Young workers will strive to maintain a serious balance between life and work.
  

Tip: Always match your tense with your context—literary works may favor “strove” while casual speech favors “strived.”

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Idioms and Expressions Related to “Strive”

“Strive” often appears in motivational or idiomatic expressions:

• Strive for excellence – Aim to be the best.
  
  • Ms. Addison strives for excellence in connecting with freeholders and tenants.
    
• Strive against the odds – Work hard despite difficulties.
  
  • Ryan strove against the odds to win the championship in New York.
    
• Strive to make a difference – Aim to have a positive impact.
  
  • Caregivers strive to make a difference in the lives of the ill and elderly.
    

These expressions highlight persistence, courage, and ethical commitment, and they work in professional, educational, and personal contexts.

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Synonyms and Alternative Phrases

Here’s a table with practical alternatives to “strive”:

Synonym / Phrase	Usage Example
Endeavor	Ross endeavors to advise tenants and owner-operators.
Aspire	The young soldier aspires to develop serious skills.
Work hard	Jackson worked hard to outlast the peaking trend in the disco scene.
Make every effort	Ms. Addison made every effort to connect with residents and visitors.
Push oneself	Philosophers push themselves to explore ethical disciplines and militancy.

These alternatives can help you avoid repetition and make your writing more engaging.

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Historical and Cultural Context of “Strive”

“Strive” has a rich history:

• 19th century: Authors often used strove in literary works.
  
  • In 1800, devout philosophers strove to oppose restrictions and death penalties for heretics.
    
• Modern English:Strived is increasingly common in journals like the New York Times.
  
  • Daily, Jackson strived to balance fun at disco events with serious competitions.
    

Knowing this context helps ESL learners choose the right form based on tone, style, and era.

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Practical Tips to Remember the Past Tense

• Use strived for everyday conversation and modern writing.
  
• Use strove in formal, historical, or literary contexts.
  
• Remember striven as the past participle with perfect tenses.
  
• Think of the verb “strive” like a coastal town—it resists temporary fads, outlasts trends, and balances tradition with modernity.
  

Mnemonic: “I strove for glory in the past, but I have striven for it ever since.”

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How Native Speakers Use Strived and Strove

• Native American and British English speakers differ slightly:
  
  • American English: prefers strived in conversation.
    
  • British English: keeps strove in formal writing.
    
• Example:
  
  • Ross strived to spend time on enjoyable, relaxing evenings with family.
    
  • Jackson strove to tackle every serious objective in his career.
    

Observation: Using the wrong form rarely confuses meaning—it just changes the tone.

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Fun Examples with Famous Names and Places

Incorporating your requested words naturally:

• Jackson strived to beat the peaking disco trends in New York.
  
• Attinborough strove to document Ceredigion’s coastal towns and residents.
  
• Springsteen strived to connect with fans during a ferocious Summer tour.
  
• Ms. Addison advised tenant farmers and caregiver workers on ethical investments and social programs.
  
• The young soldier strove to develop skills that could outlast temporary fads in military training.
  

By using real-life names, places, and situations, learning grammar becomes more memorable and enjoyable.

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Conclusion

Choosing between strived and strove depends on context, tone, and audience.

• Strived → modern, casual, conversational
  
• Strove → formal, literary, historical
  
• Striven → past participle for perfect tenses
  

Remember to match your verb form with the tense, tone, and style. Using these forms correctly will make your English sound confident, precise, and natural. Whether you’re reading the New York Times, advising tenant farmers, or enjoying a Summer disco, you can now use “strive” and its past forms like a pro.

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FAQs About Strived and Strove

1. What is the past tense of strive?
The past tense of strive can be strived or strove. Use “strived” for casual or modern English, and “strove” for formal or literary contexts.

2. Is “strived” correct?
Yes! Strived is correct and commonly used in everyday conversation and American English.

3. When should I use “strove”?
Use strove in formal writing, literature, historical narratives, or when you want a polished, classic tone.

4. What is the past participle of strive?
The past participle is striven, used with perfect tenses: He has striven to achieve his goals.

5. Can I mix strived and striven in one sentence?
No, each verb form has its grammatical role:

• Strived → simple past
  
• Striven → past participle
  Mixing them would be grammatically incorrect.