How to Conjugate and Use the English Verb "Draw"

Drawing Pictures
Drawing Pictures. Adam Angelides / Getty Images

This page provides example sentences of the verb "Draw" in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms.

Present Simple

Use the present simple for routines and habits.

  • He draws for a living.
  • Does he draw in charcoal or pen?
  • They don't draw animals.

Present Simple Passive

  • Sketches are drawn by Peter.
  • Who is that drawn by?
  • They aren't drawn by Alice.

Present Continuous

Use the present continuous to speak about what is happening at the present moment.

  • He is drawing her portrait.
  • What is she drawing?
  • They aren't drawing the church.

Present Continuous Passive

  • Her portrait is being drawn by Peter.
  • What is being drawn by him?
  • The picture isn't being drawn by Kevin.

Present Perfect

Use the present perfect to discuss actions that started in the past and continue to the present moment.

  • Peter has drawn four portraits today.
  • How often have you drawn portraits?
  • They haven't drawn for long.

Present Perfect Passive

  • Four portraits have been drawn by Peter today.
  • How many pictures have you drawn?
  • They haven't drawn many pictures.

Present Perfect Continuous

Use the present perfect continuous to speak about how long something that started in the past has been happening.

  • He has been drawing her portrait for thirty minutes.
  • How long have you been drawing that for?
  • She hasn't been drawing for long.

Past Simple

Use the past simple to speak about something that happened at a specific time in the past.

  • Maggie drew that picture last week.
  • Did she draw that picture?
  • They didn't draw those pictures over there.

Past Simple Passive

  • That picture was drawn by Maggie.
  • Have you ever been drawn by someone?
  • The building hasn't been drawn yet.

Past Continuous

Use the past continuous to describe what was happening when something else occurred. This is known as interrupted action.

  • Peter was drawing her portrait when her husband walked into the room.
  • What were you drawing when he disturbed you?
  • She wasn't drawing a portrait at the time.

Past Continuous Passive

  • Her portrait was being drawn by Peter when her husband walked into the room.
  • What type of stile was being drawn at the time?
  • She wasn't being drawn by the painter when he arrived.

Past Perfect

Use the past perfect to describe something that happened before another event in the past.

  • He had drawn her portrait before he arrived.
  • What had you drawn before you threw it away?
  • She hadn't drawn more than two portraits before she got the contract.

Past Perfect Passive

  • Her portrait had been drawn before he arrived.
  • What had been drawn by the time you started here?
  • They hadn't drawn the lottery ticket before the good news arrived.

Past Perfect Continuous

Use the past perfect continuous to express how long something had been happening up until a point in time in the past.

  • Henry had been drawing for three hours when I arrived.
  • How long had you been drawing for when I arrived?
  • She hadn't been drawing for long when she put down her pencil.

Future (will)

Use future tenses to speak about something that will / is going to happen in the future.

  • Henry will draw your portrait.
  • What will you draw?
  • They won't draw your name in the lottery.

Future (will) passive

  • Your portrait will be drawn by Henry.
  • What will be drawn in the sketch?
  • That won't be drawn in the sketch.

Future (going to)

  • Henry is going to draw your portrait.
  • What are you going to draw?
  • She isn't going to draw that barn.

Future (going to) passive

  • Your portrait is going to be drawn by Henry.
  • By whom is your portrait going to be drawn?
  • The portrait isn't going to be drawn by Alex.

Future Continuous

Use the future continuous to express what will be happening at a specific moment in the future.

  • This time tomorrow I will be drawing a new picture.
  • What will you be drawing this time next week?
  • I won't be drawing numbers on the wall this time next week.

Future Perfect

Use the present perfect to explain what will have happened up to a certain point in time in the future.

  • Henry will have drawn the portrait by the time you arrive.
  • What will have been drawn by the end of the day?
  • She won't have drawn the entire portrait by the end of tomorrow.

Future Possibility

Use modals in the future to discuss future possibilities.

  • Carl may draw the picture.
  • What might you draw?
  • She may not draw his picture after all.

Real Conditional

Use the real conditional to speak about possible events.

  • If Carl draws the picture, you'll be very happy.
  • What will you do if she draws your picture?
  • If she doesn't draw his picture, he'll get upset.

Unreal Conditional

Use the unreal conditional to speak about imagined events in the present or future.

  • If Carl drew the picture, you would be happy.
  • What would you do if someone drew your picture?
  • I wouldn't be happy if he drew that picture!

Past Unreal Conditional

Use the past unreal conditional to speak about imagined events in the past.

  • If Carl had drawn the picture, you would have been happy.
  • What would you have done if she had drawn your picture?
  • I wouldn't have been happy if he had drawn my picture.

Present Modal

  • He can draw your portrait.
  • Can you draw my portrait?
  • She can't draw very well.

Past Modal

  • Henry must have drawn your portrait.
  • What should she have drawn?
  • They couldn't have drawn that!

Quiz: Conjugate with Draw

Use the verb "to draw" to conjugate the following sentences. Quiz answers are below. In one case, more than one answer may be correct.

1. That picture __________ by Maggie last week.
2. Her portrait __________ before he arrived.
3. He __________ her portrait at the moment.
4. Peter __________ four portraits today.
5. Henry __________ your portrait next week.
6. Henry __________ for three hours when I arrived.
7. If Carl __________ the picture, you'll be very happy.
8. If Carl __________ the picture, you would be happy.
9. By this time tomorrow, I __________ a new picture.
10. He __________ for a living.
How to Conjugate and Use the English Verb "Draw"
You got: % Correct.

How to Conjugate and Use the English Verb "Draw"
You got: % Correct.