Passed vs. Past

Passed is used to describe an action that occurred in the past, often indicating movement from one place or state to another. Past refers to the time that has already happened, the period before the present.

In the vast landscape of the English language, words that sound alike but have different meanings can be a source of confusion. Two such words that often lead to misunderstandings are passed and past. Although they share similar sounds, they have distinct meanings and uses. In this blog post, we'll dive into the meanings, usages, and differences between "passed" and "past" to help you traverse the temporal terrain of the English language with confidence.

What does passed mean?

Passed is the past tense of the verb "pass," which primarily means to move forward or go by. Here's how "passed" is used:

Physical movement

"Passed" is commonly used to describe the action of physically moving from one place to another.

She passed the finish line first in the race.

Time

It is also used when referring to the passage of time.

Several years have passed since we last met.

Exams and tests

In the context of exams and tests, "passed" indicates that someone has successfully met the required criteria.

He passed the driving test on his first attempt.

What does past mean?

Past, on the other hand, is a noun, adjective, or preposition that primarily refers to time that has already occurred or gone by. Here's how past is used:

Noun

As a noun, "past" refers to all the time that has already occurred before the present moment.

The past is a valuable teacher.

Adjective

As an adjective, "past" describes something that relates to a time that has already happened.

The past experiences shaped her perspective.

Preposition

As a preposition, "past" indicates movement or actions that have occurred beyond a particular point in time.

He walked past the old bookstore.

So, the next time you want to talk about successfully completing a task, you'll use "passed," and when referring to time that has already gone by, you'll choose "past." By mastering these differences, you'll be better equipped to navigate the linguistic intricacies of English.

Example sentences

She was relieved when she passed the challenging entrance exam for the university.
The hiker passed by a beautiful waterfall during his mountain expedition.
The time passed quickly as we enjoyed the movie together.
The teacher smiled when the student passed in a well-written essay.
They passed each other in the hallway without saying a word.
The old photographs reminded him of his childhood past.
We can't change the past, but we can shape our future.
The book delves into the cultural customs of centuries past.
The historian dedicated years to researching the past of the ancient civilization.
The street was named after a famous figure from the town's past.

Practice Questions

She passed/past her driving test on the first attempt.
The train passed/past through the tunnel quickly.
He passed/past all his exams with flying colors.
They passed/past the finish line just in time.
I passed/past by the library earlier today.
The history book covers events that occurred in the passed/past.
She can't change what happened in the passed/past, but she can plan for the future.
The car drove passed/past the old house where I used to live.
We walked right passed/past the park on our way to the museum.
The museum displays artifacts from the passed/past.

If you still are unsure about which to use, try out Engram where you can submit your English sentences to get immediate feedback and suggestions based on how native English speakers write.