What is the difference between 'passed' and 'past'?

Both past and passed can be used of motion and time. The word past can be used as an adjective, a preposition, a noun, or an adverb. The word passed is the past tense of the verb pass. Both words have many uses.

When past is used as an adjective it refers to a time gone by or something from, done, or used in an earlier time. Below are some examples of past used as an adjective.

• She was good at her job because of her past experience.
• I just saw my parents this past weekend.
• He is a past [=former] member of the club.
• It hasn't been this warm in past years.

When past is used as a preposition it means "beyond (a particular place)" or "up to and beyond (a person or place)" or "later than (a time)." Below are some examples of past used as a preposition.

• We walked past the post office on our way home.
• Her house is a mile past the school.
• He looked past me and saw his friend approaching us.
• It was past 5:00 pm when we left.
• I think that sauce is past its expiration date.

When past is used as a noun it refers to an earlier time. Below are some examples of past used as a noun.

• She was living in the past and couldn't move on.
• We had such happy memories of the past.
• They have an interesting past.

When past is used as an adverb it means "to and beyond a certain point or time." Below are some examples of past used as an adverb.

• We drove past too quickly to see if they were home.
• Three bunnies hopped past energetically.
• A year went past before I heard from my sister.

The word passed is the past tense of the verb pass which means "to move through or into a place or a time" or "to let a period of time go by" or "to go from one person or place to another" or "to happen or take place." Below are some examples of how passed is used.

• We passed [=moved past] our friends in the hall.
• Time passed slowly while we were waiting to see the doctor.
• The ships passed each other in the night.
• Fear and panic passed through the crowd.
• The rumor quickly passed from student to student.
• They passed the time by playing games.
• The meeting passed without incident.

Pass and passed have many uses that have to do with motion and time. Past can also refer to motion or time.

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