Past vs. passed: When to use

Key takeaways:

  • Use "past" as a noun, adjective, or preposition to refer to time, direction, or events (e.g., "in the past" or "walk past the house").

  • Use "passed" as the past tense of the verb "pass" (e.g., "He passed the test").

Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs

Understanding the difference between past and passed can be tricky, but it’s essential for clear communication. Past refers to time or a previous state, while passed is the past tense of "pass," meaning movement or transition.

Past vs. passed
Past vs. passed

When to use past

Past is a versatile word that can function as a nounA noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea., adjectiveAn adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun by providing more information about its quality, quantity, size, color, shape, or condition., or prepositionA preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence..

  1. As a noun, it refers to a time before the present.

  2. As an adjective, it describes something related to time before now.

  3. As a preposition, it refers to movement or location beyond something.

When to use passed

Passed is the past tense and past participle of the verbA **verb** is a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being. pass. It refers to actions such as moving, transferring, or succeeding.

  1. Indicates movement

  2. Indicates time progression

  3. Indicates success

Quick test

Choose the correct word (past or passed) for each sentence:

  1. The bus drove ________ our stop without stopping.

  1. She ________ the exam with flying colors.

  1. We need to leave the ________ behind and focus on the future.

  1. They walked _________ the museum on their way to the park.

Common mistakes

Here are some frequent errors and how to avoid them:

  1. Confusing past with passed in movement-related sentences:

    1. Incorrect: We walked passed the building.

    2. Correct: We walked past the building.

  2. Mixing them up in time-related sentences:

    1. Incorrect: An hour past since he called.

    2. Correct: An hour passed since he called.

  3. Misusing passed instead of past as a noun or adjective:

    1. Incorrect: She reflected on her passed mistakes.

    2. Correct: She reflected on her past mistakes.

Past vs. Passed

Word

Part of Speech

Function

Examples

Past

Noun, adjective, preposition

Refers to time, location, or events before the present

"We learned from the past."

"Walk past the shop."

Passed

Verb (past tense)

Refers to an action of passing or succeeding

"He passed the test."

"Time passed quickly."

Conclusion

Knowing when to use past and passed can help you communicate clearly and avoid common mistakes. Remember, past refers to time or direction, while passed is a verb that implies action. Keep practicing with these examples and quizzes, and soon, you’ll never mix them up again!

Test your understanding: Past vs. passed

Match the examples that demonstrate the difference between past vs. passed:

Match The Answer
Select an option from the left-hand side

Two weeks have ________ since we last met.

passed

The ________ year has been challenging for everyone

past

He ________ me the salt during dinner.

We drove ________ the gas station without stopping.

History teaches us lessons from the ________.

Master the nuances of grammar and elevate your writing skills with this comprehensive course: Grokking the Technical Writing Process—your gateway to mastering tricky topics like past vs. passed and beyond!

Frequently asked questions

Haven’t found what you were looking for? Contact Us

Is it "I walked passed" or "I walked past"?

I walked past (not “I walked passed”). Past is used as a preposition indicating movement in front of or beyond something.

Is it "passed bedtime" or "past bedtime"?

Past is used to indicate time that has gone beyond a certain point.

  • Example: It’s past bedtime; you should be asleep.

Is it "flying past" or "flying passed"?

Past is used as a preposition to show movement by something.

  • Example: The plane is flying past the mountain.
  • Passed is the past tense of “pass” (e.g., “The plane passed the mountain”).

Is it "past 10 years" or "passed 10 years"?

"Past 10 years" is correct. Past is a noun/adjective referring to time.

  • Correct: Over the past 10 years, technology has evolved.
  • Incorrect: Over the passed 10 years (incorrect).

Is it "Can I run this past you" or "Can I run this passed you"?

Past is correct.

  • Correct: Can I run this past you? (Meaning: Can I check with you?)
  • Incorrect: Can I run this passed you? (incorrect).

What is "past" in sleep?

It refers to being “past asleep,” meaning deeply asleep or beyond a certain sleep stage.

  • Example: He was past the point of waking up easily.

To enhance technical writing and minimize common grammar mistakes, continue exploring these topics:

Free Resources

Copyright ©2025 Educative, Inc. All rights reserved