What is the Difference Between Past and Passed?

The words "past" and "passed" are often confused due to their similar spelling and pronunciation. However, they have distinct meanings and functions in sentences:

• Past: This word can function as an adjective, adverb, noun, or preposition. It refers to time or events that have already happened. For example:
• As a noun: "The distant past"
• As an adjective: "Thinking of past times"
• As a preposition: "Just past the store"
• As an adverb: "Running past our house"
• Passed: This word is the past tense of the verb "pass" and is used to indicate completed actions or events. For example:
• "She passed the driving test"
• "We passed the library on our way here"
• "The law hasn't been passed yet"

To keep the two words straight, remember that "past" is never a form of the verb "pass," and "passed" is only ever the past tense of "pass".

Comparative Table: Past vs Passed

The difference between "past" and "passed" lies in their functions within a sentence:

• Past:

• As a noun, it refers to an earlier period of time or events that have already happened.

• As an adjective, it describes something that has already happened or refers to a past time or event.

• As an adverb, it indicates how long ago something happened or refers to a past time or event.

• Passed:

• It is the past tense and past participle of the verb "to pass".

• As a verb, it means "to move," "to make something move," or "to leave something or someone behind or on one side".

• It can also be used as an adjective, but it is mostly used as a verb.

Here are some examples to illustrate the difference between the two:

Remember that "past" is never a verb, and "passed" is always a verb. This difference can help you differentiate between the two words and use them correctly in your writing.