Past vs. Passed

Past

• “Past” (either  noun or an adjective) with a “t” refers to time: past, present, future (all have “t”).
• “Past” is also a preposition, meaning “beyond” or movement to the other side of an object or time
• “Past” serves as an adverb with a similar meaning.

Passed

• “Passed” is the past tense of “pass,” a verb; so “passed” is also a verb, an action, something done, as in something moved ahead of one person or place.

Comparative examples:

• Gerald passed the day thinking about his past, his younger years.
  • “passed” [spent] = past tense of “pass”
  • “past” = previous time in his life
• In the past, students passed from one grade to the next knowing their multiplication tables.
  • “past” = time before now
  • “passed” = past tense of “pass”
• She passed the gravy without spilling it as she has done in the past.
  • “passed” = past tense of “pass”
  • “past” = time before now
• The plane flew past the airport without stopping.
  • “past” = preposition, went from one side of the airport to the other and beyond
• The plane was supposed to land at half past eight.
  • “past” = preposition, the minute hand went halfway beyond the eight o’clock mark
• The time flew past while we waited.
  • “past” = adverb, describing “flew”
• In the meantime, the train we could have taken chugged past.
  • “past” = adverb, describing “chugged”

Credits: Photo by Juan Sisinni, Photo by vikram sundaramoorthy on Unsplash