Passed vs Past

Quick Tip: Remember: Passed is a verb (she passed the test). Past refers to time or position (in the past, walk past the store).

Passed

verb

past tense and past participle of "pass"

Examples:
  • She passed the exam with flying colors.
  • The car passed us on the highway.
  • Time has passed so quickly.

Past

noun

the time before the present

Examples:
  • We should learn from the past.
  • In the past, things were different.
  • The past cannot be changed.
adjective

gone by in time; no longer current

Examples:
  • The past week has been very busy.
  • She is a past president of the club.
  • Those are past events.
preposition

beyond in time; later than

Examples:
  • It's past midnight.
  • The deadline is past.
  • We walked past the store.
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