Past vs Passed
Published January 24, 2023. Updated January 24, 2023.
Past and Passed may sound the same, but they have different meanings and uses. Past, most commonly used as an adjective, means existing in a previous time. It can also be used as other parts of speech including a preposition, noun, or adverb. Passed, on the other hand, is the past tense of the verb “to pass,” meaning to move on.
Here are some definitions and examples to help clarify the meaning of these words.
Past (adjective)
Existing in a previous time.
Examples:
The antiques were from a past time.
She tried not to repeat past mistakes.
In these two examples, past is describing a noun as existing in a previous time.
Passed (verb)
To move on; To go across or away from.
Examples:
His grandfather passed away when he was young.
She missed the turn after she passed the sign.
Passed is the past tense of the verb “to pass.” In the first example, passed is used in the common phrase “passed away,” meaning to die. In this case, passed figuratively means to move on. In the second example, passed describes a literal moving away from an object.
Main Points
- Past, most commonly used as an adjective, means existing in a previous time.
- Past can also be used as other parts of speech including a preposition, noun, or adverb.
- Passed is the past tense of the verb “to pass,” meaning to move on or to go across or away from.