Passed or Past?
Past or Passed?
What is the difference between "past" and "passed"?Here is the really quick answer: "Passed" is the past tense of "to pass." For everything else, use "past."
More about "Past" and "Passed"
There is often confusion over the words "passed" and "past." This confusion occurs most commonly with the following expressions:- Passed away
- Passed a test
- Past a date
- Past sell by date
- Past caring
- Past few days
- Past year
- Past midnight
- The past weekend
- Run past
- Walked past
- See past
(These are all correct.)
The Confusion between "Past" and "Passed"
The confusion between "past" and "passed" is understandable. Compare these similar sentences:- It is past the deadline.
- You have passed the deadline.
- You are past the point of no return.
- You have passed the point of no return.
- Move past the finish line.
- They passed the finish line.
- It is past your bedtime.
- You have passed your bedtime.
Infographic for "Past" and "Past"
Here is a flow diagram to help you choose between "passed" and "past."

Passed
The word "passed" is the past tense of the verb "to pass", e.g., "I pass" (present tense), "I passed," and "I have passed" (both past tense), and "I will pass" (future tense).Example Sentences with "Passed"
- She passed the exam with distinction.
- The operator has already passed the note to the typist.
- The lion passed the zebra without so much as a glance.
(In this example, "passed" is a past passive participle.)
- The lion passed the zebra without so much as a glance.
- The lion wandered past the zebra without so much as a glance.
- The Harrier passed at an altitude of 100 feet.
- The Harrier flew past at an altitude of 100 feet.
Past
The word "past" has several meanings (usually related to "time before the present" or to indicate movement "from one side of a reference point to the other side.") "Past" can be used as an adjective, an adverb, a noun, or a preposition.Example Sentences with "Past"
As an adjective, "past" denotes time before the present.
- This past year has been difficult for the recruiters.
- She loves to tell us about past dance competitions in the hall.
- That's all in the past.
- Can you dig into his past?
- Don't go past.
- Alan ran past.
- Don't go past the gate.
- Alan ran past the postman.
Top Tip: Substitute with "Went Past"
When referring to movement, to test whether "passed" is correct, substitute it with "went past." If your sentence still makes sense, then "passed" is the correct version.- He passed the shop.
- He went past the shop.
- He skipped passed the shop.
- He skipped went past the shop.
- He has passed the dockyard.
- He has gone past the dockyard.
Interactive Exercise
Here are three randomly selected questions from a larger exercise, which can be edited, printed to create an exercise worksheet, or sent via email to friends or students.- Do you disagree with something on this page?
- Did you spot a typo?