Key Difference

• Passed is a verb, meaning it’s an action word. It refers to the act of going by something or completing an action.
• Past is usually a noun, adjective, or preposition and is used to refer to a time before now, a direction, or something that has already happened.

Understanding “Passed” (Verb)

“Passed” is the past tense of the verb “pass,” and it indicates an action. Use “passed” whenever you’re describing someone or something moving, going by, or achieving something.

Examples of “Passed”:

1. Movement: “The car passed by the house.” 🚗 (The car went by the house)
2. Achievement: “She passed her exams with flying colors!” 🎉 (She completed the exams successfully)
3. Time: “The day passed slowly.” 🕰️ (The time went by slowly)

Understanding “Past” (Noun, Adjective, Preposition)

“Past” refers to time before the present or can describe a location or direction in relation to something else. It can function in different ways depending on how it’s used in a sentence.

Examples of “Past”:

1. Noun (referring to time): “In the past, people wrote letters by hand.” ✉️ (A period of time before now)
2. Adjective (describing something earlier): “Her past experience helped her in the job.” (Experience from before now)
3. Preposition (indicating direction): “He walked past the library.” (He moved beyond the library)

Visual Guide

• “Passed” = Action (think of passing something, like passing a ball or passing by a place).
• “Past” = Time/Direction (imagine it pointing back in time or showing a location).

Common Mistakes and Tips

• Incorrect: “I past the test.”
  Correct: “I passed the test.” (Since passing a test is an action, we need the verb “passed.”)
• Incorrect: “I walked passed the door.”
  Correct: “I walked past the door.” (Here, “past” shows direction or location.)

Practice Time!

Try filling in the blanks with either “passed” or “past”:

1. She quickly __________ the old house on her way to school.
2. The memories of their adventure are all in the __________ now.
3. He __________ the ball to his teammate just in time.
4. They __________ through the gate and into the garden.

Answers:

1. She quickly passed the old house on her way to school.
2. The memories of their adventure are all in the past now.
3. He passed the ball to his teammate just in time.
4. They passed through the gate and into the garden.

Quick Tip

To remember:

• Use “passed” if it’s an action you did or completed.
• Use “past” if it’s talking about time, a direction, or something before now.