Comments on: Passed vs Past

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:49:22 +0000

Thank you Maeve … that is what I had written. Just wanted to make sure. Thanks for the rule – I knew it not! [Olde English] (:-)

By: Maeve Maddox

Maeve Maddox — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:12:23 +0000

Elizabeth,
If the sentence contains the helping verb has/have/had, then “passed” is the word called for. The storm has passed.

By: Maeve Maddox

Maeve Maddox — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:09:50 +0000

Jill,
The word “have” is a helping verb. It’s a signal that the form to follow must be “passed.”

By: Maeve Maddox

Maeve Maddox — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:07:56 +0000

Laura and Dandy,
That’s the trouble with headlines. They are often ambiguous.

One could correctly say either
“The autumn colors have passed their peak.”
OR
“The autumn colors are past their peak.”

By: Elizabeth Marie

Elizabeth Marie — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:39:07 +0000

Which is correct?
“Whether the storm has passed, or you’re still going through it…” or
“Whether the storm has past, or you’re still going through it…”
Thank you.