Comments on: Passed vs Past

By: Otevia Andy

Otevia Andy — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:27:12 +0000

I’m glad I read this article; it’s been of great help in making clear the difference between ‘past’ and ‘passed’. Nice one.

By: Nel

Nel — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:05:09 +0000

English is such a confusing language, I know when to used past and passed but don’t really know why.

“When I was running I passed the ball”

Same words but two different meanings!

They could mean I was running and went past the ball, or I had the ball and gave it to someone else when running.

By: Jenni

Jenni — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:17:35 +0000

What about “this passed December”? Or is it: “This past December”? If you say “Decemeber will pass” then I assume it would be “passed”. I am so confused. I have never been able to use these terms correctly, which frightens me as I went to a pretty good university.

By: JenLeigh

JenLeigh — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 15:13:43 +0000

Hopefully this will help. The most common mistake I see with these words is when someone or something passes another thing.

When pass is used as the sole verb, passed is the correct word choice:
She passed by the sign.

When pass is preceded by another verb, past is the correct word choice:
She rushed/drove/ran/hopped past the sign.

By: Alan Lambourn

Alan Lambourn — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:08:14 +0000

Can’t remember the rule on this one:
She had to get past me first or
she had to get passed me first

Clarification please
Thank you.