Definitions
Past is an adjective or a noun that refers to a time that has gone by, or something that has already happened.
Example
I can't change the past, but I can learn from it.
Example
In the past, people used to write letters instead of sending emails.
Passed is the past tense of the verb 'pass', which means to move in a particular direction, or to go past something or someone.
Example
The car passed us on the highway.
Example
I passed my driving test on the first attempt.
Tips To Remember the Differences
Here are a few tips to easily distinguish the difference between these words while keeping in mind the description we've provided:
- To remember the difference between past and passed, think of past as referring to time that has gone by, while passed refers to movement or going past something. - You could also associate past with 'time' and passed with 'movement'.
Remember this!
Remember, past refers to time that has gone by, while passed refers to movement or going past something.
