“Past” and “passed” sound the same but are used very differently. Once you see the difference, it’s easy.
Passed is the past form of the verb to pass. It means something moved or went by, or that something was completed or given.
Use passed when it is the action itself, the verb of the sentence.
Past is never a verb. It can be a noun (the past), an adjective (the past few days), or a word that shows time or position (past midnight, walk past the shop).
Use past for time and position, never as the action itself.
Passed = an action (a verb)
Past = time, position, or something that has gone by
Tip: try putting the sentence in the present (pass, passes). If it still works, use passed. If not, use past.
Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app
