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  4. Past vs. Passed
Commonly Confused Words

Past vs. Passed

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“Past” and “Passed” sound the same but are used very differently in sentences. Let’s look at how to tell them apart — once you see the difference, it’s easy! 😊

Passed

Passed is the past tense of the verb to pass. It means something moved or went by, or that something was completed or given.

  • He passed the ball to his teammate.
  • Time passed so quickly today!
  • I passed my driving test. ✅

Use passed when something has happened or moved in some way — it’s an action.

Past

Past is not a verb — it is usually used as a noun, adjective, or preposition. It refers to time that is gone or something that has already happened.

  • I think about my childhood in the past.
  • It’s already past midnight.
  • We walked past the bakery on the way home. 🥐

Use past when talking about time, direction, or something that already exists (not an action).

💡 Tip

🔹 Passed = action (a verb) 
🔹 Past = time, direction, or something that has gone by

💡 Try replacing the word with “walked” — if the sentence still makes sense, use passed. If not, it’s probably past.

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 8Score: 0/8

She quickly ___ the ball to her teammate.

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