To use “passed” correctly, we need to understand its various meanings and grammatical functions. “Passed” is the past tense form of the verb “pass.” Here are some common ways to use it:
1. Moving by: When something or someone moves by or goes past a particular point, we can use “passed” as the past tense of “pass.” For example:
– The car passed us on the highway.
– She passed the other runners and won the race.
2. Omitting or skipping: “Passed” can also mean to omit or skip over something. For instance:
– He passed over the irrelevant details in his presentation.
– The editor passed on publishing that article due to its controversial content.
3. Throwing or handing to someone: In certain contexts, “passed” can indicate throwing or handing something to someone else. For example:
– The quarterback passed the ball to the wide receiver.
– She passed her phone to her friend to show the picture.
4. Not failing: When someone successfully completes a test, examination, or evaluation, we can use “passed” to describe their achievement. For instance:
– He studied hard and passed the final exam.
– She passed the driving test on her second attempt.
On the other hand, “past” has several different uses:
1. Adjective: “Past” can function as an adjective to describe something that has already happened or no longer exists. For example:
– The past few days have been challenging.
– She reminisced about her past experiences.
2. Adverb: When “past” is used as an adverb, it indicates movement or time that is beyond a particular point. For instance:
– He walked past the store without noticing it.
– The deadline for submissions has passed.
3. Noun: “Past” can also be used as a noun to refer to the time before the present. For example:
– Let’s leave the past behind and focus on the future.
– The past can teach us valuable lessons.
4. Preposition: As a preposition, “past” indicates movement or time beyond a specific point. For instance:
– The car drove past the house.
– She walked past the park and continued down the street.
“passed” is the past tense form of “pass” and is used for moving by, omitting, throwing, or not failing. On the other hand, “past” can be an adjective, adverb, noun, or preposition that refers to the time before now or beyond.