Passed vs. Past
The English language is confusing because of homophones, which are words that are spelled differently and mean different things, but they sound the same. Passed and past are two homophones. Let's look at these two words closely because when you do, you will see that the confusion is easily cleared up!
Passed is a verb, and it is the past tense of "pass." It means to have gone by something or to have happened already.
1. The new law was passed last night.
2. We waved when Dad passed Mom on the highway.
3. The jet passed over our house.
The word past can function in several ways, but it is never a verb! Here are a few ways that past can function:
1. Past can be a noun referring to a time before now.
a. The past can teach us many lessons.
b. I wish you would stop talking about that because it's all in the past.
c. I wish I could meet some famous people from the past.
2. Past can also be an adjective to describe something from a time before now, or something that no longer exists.
a. George W Bush is one of our past presidents.
b. We went swimming this past weekend.
3. Past can also be a preposition, showing a direction.
a. Our house is just past the hill.
b. Walk past the water fountain and turn right.
c. The fish swam past us.
So, if you need a verb to show movement by something or someone, that occurred in the past, you need passed.
If you need to refer to a time before now or a direction, you need past.
Here is an easier way to see the difference:
1. The fish swam past us. (direction)
2. The fish passed us. (act of movement)
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