Using Pass and Past

If someone asks you: Are you sure you can use pass and past correctly in English sentences? What will be your probable answer? Read on and find out the usage of pass and past.

Pass and past may sound the same but they are totally different in meaning and therefore these two words are not related to each other.

pass used as a noun in the 1st meaning (a document that permits you to enter a building) You have to show your pass before you are allowed to enter the premises.

2nd meaning (a successful result in an exam)
She did not do very well in her exam. She just secured a pass.

pass used as a verb in the 1st meaning (to move forward)
The vehicles were unable to pass because of the accident.

2nd meaning (to leave somebody or a place as one goes forward)
(1) She was so proud that she passed me without even looking at me.
(2) They pass the church on their way to the office every morning.

3rd meaning (to go or move in the specified direction)
The procession passed slowly along the street.

4th meaning (to make something move in the specified direction)
Can you pass the thread through the eye of the needle?

5th meaning (to hand something to somebody)
Could you please pass the newspaper to Freddie?

6th meaning (to occupy or spend time)
While waiting for the train, we cracked jokes to pass the time.

7th meaning (to go by)
Two weeks passed, and the police still hadn't uncovered anything that could throw light on the murder case.

8th meaning (to achieve the required standard in an exam or test)
Most of the students passed the exam with flying colours.

9th meaning (to pronounce or declare something)
The high court passed a death sentence on the accused.

1oth meaning (to approve a law)
The authority concerned has just passed a new law.

pass may be used with words like away, on, out, off such as pass away, pass on, pass out, pass off. Continue to read these examples.

His grandfather passed away last night. (to die)
We've finished with the presentation. Let's pass on to the next issue. (to move from one activity to another)

Nelson had flu and passed it on to his sister. (to transmit a disease from one person to another)

A few athletes passed out before reaching the finishing line. (to lose consciousness or to faint)

After taking the medication, the pain in his leg gradually passed off. (to disappear)


past used as a noun in the 1st meaning (the time that has gone by)
They were good friends in the past, but now they are enemies.

2nd meaning (things that happened in an earlier time)
Memories of the past came back to her as she read her diary.

3rd meaning (a person's life in an earlier time)
The applicant had a bad reputation, but was hired because the personnel officer knew absolutely nothing of his past.

past used as a preposition in the 1st meaning (later than something or after something)
The time is ten minutes past three. The party ended well past midnight.

2nd meaning (beyond or above a certain point)
Their parents are so relieved to know that their child is now past the critical condition.

3rd meaning (beyond the limits of something)
She is already 65 years of age and is past the retirement age.

4th meaning (used as an adverb) (to move from one side to the other side of somebody or something or a place)
We walked past some Italian tourists. Mike drove past the post office before he saw the accident happen.

past used as an adjective in the 1st meaning (gone by recently)
The past two weeks have been a very busy time for all of us.
She has been talking on the phone for the past 20 minutes.

2nd meaning (belonging to an earlier time)
What is his past profession? What is the past tense of the verb take?

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