Knowing the correct usage of ‘passed’ as opposed to ‘past’ when describing physical action is something I used to find an extremely irritating stumbling block. I could never get it right and I could never seem to follow the reasonings behind others good enough to try and explain it to me.

I have no intention of getting into the whole nitty gritty of adverb, intransitive verb, past passive participle, blah, blah, blah. The purpose of this post is to make the use of passed or past easy to understand. It’s what I needed and maybe you do too.

Pass or passed is usually used as a verb or a noun. (OK, that was just for clarification.)

In this instance I am referring to the use of the word ‘passed’ as a ‘doing’ word, as my English teacher used to say, a physical action.

Example:

• The man passed the buxom blonde.

Here all the man is doing is passing. The action is simply action.

• The man limped past the buxom blonde.

So here, the man is limping and passing. If you’re describing how the action takes place (in this case limping) the word to use is past.

Another example:

• The nimble, brown fox passed the lazy dog. – All the fox is doing is passing.
• The nimble, brown fox ran past the lazy dog. – Here the fox is running past.

And now, a the secret weapon to test if you’ve got it right. 🙂

Substitute ‘passed‘ with ‘went past‘ or, if your sentence calls for it, ‘gone past‘.

Example:

• The man passed the buxom blonde.
• The man went past the buxom blonde.

So far all good. 🙂

• The man limped passed the buxom blonde.
• The man limped went past the buxom blonde.

Nope, not working. 🙁

Or

• She has passed the shoe shop!
• She has gone past the shoe shop!

So, if you’re using ‘passed’ by itself as your action, use passed. If you’re describing your action word (past) with another action word (went, gone, flew, ran, wandered, limped, etc.) use past.

Hope that was not only useful, but easy to understand. 🙂